Question about Psych NP

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Specializes in 15 years ER experience/22 years total.

I have been a nurse since 1999, the last 13-15 years in ER. I am starting MSN program for Psychiatric/mental health NP. Do I need to leave the ER now and seek work in psych ? I feel like I see a good amount of Psych right now in the ER, but I don't want to hinder my ability to get a job later? 

Thanks! 

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

Why psych? Have you not enjoyed the ER? There are emergency room NP programs, such as the one at Vanderbilt. 

 

How do you know you will like psych, and why pursue that as your advanced practice with so much valuable emergency experience?

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Specializes in mental health / psychiatic nursing.

It really depends on what you want to do with the PMHNP as to how all that ED experience will translate - you want to work ED Consult or Consult liason with in a hospital, or work Psych ED - that experience will be a plus. You want to work child/adolescent at a school based student clinic - might be a harder sell. Really think about what kind of mental health setting and population you want to work with and how your current experience helps/hinders that goal before deciding that changing jobs is necessary. 

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