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Thank you for your responses. I have a BA in Psych and BSN. I've worked for 1.5 years in mental health hospital. Right now I am in NC, but want to move. Just want an easy way to find a job and don't mind to move to any larger cities with good job prospects.
Why you'de want to work as a mental health nurse is another thing alltogether though...tough gig, God bless!
Thank you for your response.
Actually, I find Mental Health is easier to work. Less stress. Lots of people assume it's very hard and they are afraid of the patients. Actually, the patients when they are medicated, cause no problems at all.
1. It pays more. People in my unit work overtime and easily make 120 K a year.. It's just charting, really.
2. I like talking to the people
3. It does not involve contact with feces and smells.
On the downside
1. It attracts lazy nurses
2. You really learn very little about real nursing. Most of the nurses I work with, don't even know how to draw blood.
Actually, I find Mental Health is easier to work. Less stress. Lots of people assume it's very hard and they are afraid of the patients. Actually, the patients when they are medicated, cause no problems at all.
1. It pays more. People in my unit work overtime and easily make 120 K a year.. It's just charting, really.
2. I like talking to the people
3. It does not involve contact with feces and smells.
On the downside
1. It attracts lazy nurses
2. You really learn very little about real nursing. Most of the nurses I work with, don't even know how to draw blood.
My hospital (I work in the boiler plant and do maintenance work) use to have a mental ward. Some of the patients do get violent and more than one nurse was treated for broken nose, knocked out teeth, and broken bones. One particularly nasty patient took five of us to hold him down.
My hospital (I work in the boiler plant and do maintenance work) use to have a mental ward. Some of the patients do get violent and more than one nurse was treated for broken nose, knocked out teeth, and broken bones. One particularly nasty patient took five of us to hold him down.
I can see how it can happen.
so far I've worked for two places. I've never seen this happen yet. I don't generally provoke the patients. I treat them with respect. For the most part, the nurses just chart and give meds through a window. Not a lot of communication with the patients. Besides, we have techs who control patients.
Work inpatient you need a year under your belt at least, a in, or prior experience working psych before nursing. Some hospitals encourage work other floors prior to commitment to the behavioral unit. Could look into residential, group homes, or outpatient clinics where a APRN isn't needed. Also can consider assisted living or nursing homes with a heavily populated Alzheimer's or Dementia unit. Last but not least county jail, prison system, and hospice/palliative care units.
Best of luck
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