STATE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL..place for New Grad RN?

I am exploring all my options in the Nursing field and have considered applying to a State Psychiatric Hospital. I am seeking feedback as to wether or not this is 'the place' for a New Grad RN . I have an interest in Mental Health so I wouldn't be taking this position just because it is a job. I spoke with the Nurse Recruiter today whom is actually a RN herself and she was excited to set up an interview once I sent in my app..then, today at work I had a customer who is a Hospice RN and actually graduated from the same program years before me..when I told her about my interest in working at the particular hospital her exact words were "oh you don't want to work there, don't be desperate". I think her response was resonable and somewhat maternal (meaning that it is not the most safe of environments). I have always been the type of person to do what I want, but if ay seasoned nurses have any feedback I would really appreciate it.
State psych hospitals can be ... rough depending. I worked in one and was shocked at the behaviour and attitude toward the patients. I changed many things and it got really ugly but I know that place is better for it.It all depends on the staff and how seriously they take their job. You should do a walk through first and meet the staff and see the facility and ask lots of questions. Trust your sixth sense; it will tell you whether it's a good place or not. If you're really interested in mental health then it's a good start IMO.Many people cringe at the thought of a in-patient psych unit. I think that they don't understand mental illness as many people don't. You couldn't drag some nurses to a psych unit and then they're are people like me who go a runnin because I love mental health.Visit first.

Make your visit a longish one. Maybe even job shadow the part of the facility where they'd like you to work. Observe and listen to both staff and patients. Get a feel of what it's like there. I'd recommend a few days...I think you could walk into some stuff in a state hospital. Do you have psych experience? Do you have enough psych experience? Any inpatient psych unit is a whole lot different in it's totality that you can possibly see in your psych clinicals for school.Are you a person with large personality? By that I mean, do you show a sense of being in charge of yourself and situations? That is very necessary.

I have been the charge nurse for an inpatient psychiatric unit in a men's prison. I have been a nurse for 5 years and was trained on a med-surg floor. I wanted a strong medical foundation to stand on. Psych is not my thing. This is merely a stepping stone while I'm in school. I would suggest getting some med-surg experience. You never know when you will get tired of mental health. It will be harder for you to find a job if you don't have any medical experience. In fact, it is a requirement here that you have at least one year of medical experience. Just a thought Good luck!

not every place requires a year of medical experience...

Whispera and Tyvin gave great advice. There is so much stigma attached to mental health, and I agree its not for everyone. I mean I see so many nurses who want to work in L&D or Peds and I know those fields arent for me. I personally love Psych. Its why I have stayed in it so long. It can be interesting and challenging, but I think any nursing field can be challenging. In my 8 years Ive never been attacked by a patient(which is usually negative stigma associated with this field, I was actually hit on and spit on more when I worked in LTC - not to say it cant happen, but I was well trained on how to speak and handle this population of clients and you will too. State hospitals usually provide extensive training) and I work in research now where we take our psych patients through "washout" removing all meds from their system to study their behavior off of meds. I love mental health. I really enjoy this field. You've heard the saying, "Don't knock it, til you try it." Try to stay away from the negative views and thoughts related to mental health, that many people have and go in with a positive outlook, you may be surprised. GOOD LUCK TO YOU!!

"Be vewwy vewwy careful..." I love psych. I can deal well with psych patients. I would not work in a State psyche hospital unless it is not part of the current "expressive" paradigm. Allowing unrestrained expression of violent behavior, ejaculating on the nurses station/less than aware nursing staff, or physical assaults on staff is neither theraputic nor safe. This is, however, part of a new "enlightened" model coming (IIRC) out of a large institution in Tennessee, and being adopted by facilities across the country. Bottom line- this is the same philosophical group that tried to sell "rehabilitation" crap to Corrections in the 60s-70s, got more than a few Corrections Officers and inmates killed in the process, and took their PhD/MMH degrees into State mental health.If you can talk to several nurses, without the recruiter/Admin around, it is probably a decent facility. If the recruiter/Admin is flustered or dismissive in response to a request to visit privately with floor staff, run.One more edit- if they have co-ed housing, that tells you quite a bit. Not a safe model.

I always thought psych was the place for me and one of the first places I applied was the State Hospital - they were in the middle of a hiring freeze at the time, but I did end up working for them several years later. In the 3 psych places I worked, med surg would have been a waste of time. Depends on the unit you are on. You are able to find just about everything at a State Hospital, diagnosis wise. It would be a great learning experience. I would agree with Rob's advice - never wise if the recruiter won't let you talk to the people who are doing the job you eventually will.