Pros
Pros: Great benefits, health/vision/dental all super useful. You get to spend one-on-one time with patients, seeing firsthand how mental illnesses affect them. Generally, the rapport among unit staff is great. Techs and nurses alike are mostly all respectful and kind. Pay is competitive at 15/hr, even though it lacks regular bonuses or raises. Shift differentials are available for weekends and night shifts.
Cons
Super short-staffed. Like… All the time. Management is unlikely to be helpful. It is difficult to get the schedule you request, even if done months in advance. From experience, I can say they are slow to respond and will forget to do anything they say they will, such as a new badge or scheduled time off. I have been promised bonuses and extra pay that never happened, several times. You will be asked to get here early and stay late. Every time you work. Other staff members are often late, resulting in you not leaving until at least 30 minutes after your scheduled time. It’s a draining and emotionally difficult job if you are not truly passionate about mental health. Patients say terrible things every day, you will be overworked, and often times you will feel unheard by the higher up’s. This is one of those jobs where you are truly disposable and are treated as such.
