Questions About New Psych NP Position

ddunnrn · Jun 15, 2011

I am not an NP, but have been a psych nurse in the Philadelphia area for 25 years. The last company I worked for (I won't say their name directly so as not to invoke the evil spirits that cloak them :)! ) contracts out psych services to jails/prisons on most of the Eastern seaboard. They employ lots of psych NP's. You might look into your local prison system (you don't say where you're from) because chances are you'll find a wide variety of interesting cases and learning experiences. It can be a little depressing, tho, because your treatment choices are somewhat limited by the prison's security policies, and the fact that most local jurisdictions are very stingy with funding for prisons, and therefore for psych programming, although minimum standards must be met by law.

I enjoyed working in the prison system for almost 10 years before I had to go out on medical disability, and if I were not so old (56) I would have gone back to school to be a psych NP. Best of luck in whatever you do.

Dave Dunn, RN

laurenlee · Jun 23, 2011

Hi Dave,

Im currently a social worker looking into psych nursing....I make 21/hr in philadelphia....any advice on psych nursing..such as salary and the general persective you have about the field. anything you have to offer would be greatly appreciated!!

THanks! :)

Psychcns · Sep 14, 2011

I did nursing home consultations as a psychiatric clinical nurse specialist in MA for years. One thing about consultations is that you recommend meds, labs, psychotherapy, etc and your recommendations are then reviewed by the primary MD managing the patient. They usually take your recommendations. It was my first prescribing job. Labs are done right away--you don't have to wait for them to be faxed over to you like in outpatient. I learned a lot and I still do consultations for this company.