Stigma against Psych.

Specialties Psychiatric

Published

I am doing my pre-req's for nursing and many people ask me what field of nursing I want to go into. I am really interested in psych. nursing but when I tell them they scrunch up their face and say "why would you want to do that?" :angryfire Even if I haven't brought it up and I ask the nurses I work with what their favorite/ least favorite part of clinicals were or what area they would never go into, one of them says psych. and they all nod their heads in approval. It's like psych. nursing is lower (in a sense?) than medical nursing. Has anyone else come across this? What's your opinion?

Keely

I'm a psych nurse as well, and I love it. I wouldn't do med-surg for anything. My advice is to not worry about what others say, and definitely don't defend why you are interested in psych - you don't owe an explanation to anyone but yourself when it comes to important decisions like the kind of work you want to do. Even if you don't have a better answer to yourself than 'I don't know why I like psych, I just do!', then that is all you need:).

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatric, Behavioral Health.
I'm a psych nurse as well, and I love it. I wouldn't do med-surg for anything. My advice is to not worry about what others say, and definitely don't defend why you are interested in psych - you don't owe an explanation to anyone but yourself when it comes to important decisions like the kind of work you want to do. Even if you don't have a better answer to yourself than 'I don't know why I like psych, I just do!', then that is all you need:).

Good post!

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.

I used to work in Psych into I got married and moved away. I loved it! Family and friends thought I was strange for liking it so much. I would have never left that hospital if i didn't leave the area! I now work med/surg since I live in a rural area, with only one very small hospital. The closest psych hospital is either one county away or across the state border. I sure do miss psych... Do what you love if you can! Dont worry about what others think!

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Specializes in Psych.

Look at it this way, if there are that many nursing students in your area that are repulsed by the thought of psych nursing, that means more job opportunities for you if you reeeaaalllyyy want to pursue psych nursing.

Psych nurse over 10 years and loving it,

kadokin

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Wow, thank you for all your responses. I really am into psych. and I don't want to feel weird to say that's what I want to go into (and yes, as someone mentioned earlier EVERYONE says they want to work in L&D or ER). I have a long way to go until that point but I am so excited. :)

Keely

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I have been a psych nurse for the past 12 years. It is my thought that psych draws very creative and resourceful people. A Psych nurse must be able to improvise. A sense of humor is also very important. Due to the complexity of psych, much of the population also have severe medical problems. I wish you good luck in your decision.

Cecie 62:Santa3:

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