Why did you choose psychiatric nursing?

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What was the main reason you chose this specialty than any other specialty?

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.

Mental Chess....

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Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).

Great metaphor- Mental Chess!

I, too, am attracted to Psychiatric Nursing for the same reason as Mr. ChicagoRN- thinking of your next move with a Patient, reacting to their next move, but always being mentally several moves ahead.

Psychiatric Patients tend to be much more interesting than your Average Bear.

However, I did not actually choose Psych Nursing. Psych Nursing chose me. I've told My Story several times here on these forums, and to repeat it would be a bore.

Let's just suffice ot to say that it was Zen, Fate, and My Calling!

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I'm a Psych patient myself. Nothing they do can surprise me. Totally why I went Psych.

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Specializes in Psych.

It was the floor that offered me the position and I needed a job. But it was fate because I love it.

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.
However, I did not actually choose Psych Nursing. Psych Nursing chose me. I've told My Story several times here on these forums, and to repeat it would be a bore.

Same here: I didn't actually choose psych either. Well, I didn't choose psych because it was psych: I chose the psych job as a new grad because it was the better offer (option #2 would have been a PCU). Fully intended to move on after a year but found myself unwilling to leave. Now I'm a few years in and love it.

In psych, I feel like I get to actually interact and connect with my patients, instead of being a glorified waitress dealing with endless call bells and inane demands from patients and their families. In psych, it's actually therapeutic for me to tell a patient to go do something for themselves.

Also, psych is never boring: you can't make up the stuff that we see.

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Specializes in NICU.

I went in to psych for a couple of reasons. 1st of all, I loved the thought of helping patients "mentally." I grew up wanting to be a counselor, social worker, the line of field where I help people emotionally, I love fixing problems, helping people with their problems. There was just no money or job security in that line of field, so I decided on nursing, and have always been intrigued with psychiatry.

2nd, I'll admit it, I'm an adrenalin junkie. I love the real acute psychotic patients who we have to "code." I would do great in forensics nursing or working at a prison also.

I went in to psych wanting to make a difference to my patients, in a different way. We have so many patients who have attempted suicide, or thought about it, or the patients who are older, sad, lonely. I love counseling them, or being able to listen and talk to them, give them coping skills and advise.

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Specializes in mental health.

The main reason I went into psych is that I believe the body follows the mind. If the mind is injured, physical injury follows. Repair the mind and you slow or prevent all sorts of physical issues. Ask someone who is obese, has DM, hypertension, smokes, road rages...what coping skills do you use to deal with your stress? If it is a blank look or a demand for a PCA as an answer, than you know why I am in mental health.

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Without looking at all those other comments........... I chose it I suppose cos it was what my mom did........ But it has been the foundation of my life..... it has made me what I am...... I was never out spoken at home, but I am at work, I went on to qualify as a nurse from there....... and have never looked back........ I can tell many stories from my 26 yrs so far..... and they have all enhanced my life....... x

Don't get me wrong there have been hard times....... but with the right team behind you ... it is all so much easier........ as with any job...... x

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