Where to go after graduation

[GirlAfraid]

So, I have a bit of a dilemma. I will be graduating from an LPN program in about a month. I am fascinated by mental health and would love to go into that field. There Is a mental hospital that I want to apply at. They hire LVNs and I had clinical there and loved it. To make things simple- this is what I REALLY want. However, I am concerned that such a job would cause me to miss out on much needed nursing experience and skills, such as IVs, catheters, and typical hospital things. Any advice from those more experienced than I? Do I go for what I want now? Or do I consider something that will give me more experience for the future?

[vintagemother, BSN, CNA, LVN, RN]

I am fascinated by mental health and would love to go into that field. There Is a mental hospital that I want to apply at. They hire LVNs and I had clinical there and loved it. To make things simple- this is what I REALLY want. However, I am concerned that such a job would cause me to miss out on much needed nursing experience and skills, such as IVs, catheters, and typical hospital things. Any advice from those more experienced than I? Do I go for what I want now? Or do I consider something that will give me more experience for the future?

I also am an Lvn. My first real job post graduation has been in psych. I love my job! But, several nurses have told me that once you work in psych, you can't leave because acute care facilities do not believe you have experience doing "skills", such as IVs, tube feedings, etcetera.

As for me, in spite of these things, I remain a psych nurse. I know that in my job, I *do* address medical needs. I believe that I am a real nurse, practicing real nursing. I plan to go on to become an RN. I know I will be viewed as a new grad with no experience. That's okay to me. I pray that I can sell myself and enunciate my skills r/t acute care when the time comes.

[GirlAfraid]

The way I was looking at it is that if I enjoy it, and remain a psych nurse, then it won't matter. As long as I don't try to get a job elsewhere later. But it worries me, because one never knows. I would just hate to not be hired somewhere due to lack of "experience." Especially if I had been a nurse for a while. I would hate even more to be hired and actually find out that I do lack those skills. I feel as though I have the skills now, what with clinical experience and all. But I don't want to lose them. I just don't want to make a mistake.

[GirlAfraid]

The way I was looking at it is that if I enjoy it, and remain a psych nurse, then it won't matter. As long as I don't try to get a job elsewhere later. But it worries me, because one never knows. I would just hate to not be hired somewhere due to lack of "experience." Especially if I had been a nurse for a while. I would hate even more to be hired and actually find out that I do lack those skills. I feel as though I have the skills now, what with clinical experience and all. But I don't want to lose them. I just don't want to make a mistake.

[KellyRN2013]

You have to do whats right for you! If you want to keep your skills up you can work PRN in home health or urgent care or a LTC facility or somewhere like that. If you think psych nursing is where you want to go with your career then go for it!!! A lot of nursing is specialized these days and while we may lose some skills we still gain a ton of skills for the specialization we work in! I started out as an LPN and I worked 5 years in OB and then when I obtained my RN I worked in home health and now management! There is always opportunity in nursing and opportunity to learn new skills :)