Wanting to know about psychiatric facilities in MD/DC area?

TakeTwoAspirin, MSN, RN, APRN · Jun 19, 2008

OK, I don't know what the pay etc is like, but I did my psych clinical rotation at Montgomery General in Olney MD and I have to say that I REALLY liked the place. Small hospital with a very friendly hometown feel. Nice atmosphere both on the unit and off. Everyone I spoke to, seemed to really like the place. Certainly worth looking into if you are thinking of a smaller community hospital.

Oh, and I noticed in Sunday's Washington Post that they are advertising right now for Psych Nurses. Worth checking out!

TerpGal02, ASN · Jul 3, 2008

OK, I don't know what the pay etc is like, but I did my psych clinical rotation at Montgomery General in Olney MD and I have to say that I REALLY liked the place. Small hospital with a very friendly hometown feel. Nice atmosphere both on the unit and off. Everyone I spoke to, seemed to really like the place. Certainly worth looking into if you are thinking of a smaller community hospital.
Oh, and I noticed in Sunday's Washington Post that they are advertising right now for Psych Nurses. Worth checking out!

Totally randomly, but I grew up in Olney! My parents still live there. Olney is a great, great community and Ive heard WONDERFUL things about MGH's psych department. Montgomery County is a pretty pricey area though, so thats something to look at if you are looking at working and living in Montgmery County. Its one of the weathiest counties on the East Coast. There is also Potomac Ridge thats run by the Adventist Heathcare System in Montgomery County. Other than that, theres also Sheppard Pratt. Their main campus is in the Baltimore/Towson areas but they also run a LOT of the psych programs in the smaller community hospitals in MD. Ive heard a lot of good things about Sheppard Pratt. Also, theres a private psych facility in Hagerstown, MD called Brook Lane that is supposed to be pretty good. The Hagerstown/Frederick area is A LOT cheaper to live in, but still close enough to DC to make a go of it. I live in Frederick County right now and LOVE it!

dmart150 · Jul 21, 2008

In Frederick county, there's this psych outpatient facility that it just awesome! Staff and members are warm and friendly. It's outpatient, which I think is so much better the inpatient psych. It's called Way Station.

Jules A, MSN · Jul 22, 2008

There are several state hospitals that probably don't pay as high as private facilities but offer great benefits. Check out the state department of mental health and hygiene website. Good luck.

wannab06 · Jul 28, 2008

Well the State of Maryland have three major Psych Hospitals. Spring Grove Hospital Center, in Catonsville, MD. Spring Field Hospital center in Sykesville, MD and Clifton T. Perkins Hospital in Jessup (It's a maximum security state Psychiatric hospital). For RNs the State really pays good, plus their benefit packages are very good! State always looking for Nurses so those positions are usually open and continous. For LPNs ..you need atleast 3yrs psych experience to work at Clifton T. Perkins, but they take new grad RNs. The other facilities, Spring Grove and Spring Field, you don't have to have experience in psych to work as an LPN. You can also negotiate you pay, because as you know they have a pay scale...more experience, more leverage.

Personally I work at Spring Grove as an CNA five years ago..and it was one of the best environment i've work in. Less stressful, the nurses seems to enjoy working there.