Switch Job or Leave Job for NP School

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Hi,

I'm in a pickle where I currently work as a new grad RN on a med-surg unit. I am two months into this job with a month of orientation left to go. However, my heart is and has always been in psych nursing. I am regretting that I made a "smart" decision to take on a med-surg job instead of going into psych right away. I don't feel passionate about my current job and feel like I'm going through the motions, whereas I felt genuine joy and a sense of fulfillment with psych nursing during clinical and when I worked as a nurse tech in psych. Should I switch into a psych job at my hospital, or just leave my job in June to go to Psych NP school (which I was planning to do eventually down the road anyway)? Either way, I just want to get out and go back to psych.

Please help,

-tothepointe

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Specializes in BMT.

Get the experience first and then switch. You will want psych experience before becoming a psych NP.

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Specializes in Psych/Mental Health.

Med-surg is unnecessary.

A bit of psych RN experience is beneficial. Many Psych NP students, including myself, work part-time or per diem as a psych nurse while go to PMHNP school part time.

In the end, though, the only experience that matters is Psych NP experience. So even if you go right to PMHNP, you'll eventually be fine. I'd just suggest going to a reputable/rigorous program and do a lot of self learning.

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What school do you go to umbdude?

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