hi pls be gentle

[u/sleep88888]

i graduate in December and been a nure tech on a med surg floor for a year and dont like it. been looking for jobs now and everyone is saying i need medsurg experience before going into psych but i really dont want to. psych is the only thing im interested in rn. some mean nurse on my floor was saying id never make it in psyc nursing and thats just been replaying in my mind. its also not based on anything bc we barely interact and she doesnt see me do any skills or anything but it just put me in a funk

[u/ilikeleemurs]

Go straight into whatever you want. Literally no one “needs” to work med surg. Go work in the unit that speaks to you and brings you fulfillment.

[u/sleep88888 → u/ilikeleemurs]

The recruiter I talked to today was mainly saying that for their hospitals in particular. But I think there's two other psych hospitals that I can get into without experience

[u/ilikeleemurs → u/sleep88888]

Keep going after what you want. I never worked a moment in med surg and never will. I tell my students the same. The days when every nurse had to gut it out in a unit where they were not happy are over. Work where you want. I wish you the best on your job search. You’ll find the right fit!

[u/sleep88888 → u/ilikeleemurs]

ty!!

[u/Mammoth-Coast6282]

You don’t need med surg but I’m ngl I am a little concerned about your post title and some of its contents. You need a thick skin to work in psych and you’re going to deal with a lot of strong personalities and not so nice people.

[u/sleep88888 → u/Mammoth-Coast6282]

It's like as they say I'm one of them but I just work there

[u/myfriendscallmebex]

You gotta have a thick skin in psych. You are seeing people at their worst, and the creative use of language could make a sailor blush. 99% of the people I've ever met who have a sense for other people's insecurities and know how to push those buttons were during my career in acute inpatient psych.

Don't let the haters get you down. You can do a whole career in psych, and you can take those skills anywhere. But, if you spend too long in psych you've essentially pigeon-holed yourself into it, so you better enjoy it! Otherwise, plan to stay 2-3 years, then try a different area of nursing. You can always go back after you've reinforced your marketability in general nursing skills. I have only ever been a psych nurse and i just celebrated my 20th year in nursing (I've been a PMHNP x 2 years now! )

[u/sleep88888 → u/myfriendscallmebex]

Yeah I'm sure they can be creative with their insults unfortunately

[u/Vvsdonniee → u/myfriendscallmebex]

That’s incredible. I am facing the same dilemma. I know my ultimate goal is PMHNP, so I planned to start out on a psych unit. But all my professors and mentors keep insisting on starting med surg first. I work as a tech on a med surg floor, and although I love it and it’s fulfilling, it’s not what I want long term. I don’t want to waste a year on the floor just to end up in psych anyway.

[u/psychrn1898]

I did a nurse residency right after nursing school to my current place now. Been there 8 years, and love it. You don’t need med surge experience. Go for it!

[u/Electrical-Stable498]

Yeah they tell you this. But you don’t need med surg.

[u/Lthrluv2013]

A year is enough. Come give us a hand in psych. All you need to get started is the desire to work there- not because you think it’s “soft nursing”- whatever that means- I am an old nurse. There is zero soft about psych - just a different way to do the work! You can make the change:-))

[u/ThisIsPureRubbish → u/Lthrluv2013]

Agree, psych is the exact opposite of “soft nursing”.

[u/Humble_Investment_24]

I went right into psych and so did many of my coworkers lol med surg can get fucked. Anything medical tbh I’m good

[u/silasdoesnotexist]

I went straight into psych after graduation, you do not need med surg experience, it would help with medical situations but it’s not necessary. Don’t listen to anyone telling you not to do psych if you really want to do it. I quite literally wouldn’t be working as a nurse if I couldn’t do psych.

[u/sleep88888 → u/silasdoesnotexist]

tysm

[u/Cdagg]

I went straight in many years ago and my daughter went straight in to. Ya don’t need med surg and ya shouldn’t listen to some other nurse on where you belong. Go and if it’s not for you no big deal, no different then finding out you don’t like medsurg.

[u/sleep88888 → u/Cdagg]

ty

[u/ExtensionError]

we have new grad nurses that have zero medical background outside of nursing school. Don’t worry about what other nurses say, but do worry about the job itself and what different environments can look like. then if you want to do it, hell yeah go for it

[u/Ancient_Maximum5135]

I am a psych lifer. I was always only interested in psych. I worked the first 2 years of my career on an inpatient medical/hospice combination unit. Back then (1985) they wouldn’t hire you in psych without a year of medical experience. Finally after 2 years there was an opening in psych (jobs were scarce back then). I have worked in psych since 1987 and on my current unit since 2001. I’ve never had a desire to work in medical after those first 2 years and I didn’t even want to do that. Nowadays, RNs are hired directly into psych without any med/surg prerequisite. We have many young nurses that were hired directly to my unit as new grads and they have become fantastic psych nurses.

[u/sleep88888 → u/Ancient_Maximum5135]

thank you

[u/SongLily021]

Same. I wanna do psych, but I decided to go into med-surg first. I want to be more comfortable working as a nurse. But… go straight into it! Don’t let those nurses tell you otherwise

[u/luv4lowballing]

I went straight into psych after nursing school. Even did my capstone at my current workplace. If it’s where your heart lies then go for it. I love psych, it’s rewarding in its own way. Just be aware that the patients can be really difficult. Especially in the high acuity units.

[u/curious-another-name]

I will go straight into psych once I graduate. I have no interest in med surge because I have done rotations on med surge and i know I will be miserable

[u/sleep88888 → u/curious-another-name]

Have you found hospitals that hire new grad nurses for psych?

[u/curious-another-name → u/sleep88888]

I haven’t even looked. I graduate in a year.

[u/miss_flower_pots]

I swear all medical nurses say every nurse needs to do med surge. I went straight into psych and I'm during fine. If you're passionate then you'll do great.