Wanting to get into psych nursing, some help please? :)

[hellooonurse28]

Hello,

I'm looking to change my career path in nursing. Right now I am working on a skilled nursing and medsurg unit. I have my BSN, and when I am going to make this change, I will have two years experience. I have always liked psych nursing, and am really considering making my move to it. In college, me did clinicals in a freestanding mental health facility and I really liked it. Alot of these jobs "prefer" that you have experience in mental health nursing. My question is, how can I make myself more likely to be hired? I was trying to get information on becoming certified as a MHN, or what other options I have to become more skilled in psych nursing...and got kind of confused. I would appreciate any help! Thanks so much!

[Whispera, MSN, RN]

I think it would be a good idea to find out who runs the psych facilities or units near you and make appointments to go talk to them. Tell them your interest. Ask them what it would take to get a job there. I've gotten a few psych nursing jobs by doing that. Also, be pleasantly persistent and call now and then to see what's happening on the hiring front (don't be a pain in the neck, just be a little tickle so they remember you're interested). HR departments are rather impersonal but those that run the treatment areas are definitely good contacts.

You can't get certified as a MHN without some experience working it...but the future can bring that to you.

Good luck!

[RochesterRN-BSN, BSN, RN]

Not sure where you live or if you are looking to stay there or are open to move but here in Rochester you have a good chance of getting something........not in the hospital I am in but I think the other 2 are looking. Usually they limit the number of new grads they take but you are not new new, just new to psych. You would still need a more lengthy orientation so they need to have the staff to do that. As Wipera said I would call the hospitals as ask for the manager of the mental health unit. Ask about if they have any oppotunities at this time for a nurse with your background. I know the hospital I did inpatient psych at liked nurses with medical experience as they provide a fair amount of medical care for minor things and will keep a patient needing treatment until they are unstable or acute. I did a number of medical things there--IV fluids, blood even once, a good number a would care tx--people who have cut, etc., even trach care once and G-Tube feedings once. So to have someone who is experienced with this stuff they love it as many nurses there did med a REALLY long time ago or never. So don't down play your experience and its usefulness in psych!

If you really want to go into psych you can....you just need to get yourself in there! They do use nurses with no psych experience. (except in psych ERs like where I work as the nurses do the evaluations) Good luck and I hope you find a way in and love it like I do!