What should I try and learn in . . . ?

TGarr · Mar 23, 2013

Wound Care, drsg changes. I believe that all nurses should start in the Emergency Room. It allows you to think fast on you feet and distinguish the criitical & not so critical signs to look for on different patients. I have yet to experience med-surg in nursing school --- next semester, uh-oh! --- but have worked in ER as clerk for 10+ years. You can tell the difference b/w nurses who really know their stuff to others that could use a swift kick to the back-side. All in all put full effort into it and you will be fine. Also remember to always take at least 5 minutes for yourself! Important -- don't you think?

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Mar 26, 2013

IMO, you do not need a year of med-surg to be a successful psych nurse. Some of the best psych nurses I know went straight into psych or came from other backgrounds than acute care. They keep up on their medical knowledge through CEUs, education/inservices, working with psych populations that are more medically acute (e.g., detox) and/or part-time work in medical settings.

Getting med-surg experience definitely wouldn't hurt, but it's not mandatory. So if you don't get a med-surg job first--or get an opportunity to go straight into psych--don't sweat it.

If you do land in med-surg first, work on your physical assessment skills--because you WILL be performing assessments on patients, though in psych they're more often focused than the head-to-toe type. Also learn about chronic conditions--HTN, asthma, COPD, diabetes, the hepatitises, etc.--as you will encounter patients with at least one (usually more).

chevyv, BSN, RN · Mar 28, 2013

Meriwhen is right on! I went right into psych when I passed my RN boards. I had worked in ltc as a LPN and also hospital as a CNA for many years. I had no problem fitting right in. Med surg would probably get you to be more quickly aware of a medical issue though. I listen to my gut and have to say that it's never let me down. Good luck!

alb402 · Mar 28, 2013

I did the same and despite people telling me to get Med Surg experience, I went right into psych. I had been working on the same floor with my previous bachelors and knew that's where I wanted to be. I couldn't see making myself miserable for a year doing something I didn't really enjoy by going into Med Surg. You can always relearn skills (starting IVs, catheters, etc) - and psych requires a lot of critical thinking and fast actions so you'll never lose those! I say follow your heart as well. If you know you're going to stay in psych - go for it!

RHill9919 · Mar 29, 2013

May I get in on this with a side question?

What is the process to become a psych nurse? I eventually want to be DNP specializing in psych. I'm still in undergrad ATM.