New Grad trying out Psych Nursing

[Ndy-RN]

I graduated last year 2014 and got a Job where I consolidated which is Adult Medicine. Actually we deal with patient s 45 years and older (this is in Canada). When I graduated my eyes have been set on geriatric nursing since I worked as a nursing aid while in school in nursing homes and LTC and have more than 5 years of experience, and I thought Gerontological nursing was my calling.

I have been working as a nurse in this unit for 7 months part-time (Full time positions are not available yet and goes by seniority..but I do "sometimes" pick up 30-40 hour shifts per pay period...but I needed something more stable), and I am starting to question if I really want to do geriatric nursing after all. I just don't feel I belong in that unit. It may just be the environment, I am not sure, but recently I applied and got a temp full time position as a psychiatric nurse and I want to try that for a while till it runs its course.

Some people tell me that I will loose my skills and stuff but being temp in this new job (same hospital by the way) gives me opportunity to be casual on Medicine. I will still be called in and would accept shift if I am available. And I need stable hours too to make ends meet.

What I want to know is what are the pros and cons of psychiatric nursing. Do you love it or hate it. I had some clinical experience there in my 2nd year of nursing when I was a student, liked it....but that was it. I would like to try out at least a couple more branches of nursing in the future before I settle with what I enjoy. Please let me know what you think... and please share some advice of your experiences. Thank you.

[Davey Do]

Some people tell me that I will loose my skills and stuff but being temp in this new job (same hospital by the way) gives me opportunity to be casual on Medicine.

This is an oft repeated concern, Ndy-RN, as is your enquiry.

I've had about 10 years of Medical experience, leaving over two dozen being Primarily Psych. I say "primarily" because, for example, I supervised Medical Services at one Community Mental Heath Clinic and currently work in Gero Psych, which has its share of medical interventions.

I don't think an interested Professional actually loses their skills; however, they can become stunted. I'm not as efficient as I once was, probably partially due to being involved sporadically in medical interventions. I'm no longer on the "cutting edge" of medical interventions as I once was, 20 to 30 years ago, when I worked OR, Med/Surg, ER, and Home Health.

Psych is great because, in the Classic Words of MrChicagoRN, it's "mental Chess".

Do a Search. You'll find all sorts of Threads pertaining to the subjects you've mentioned.

And good luck to you, Ndy-RN!