Something Different

[Can't Wait]

I'm a fairly new RN and I loved my psych rotation in nursing school and considered working in mental health. Several people told me to start out in Med/Surg though for a foundation. I started in Med/Surg in February and I really don't like it and regret not trying to start in psych. Will a psych facility hire new nurses with no experience in mental health?

[Male Filipino Nurse]

I'm an LVN with NO PRIOR MED SURG experience but I still got accepted into a psych unit. Although i had previous psych experience working as a Mental Health Worker, my director told me that he'd prefer new grads over experienced ones. His rational was that it's easier to mold a new grad rather than a nurse who's had years of experience. My point is that there's a great chance that different facilities will hire new grads. I mean, why not? The only way for a nurse to gain experience is to experience it. The only downside is that you lose some of the med/surg skills we all learn during school. I LOVE PSYCH and wouldn't want to work in any other unit. It's fun being able to communicate with some of these patients. The majority of the patients you deal with suffer from depression and just need someone to communicate with.

[here_kitty]

Go for it! I am a relatively new grad (June '06) and started in August working in the psych units at my hospital. They didn't have any problem hiring me, in fact, I think I was hired over a few med/surg experienced nurses. I haven't had a great need for the skills I learned in school, and I don't ever want to work med/surg, but if I do decide to try something different, there are ways to regain those skills. By the way, the majority of my patients are psychotic, schizophrenic, or manic, not depressed.

[ear]

Give it a try!

I applied to a hospital for both a psych position, and ortho position. They wanted me on the psych unit. I am a new grad too btw...(dec 06)

Good luck to you!!!

~ear

[spaniel]

There is so very much interplay with psych and medical conditions that I say

"Do the med/ surg". I know you probably don't want to hear this! (I am thinking back to myself oh many many decades ago!) I did go the med/surg route and finally went into critical care. Then I went to psych!

But- IF you really really hate med/surg with a passion...and if you think you will never ever consider doing it, then go into psych. A good program will take new grads. Just be sure it's a good program with good orientation.