Newly qualified Nurse (child) what would you do next CAMHS or general?

[EachandEveryone]

Not for me im 25 years in the job😃

My dn has got the opportunity to work in any area she chooses in her children's hospital where she trained. Her training up North has been exceptional even through Covid and Im pleased for her. She loved all her placements but never had a MH one and she cant decide whether to apply for a CAMHS job on a childrens inpatient ward or to apply to A & E.. she has to put three choices and theres no interview unless its very popular.

Anyone experienced in either?

I would think A&E would be better to consolidate her training at this point.

I'd be surprised that CAMHS is an option, you usually need to be a MH nurse to work there. CAMHS is a very understaffed, touch area that I wouldn't recommend to a newly qualified nurse anyway, and definitely not one with no MH experience.

I'd be pursuing a role where she will get broad experience rather than a niche area - admissions wards are usually a good choice for a first role.

*tough area

35 years on the job
Def AE - this will widen her opportunities, develop skills and teach her teamwork and quick thinking
I would always recommend general nursing prior to any specialty
So Med / Surgical / AE for at least a year
Then see how she feels

I'd recommend a and e or a medical/surgical recieving ward. Best way to learn a lot in a short time and consolidate skills. Not easy places to work, but if she doesn't enjoy them she can move on in a year with lots of good skills and also with an idea of where her interests lie eg ortho, respiratory, etc. I definitely wouldn't recommend camhs as a first job, especially if she has no experience. As well as the huge understaffing etc in camhs just now, it would be quite a niche role to start with and she may struggle to get back to the wards in a few years if she didn't enjoy it. If she works in a and e or a medical ward, she will likely meet the camhs team and patients and working along side them might give her more of an idea of whether she would enjoy it?

Oh she will deffo come accross the team. Her next placement is oncology and lots of of her friends are applying there. Then theres the burns unit after. I have to say to anyone whos child is considering childrens nursing go sonewhere with a childrens hospital. Her training has been superior compared to our poor students. Third years are more like starters. I feel so sorry for them.