What to Expect When Working a Psych Travel Nurse Job
Psych travel nurse jobs are an excellent opportunity for registered nurses with experience in mental health to get the work they want and need. These professionals assess patients, perform psychiatric diagnostic testing, administer psychiatric medications, and help patients cope with their conditions. They may also serve as part of a team of healthcare professionals. However, knowing what to expect is essential before you apply for a psych travel nurse job.
What to Expect
Psych nurses work in many environments, including hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, home healthcare agencies, prisons, mental health organizations, schools, and private practices. Often they are part of a team that includes doctors, psychiatrists, and psych techs responsible for coordinating patient care. Psych travel nurse jobs include helping patients overcome phobias, manage the effects of psychotic disorders, treat substance abuse, and more. They must be well-versed in various mental health conditions, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and anxiety. They must be able to assess their patients’ physical and psychological health, administer medications and evaluate their reactions. They are also trained in cognitive and behavioral therapies so they can interact with their patients on a personal level. They must understand and respond to their patients’ complex emotions and challenges while remaining strong enough to protect themselves from becoming overly involved with their patient’s lives. In addition, they must be empathetic and compassionate but firm enough to keep them on track with their treatment plans. The demand for psychiatric nurses has remained the same as public awareness about mental illness grows.
Working Conditions
When working a psych travel nurse job, you can see some impressive tech, including the latest in telemedicine and robotics. In addition, you will likely be surrounded by some brilliant and caring staff.
The best part is that you get to work in some of the most interesting and exciting places around the globe. Psych nurses have a lot to do, from performing physical and mental health assessments and testing to administering psychiatric medication, among other tasks. They also play an essential role in helping patients recover from illnesses that are often difficult for them to cope with, such as substance use and eating disorders. The best part about this career is that you can work in various settings. For example, you may be lucky enough to find an intermediate care facility job. You can provide skilled nursing supervision and supportive care to a psychiatric hospital’s step-down unit or between the neonatal intensive care unit and the pediatrics unit in a larger hospital. The most common psych travel nursing assignments involve a combination of inpatient and outpatient treatment. You can also find opportunities in home healthcare, with a good percentage of these jobs in the U.S. you can see some pretty impressive tech, including the latest in telemedicine and robotics. In addition, you will likely be surrounded by some brilliant and caring staff. The best part is that you get to work in some of the most interesting and exciting places around the globe.
Psych nurses have a lot to do, from performing physical and mental health assessments and testing to administering psychiatric medication, among other tasks. They also play an essential role in helping patients recover from illnesses that are often difficult for them to cope with, such as substance use and eating disorders. The best part about this career is that you can work in various settings. For example, you may be lucky enough to find an intermediate care facility job. You can provide skilled nursing supervision and supportive care to a psychiatric hospital’s step-down unit or between the neonatal intensive care unit and the pediatrics unit in a larger hospital. The most common psych travel nursing assignments involve a combination of inpatient and outpatient treatment. You can also find opportunities in home healthcare, with a good percentage of these jobs in the U.S.
Salary
Psychiatric nurses can pursue certifications and advanced degrees that help them expand their scope of practice. Depending on their residence, they can become psychiatric nurse practitioners or psychiatric mental health clinical nurse specialists. They can also specialize in specific patient populations, such as pediatric, adolescent, or geriatric. If you’re ready to start your new psych travel nurse adventure, talk to an experienced recruiter about the agency that offers the best benefits for traveling nurses and allied healthcare professionals. These benefits may include industry-leading pay, sign-on, referral, completion bonuses, paid-to-house, and more.
Traveling
You can regularly experience new places and cultures as a travel psych nurse. Fortunately, there are a few things that you can do to ensure your traveling arrangements go smoothly. First, you need to register with a travel nurse agency. This will make it much easier to find the correct assignment for you, as they can look into the availability of travel nurses in your preferred location and submit you for open jobs. Next, you will need to prepare your documents for submission. This includes your resume, references, skills checklists, license, and other important information. By preparing these items in an organized manner, you will increase your chances of landing the top-paying travel nurse assignments available.
Another thing that you can do is work on your interview skills. Many psychiatric travel nurses find this an essential skill, as it lets you clearly and concisely explain your job duties to the hospital management team. Finally, consider obtaining a specialty certification. This is an excellent way to stand out from other applicants and may help you secure more psych travel nurse jobs in the future. The most famous specialty for psych travel nurses is psychiatric nursing. This field involves caring for patients with mood disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other mental health conditions. Psychiatric nurses care in various settings, including hospitals, clinics, schools, and rehabilitation centers. In addition to working with psychiatric patients, psych travel nurses can care for patients with substance use and eating disorders.