Pros and Cons of Being a Psych Nurse | Skills, Pay, & Stress

Pros and Cons of Being a Psych Nurse | Skills, Pay, & Stress
With so many nurses wanting to become Psych Nurse Practitioners, I always stress the importance of getting psych experience before jumping straight into being a Psych NP.
When I tell people this, they often wonder what the pros and cons are of being a psych nurse.
In this video, I go over my top 5 PROS and CONS of being a PSYCH NURSE.
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Check out my links below to find out what has helped and currently helping me as a Psych Nurse Practitioner.
Enjoy!!
►►►MUST HAVE BOOKS for PSYCH NP SCHOOL
Stahl's Prescriber Guide: amzn.to/2EbndKN
Stahl's Essential Psychopharmacology: amzn.to/2X2vAjm
DSM 5: amzn.to/2HJlmjl
DSM 5 Made Easy: amzn.to/2FuePFP
DSM 5 Differential Diagnosis: amzn.to/2HJlpf1
Synopsis of Psychiatry: amzn.to/31MjPzb
►►►MUST HAVE BOOK TO PASS ANCC PSYCH NP BOARD CERTIFICATION
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Review and Resource Manual: amzn.to/2UjUblr

[@thelittlejennie]

Pro: -Critical thinking skills get better since ratio about 1:6 -Communication skills greatly develop, appropriately intervene during conversation. How to direct conversation. -Therapeutic Alliance with pt. is built inside and outside nursing. -De-escalate pt when using physical maneuvers in all setting's. -Further career with all the new skills that were learned in all areas of nursing. Cons: (are iffy) -Community of nurses will think you're either lazy or crazy. -Get lack of gratitude from pt's since in the worst mental state. -Emotional stress since surrounded by so much negativity mentality. -May get physically hurt (push, spit, kicked, yelled) since pt's are not stable. -Lower pay in comparison to other specialty's.

[@LifeofaPsychNP]

thanks

[@reddbendd]

Working with adults who’ve had mental illnesses for decades is way scarier than working with children/adolescents. They seem harmless enough.

[@catlastname8718]

@@reddbendd Work in adolescent inpatient psych and get back to me on that one, haha

[@LOL0Liiip0p]

pros/cons start at 3:57

[@LifeofaPsychNP]

Thanks

[@danielg3727]

Thank you!

[@satsekhon7412]

Thank you 😁

[@Tvso9813]

Thank you

[@17whit]

It’s like you read my mind. Just got a call today for a psych nurse interview. This video really helped me out :)

[@LifeofaPsychNP]

Yayyy congrats! That's huge! I'm glad I was able to help. Def check one of my older videos about psych nursing interview help. Best of luck

[@hopelessromantic6961]

If anyone is looking for studying materials such as KZbin videos to help pass the PMHNP boards, check out PMHNP 101 on KZbin. They are really good and it’s free! Also check out their patreon channel.Here’s how: https:www.patreon.com/pmhnp101/overview

[@pamellamarindi8672]

I would listen to this guy the whole day and dont get bored....

[@LifeofaPsychNP]

Thank you 🙏🏽

[@queennugget3154]

Psych nurses are also putting their lives on the line. I was watching other psych nurses say that patients will often have violent outbursts resulting in nurses getting broken teeth, jaws and noses. Not to mention if they’re working in the forensic wards they’re working with the most dangerous criminals who have committed murders etc. Definitely not ‘easier’.

[@fvocrew2589]

You are 100 percent correct

[@jamesoshea494]

I feel it is still the least stressful out of all nursing jobs.

[@allieren]

After working telemetry/medical-surgical for the past 6 years and through the pandemic, I have to politely disagree. We’re being assaulted more often in acute care nowadays by non-psych patients (and even family members); at least in a mental health facility we have PRN meds and other resources available to help alleviate that.

[@toddm6999]

More myth of people with mental illness as dangerous 😳...most are looking for help it absolutely lack of mental health help which is dangerous

[@chrisnguyen5922]

@@jamesoshea494 there are some really crazy patients with altered mental status (alcohol withdrawal, paranoid, delusional, suicidal, homicidal, agitated/combative, and so on) that is stress inducing -> these patients take away a lot of your time on the floor.

[@czthjvv]

I have almost 5 years of med/surg experience. Last Thursday I applied to a psych hospital and the next Tuesday I got the interview and I was offered the job at the end of the interview. They offered me slightly more than what I'm making at my med/surg job!

[@Jaymuyhombre666]

Very informative! Thank you so much! Between you and the Psych NP you guys are motivating me so much and giving me so many advices that I cannot wait to finish school and become BC!

[@allieren]

Just made a change after 6 years as an RN (20+ years in healthcare) from acute care to psych. I’m so excited-I should’ve started in this field in the first place. Edit: Dang, I miss CA ratios from my travel nursing days! Six is about par for the course in tele on nights here in MI. We have minimum 8-10 patients on nights in psych.

[@garlicbuttermonkeballs]

I appreciate all of your videos so much

[@saramad6272]

Thank you so much for this video. I just graduated with a bachelors in nursing got a job in mental health facility. I am thrilled at the same time I am confused and scared. Your video helps me to understand. Please keep making video like that

[@beki7451]

I work as a Healthcare aide at a Nursing home. My 2 nurses think this is the route for me. I get floated and work for 3 out or the 4 units, but I love learning about people. I think some of the skills I've learned as a HCA has helped me gain insight what this career is about. Especially since my unit has behavioral problems + dementia + physical problems (strokes + parkinsons). I'm excited to go into being a Psych Nurse.

[@jeong-minhwang5909]

Thank you!

[@christianrap5789]

I like your content. You are a very informative and articulate communicator. I have a few questions. Do you think I can get a job as a travel nurse in psych with an ADN or any job for that matter? Also, is there any positive or negative of being a male nurse to employers in psych?

[@annavictoriatolibas1321]

Rn in SNF for months now, but got an opportunity in psych nursing. thanks for your videos.

[@sweetcaus]

How do you like ? i worked in SNF 10 yrs too. starting job inpatient psych unit in next month. please give me tips i am very nervous.thanks

[@cathywardell9604]

Actual pros and cons starts at 3:59

[@laurieberry162]

Manic people will usually not hurt you. It depends on the person. Manic people may lose lots of sleep.

[@reddbendd]

I’ll tell you, manic people just wanna ramble more then anything. They also have akathisia sometimes

[@rkayev9618]

this helped me so much! im starting to be psych nurse on august and im taking the time before to prepare and be familiar on my expectations. you're channel is like a gold mine

[@cordellgue518]

How do yo de esculate the situations?

[@julietfung98]

Psych nurse program in Alberta, Canada is 2.5 years and you get paid the same as any RN. Starting $38. I was looking into it.

[@chanellec2682]

Omg I was looking too

[@danielg3727]

That’s good

[@WintWintWeenie]

So if i were to become a psyc nurse would i be able to do that for many years? Like a long time? Or am i supposed to only do it for a couple years then leave

[@jennymargallo7362]

I was wondering. What are the different types of psych settings? 🙂

[@laurieberry162]

I have a bad back and I feel like I can’t hut anyone. I remember that the nurse checked my purse for pills because they thought I would overdose because I did appear suicidal. That maybe I was in the hospital with great nurses.

[@caitlynlacovara8392]

Prospective psych RN here! I have a few quick questions for ya. So I'm a short female who's not physically strong enough to hold down most patients. In your experience when restraining patients, can you rely on others for help with this process or is it on you alone most of the time to restrain someone when needed? Question two- how often have you been physically harmed by a psych patient (be it hit, kicked, punched, etc)? Thanks!

[@CP-ue2qf]

you should make a video about non-prescriber PMHNP jobs available. Thank you

[@alexiszapata2660]

Do you or in general, PMHNP, provide therapy? Can you solely provide tradition therapy like a LCSW?

[@tombaycka]

No Sireeee Bob!

[@user-du8hf4pg8q]

oh please

[@tombaycka]

Do you think psych nurses sometimes over react to a patient’s behaviour? I was in psych for a while there were a couple of nurses who over reacted a lot

[@kathleengivant-taylor2277]

They often do in my experience when hospitalized with eating disorders

[@tombaycka]

@@kathleengivant-taylor2277 Interesting,I’m obese and my nurses were very supportive of my health

[@kathleengivant-taylor2277]

@@tombaycka that is really good u sound like u had a completely different experience with mental health care then I did

[@linziee4661]

Hey! I recently just found your page and was instantly intrigued! I am a psychology major and I was wondering should I double major in psy and in bio or is a bio minor fine? Also, Is there any internship or program to receive hands on learning while studying undergrad?

[@meganlind7471]

You should get a nursing degree😭 neither of those will lead you to this path

[@linziee4661]

@@meganlind7471 👍🏽

[@chase9339]

@@meganlind7471 he can do a direct entry nurse practitioner program im pretty sure

[@ditzywallflwr9714]

Starts at 4:00

[@laurieberry162]

I remember that a psychiatric nurse used to call my friend in the hospital fattie and that’s rude. I had very bad acne and I was a young patient. This nurse would sing, “I want your leprosy.” But since I was skinny and underweight, the nurse would give me a delicious shake and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in the morning. I struggled to gain weight. I remember that I was like muscular and I told this patient if he didn’t leave my room, I would lose my temper. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. So the man left my bedroom. I was going to hurt him if he didn’t leave my room and if I ended up in restraints because of him, I would give him the cold shoulder. I personally don’t like psychiatric nurses because I think they are rude jerks.

[@trevorwalden6097]

I've heard PMHNP's get paid more... 🤔. Guess it depends on your state/ facility

[@chrisgarcia6969]

He basically said the same pros over and over again

[@nelsonferreira8844]

Don t understand why psych nurses are not paid like other nurses. After all you all are nurses.

[@LifeofaPsychNP]

Me neither but unfortunately, it's true

[@jjpsp12]

I can answer this, therapist here, if you live in the U.S, the country sadly doesn’t care as much about psych. This is why a lot of psych places doesn’t have a lot of funding and rely on outside resources for funding

[@jessicafriss8159]

where I am from, psych nurses typically make MORE than other specialties

[@timothyeustace911]

@@jessicafriss8159 where are you from?

[@michaelcarter266]

Med surg you get paid more but are worn out physically after two days so it is harder to work more than 3 days a week. In psy you could probably pick up an extra day without really feeling it physically.