Recommendations for student interested in pursuing pscyhiatric nursing

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I am currently a student in an LPN-RN (associate degree) fast track program. We just finished the 1st semester of our 3 semester program. Psychiatric nursing was covered in our 1st semester and our clinicals included very little time on a psych rotation. I did a few clinical days at a mental health facility and that consisted of sitting in on therapy sessions and practicing therapeutic communications with the clients one on one. We are now completely through with mental health so there will be no further clinicals dedicated to that setting.

I have been an LPN for quite some time, but I've never worked in a mental health setting. The only experience I have with psychiatric patients (if I can even count it as experience) is from working in corrections, some in working with clients with developmental disabilities and working at a LTC facility that had a high percentage of residents with mental illnesses. There really aren't any options for psych as an LPN in this area.

When I consider what I'd like to do upon graduation I keep coming back to the mental health field. I'd like to work at an inpatient psychiatric facility, a psych floor at a hospital, or a treatment facility for substance abuse.

I was wondering if anyone in this field might have any suggestions on reading material or other resources I could utilize to increase my knowledge on the subject before I graduate. I don't see a lot of interest in the subject being displayed in our program or among my peers. I know I'd have an immense amount of learning to do to prepare to work in the field.

Thanks for any insight into this matter.

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Hey! I received some suggestions in a similar thread here:

Psych RN Reading List

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The link seems to be inactive. What were the recommendations? Do you remember? Thanks! I'm about to enter the field myself!

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The link seems to be inactive. What were the recommendations? Do you remember? Thanks! I'm about to enter the field myself!
Weird! Let's try again...

Psych RN Reading List

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Specializes in PMHNP/Adjunct Faculty.

My best learning tool before becoming a psych RN was being a mental health technician on the floor before graduating and immediately becoming the charge nurse. The mental health technician facilitates the daily activities on the floor, completes safety rounding, and assists the RN with milieu management. It is my #1 recommendation to students who are interested in becoming a psych nurse to get a PRN position as a tech. There are no downsides: you get a better idea about psych nursing than you had time for in your limited clinical rotations, work once or twice a month with your schedule, and get your foot in the door at a great facility!

Oops! Didn't see you have already worked as an LVN. Still consider going PRN

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Thanks for the suggestions. I checked out the book list and will be checking to see if the library has any of those. I hadn't considered trying to work as a tech but I will be keep that in mind. It isn't really feasible with my schedule at the moment, but I'm sure it would be really good experience. How much training do they usually give you for that? Maybe I could find something halfway relevant to the field that takes volunteers.

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