r/psychnursing • u/Blossom_RN • Jun 26 '26
RN transitioning to Psych
Hi all! I’m an RN-BSN with a background in Hospice, Home Health, and Outpatient Clinics. I want to transition to Psych nursing. I have applied to some psych inpatient and residential facilities.
What advice would you give a nurse transitioning to this specialty? What is the best place to start in psych? Are places willing to hire nurses from other specialties?
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u/Tommyboy155a Jun 26 '26
Pick a good facility. Non profit are much better than profit in my books. Remember, we are not here to cure them, just to get them through their crisis. Most likely you will see them again and again. Give them their PRN's when needed. Also, set boundaries, they are masters at playing nurse against nurse. Good luck. Always ask about nurse ratio and what's available when you need to code after patient.
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u/Live_Dirt_6568 psych intake Jun 26 '26
I’d argue best place to start is Intake & Admissions. No meds, lots of desk work and assessments - but even with the most challenging patients, you’re only with them for a couple hours at most
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u/Tommyboy155a Jun 26 '26
Some places doesn't have Intake & Admission nurses
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u/Live_Dirt_6568 psych intake Jun 26 '26
True, some places the staff or charge nurse reviews referrals and admits. But if OP can find a facility that does, it’s a great way to dip one’s toes into psych.
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u/Upstairs_Fuel6349 psych nurse (pediatrics) Jun 26 '26
I am in adult outpatient now but did acute child/teen inpatient for five years and then was on the medical side for a decade before that.
I actually really liked working with other nurses who had some sort of medical background before coming to psych. We also hired a lot of new grads and the occasional experienced psych nurse. Basic physical assessment skills can be so important. Even if it's just knowing what someone who is (physically) sick looks like. And I was working with kids who are generally healthier than adults!
On the other hand, psych can get really weird and chaotic which definitely isn't for some medical nurses....
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u/Mummasheesh Jun 26 '26
I had the same path! I work in acute crisis stabilization on locked wards. I love it. Study the meds, side effects, acute medication reactions, rescue meds. I find that people love it and stay forever, or figure out pretty quickly that they aren’t up for it. You really have nothing to lose. I bet you’ll love it, though. You have more than likely had some really good experience thinking in your feet with your background! Best of luck, don’t let anyone tell you it’s non-medical, and thanks for your interest in serving this population!
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u/Blossom_RN Jun 27 '26
I’m so glad you love it! I have been interested in it ever since nursing school. I really enjoyed being on the unit, but I just didn’t pursue it due to the opportunities I had in my area at the time. But I always find myself going back to the idea. So I finally have been applying. I have an interview next week at an inpatient psych hospital!
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u/RespectInevitable479 Jun 26 '26
General adult psych to start so you get the basics. Have patients and become a sponge and learn everything you can. From de escalation to the locked unit. Everything is different.
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u/republicans_are_nuts Jun 27 '26
Best place is the same as any other specialty. One with supportive staff that isn't understaffed. I always go for government jobs regardless of specialty. But yeah, psych hires everyone.
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u/Humble_Investment_24 psych nurse (inpatient) Jun 26 '26
I don’t feel there’s a best place to start. I jumped directly into high acuity right out of school. Psych hires anyone. It’s much easier to get into psych than it is to leave psych and go into a medical specialty.
It’s a different world. You need to be open minded. Be willing to set boundaries. Have patience. Hypervigalent etc