So why did you want to be a psych nurse?

[traceness]

Just curious about what made you go in to this field. :)

Thanks.

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Landed here by chance...ok, it was a choice, but it had never been one of my first choices all through school, and not particularly afterwards either. Still, when the decision came down to between offers in psych and stepdown, I opted for psych since the hours were better.

Then I fell in love with psych, particularly working with detox and addictions. Now I may never go back to med-surg...at least, not right now :)

[GooeyRN, ADN, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

My family has a history of psych issues... I have always found it very interesting. I love psych!

[Meraki]

I had chosen nursing school somewhat randomly as I wasn't sure what I wanted to do and it seemed like a possibility. Once I was in it, and as each clinical placement happened, I was more and more convinced that nursing was not for me. I decided to stick it out to get the degree and I had already applied for a differnt program that would lead into a different field. Then in my final semester, in my final placement I did pediatric psych and I loved it and I had found a nursing specialty that worked for me.

It was the first time in nursing I truly felt challenged. Every patient was so unique and so different - there were no care pathways or treatment protocols - nothing was routine or predictable, every day was an adventure filled with complex and interesting kids and families. Everyday there was something new and different that made me dig deep, question, and learn. Every other placement I felt it doing a list of tasks that needed to be done, and most days I went home tired but bored. I realized I'm just not a task oriented person, that I love the excitement and action of psych, I love the constant critical thinking and clinical judgment needed, I loved the diversity of cases, and the study of how and why people think, act and process the way they do - particularly when unwell.

The unit I was on was a large, acute care, crisis unit that had a busy schedule. The nurses were *it*. We did all the usual orders and meds but we also ran all the groups, did 1:1 therapy, worked with families, managed crisis, did recreational activities, took admissions and coordinated discharges. It was the kind of unit where you ran all day, often not having time to eat or for bathroom breaks. I liked the fast pace, and that you always had to be 'on', there was definitely no time to be bored. I also liked the team and the way they supported each other and how well they worked together. All in all, it was just a great fit for me.

That placement was 12 years ago, I've seen lots of people come and go, some trying it out and loving it, others finding it far too difficult, and others realizing it just wasn't for them. I really think it is one of those specialties that you either really love and want to be in or you don't.