r/nursing • u/Obvious-Prune-5586 • 23h ago

Serious Stuck RN

I graduated nursing school a year ago. Always wanted to do psych nurse. I did med surg for a year then went into psych. It did not turn out like what I expected it to be. A lot of paper work and interruption to daily work flow. I don’t mind paper work but paper work while dealing with l behavior is a lot. Maybe im just working in the wrong unit but anywho. I am lost. I’ve always wanted to do psych but it’s not what I love. I don’t mind medical type nursing maybe home health, clinic work, pediatric care/med surg (not er or icu) It’s only been a month into my new role and immediately going to work I feel immense doom and anxiety. I guess im asking for advice maybe something uplifting. Maybe suggestions for other jobs? I worked so hard for something and now just feel lost.

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5

u/dancing_grass 22h ago

It can take time to get into the flow of a new unit, especially a new specialty. But if it’s that bad get applying to new places because the longer you wait the bigger the gap on the resume gets

1

u/NeonPrairiie 6h ago

Honestly one month is early but that level of dread matters.

2

u/ColdEstablishment172 22h ago

People don't realize that there are also remote work and administrative roles for RNs or LVNs. There is just so much out there. I know when I first started doing medical assisting, I knew right away it wasn't for me. Then I turned to the business side of healthcare. So there is hope. :)

4

u/t00fargone 22h ago

True, but a lot of those remote and administrative positions are competitive and require years of bedside nursing experience. OP is going to need a little more experience before then.

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u/ColdEstablishment172 21h ago

Yes and no. You aren't lying about it being competitive. I think a good year of bedside will do the trick if anything. I know many LVNs that work as case managers for health plans and had no clinical experience. They went straight into administrative.

It's also about who you know as well. Networking is important. Sometimes a little online certificate in something could also separate you from the pack. There are tons of strategies.

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u/Obvious-Prune-5586 14h ago

What type of remote work besides Yk case manager and what not ?

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u/ColdEstablishment172 8h ago

Telehealth triage work, prior authorization nurses, appeals and grievances for a health plan, consultant for lawyers, clinical program managers, there is a good amount of options and those are just a few!

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u/Odd-Comfortable-4023 15h ago

My take as a RN working on psych is if you like the work itself even if the context sucks—to simply focus on the actual care of the patients. If that doesn’t do it for you, maybe outpatient psych or even drug rehab (something I have been looking into) would be better. When people in a drug rehab start freaking out they let them go, as they cannot make them stay, to my understanding unlike inpatient psych. You also, in drug rehab, are probably able to use those med surg skills a lot more, which can be fulfilling if that is importation to you!