Working as a Psychiatric Nurse

nurse lala, BSN, RN · Oct 3, 2008

I believe there is value in getting the general medical experience from spending some time on med/surg. The patients you take care of on the psych unit will have medical problems in addition to the MH issues. You will be lost without that background. I went straight into MH and was quickly promoted. Then I realized that I was in charge and responsible for the staff and the patients with just acedemic knowledge/no practical of medical issues. And they do occur. The patient with a recent bone break can have a blood clot, a patient in a diabetic coma, the elderly patient with dilerium. What happens when a paient codes...it happens.

Get that ear of m/s in is my best advice.

aloevera · Oct 6, 2008

If you have a good long orientation period and nurses to help you along I think one is able to go right in to psych.........most of nursing is "on the job training anyway" weather it is in the hospital on a med-surg unit or in a psychiatric hospital....our clinicals and lectures did not teach us how to behave in a code....we learned that at work....experience and good mentors will help you along....

good luck in whatever you decide...

E I Adeosun · Oct 11, 2008

I have my associates degree in Nursing, but I also have a Bachelors Degree in Behavior Health. I am seriously thinking about working as a Psychiatric Nurse. Although I don't have my nursing license yet. but I just took the exam on Sept. 22. Do you think this would be a good idea. I also thought and was told that it is best to start out on a Med-Surg unit.

IT WILL BE BETHER IF YOU START WITH MED AND SURG FIRST

ADEOSUN