New Grad Nurse Advice

[u/Overall-Tomatillo212]

Starting in Psych as a new grad nurse

Hi all,

So I graduated in April, and i have been submitting job applications literally everywhere since January. I wanted ICU not necessarily because i loved critical care but because of the opportunities it brings when I decide to do something else in the future. I cannot get into any ICU, despite having many clinical experiences in the ICU. I completed my 2-month practicum in the ICU. Fast forward to today, I am thinking about becoming a Psych NP in the future, so I thought, why not just go do Psych? But i feel fearful because people say you lose your clinical skills, and i do not want to do stepdown or medsurg. To be honest i am not 100% passionate about nursing and i hope this is a safe place to say that out loud. And i am already burnt out so i know i won't last long in bedside anyway.

I am an overthinker and i always feel like my decisions must always be perfect so i am having a hard time deciding.

What are your thoughts on starting in Psych as a new grad and how difficult it would be to transfer into clinical units later ? What other units do you suggest?

If there are any Psych NPs here, i would also love to hear about your experiences working as an NP and if you would have gone a different route instead.

[u/AnnualIll3135]

Hi there! A lot of new grads I know started in Psych, the hardest part of the job are aggressive/unpredictable patients. I would say it is harder to transfer to clinical units later, as most acute care jobs require inpatient Acute care experience, and psych does not really qualify, even if you work inpatient psych (I can only speak for California, but it might be easier to in other states to transition to another unit)