Thinking of Transitioning to Psych

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I've been a RN for almost 11 years (1 year floor, 10 years surgical-trauma ICU). I was playing around with the idea of transitioning to psych. The only psych experience I have was back in 2005-2006 when I worked in a locked-down sub-acute facility with adults as a BHT.

What are your thoughts? Anyone here ever made the transition from hospital bed side nursing to psych?

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

Let me get back to you after today's shift!

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I'm a bedside nurse and am considering doing the MSN PMHNP route. I o not want to spend any more time than i have to at the bedside. I have have been an LPN for 12 years and an RN for 2 years. I feel I could be rewarded in a different way than the bedside nurse does. I want to have a deeper relationship with my patients, not just 3 days in the hospital. I've never had any pysch nursing experience. This is whole new leaf I am going to turn over.

Let me know how your decision goes. Best of wishes.

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I am in the process of the transition. I have applied for a part time RN at a recovery inpatient residential unit for women who have SMI and substance abuse issues. Waiting to hear back. The only psych experience I had is what I did in my clinicals in nursing school and the patients who present with psych issues on the med-surg unit I work on now.

Eagerly waiting advice from other psych nurses out there who will post experiences and information regarding changing from bedside to psych.

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Specializes in Psych RN BC.

Hey! I think it’s absolutely possible and can be a great transition. The want to do it is a good first step. Understand that it is a lot less hands on then ICU and more verbal communication and education. I went from psych to med surg and when I sat down to write my first note my mind went blank on what to say. In psych you are reporting on mood, affect, appearance, any behavioral issues which is much different from the medical side of things. That can be a bit challenging but after a few months it will be second nature.

I think tour ICU background will absolutely be beneficial during a rapid or code on the unit. Some psych nurses may be weary of their medical skills in these moments just from not utilizing them so much. Getting IV access going and giving a strong report to the team responding can assist in a better outcome for the patient! Good luck and I say give it a go!

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I did it! Left med surg bedside and started in psych. Absolutely love this population. I get to work with SMI and SUD. Been at my new job for 2 weeks. Trying to figure out how to write psych RN notes! This is a learning curve! Ha!

Looking foward to starting my MSN PMHNP journey. Start EKU this spring.

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Specializes in Psych.

I left med-surg after 18 years to do psych. And I am so glad that I did! I really enjoy psych. And for me it doesn’t seem as overwhelming as med-surg.

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Specializes in Psych, Med-Surg, utter confusion, chaos!.

I started in psych. I left and went to med-surg. And now I'm back in psych!

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Background is Cardiac/Neuro IMC/CCU. Have been exclusively Psych for a few years. Psych Nursing experiences can vary greatly based upon patient population. My facility has distinct units: Detox, Mood Disorder, Gen Psych, Psych ICU.

Detox can be medically complicated. Mood Disorder patients can be mentally exhausting (esp. Borderline DO patients), Gen Psych includes all aspects of Psychosis - nonviolent, PICU includes Psychosis/Behavioral with violence and nudity.

Working the Mood Disorder Unit requires offering great time and emotional support, not physically demanding whereas PICU is very much physical (as in stopping patients from hurting themselves or others regularly).

I'm currently in Admissions, so I am the first point of contact for new admits - I frequently end shifts emotionally fatigued, especially when speaking with trauma victims and suicidal patients. Their histories and experiences are sometimes heartbreaking. I'm sometimes threatened with physical assault. I am thankful I work at a facility that actively teaches and practices safety for patients and staff - we are very good at de-escalation and working together and have very few injuries to staff or patients.

Similarities to bedside nursing are time management and prioritizing patient needs vs patient wants. In general, I've found that Psych Nurses treat each with more compassionately and with more respect than other areas of nursing I've worked. It's a "we're all in this together" mentality.

Important skills/traits for a successful Psych nurse include: compassion, kindness, a genuine want to help people, listening & speaking without judgment, practicing with rational detachment.

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Well said! Ive been at my new psychiatric RN job for 3 weeks now, doing part time case management for SMI outpatient and part time residential substance abuse/SMI patients. I am really enjoying it.

Challenge I have is learning the language and how to chart effectively in the psych terminology.

The other challenge is how to come up with the proper nursing intervention for a patient who has paranonia r/t auditory and visual hallucinations.

Ive been just working on fostering a trusting environment and ensuring the patient feels safe.

Any other psych nurses out there that would provide me ideas for these patients would be great! Thank you!

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Hello everyone, Allnurses won't let me add anymore likes for the day- I'm trying to like everyone's post commenting on the transition to psych and any experience on schools/programs for PMHNP.  Please, if you're willing to share your insights I would be so grateful!

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