Changing from RGN to RMHN

Posts: 1 · Joined: 11 Sep 2008 Posts: 1 Location: Amersham

Hi everyone,

Im new to the forum, I only hope someone can help me with my problem!!

I finished my nurse training recently and am awaiting my PIN number so that Ill be a registered general nurse. Thing is though, and Ive not long realised this, but the fields in which I want to work in and which most interest me all require registered mental health nurses and Im gutted.

I really didnt know that to work in forensic nursing including that of prison nursing, working with rehabilitated youths and with the police required you to be mentally health trained.

I suppose its my own fault for not researching this enough, but if Im honest, back then I didnt really know what area of nursing it was that I wanted to go into. Its only been in the final stages of my training that I've come to realise it.

My big query is, is it possible to somehow transfer my general adult skills into mental health or is it a question of re-training?! Id be so disappointed if I have walked into a dead end and my only option would be to re-train. Im hoping that there is someone reading this forum that may be able to help me or point me in the right direction.

Here's hoping....

Thank you all for reading,

Claire Confused