I was an RN in 4 psych facilities and an administrator in one. Interviews are mostly the same as any other facility, but they might ask you a couple of different things, such as:

Can you handle being spit at, called names, assaulted? How would you handle those things? What did you like about your psych rotation in school? Why do you want to work in psych? Have you ever dealt with mentally or emotionally ill people before?

Good luck! Psych was my favorite specialty!

Walang anuman!

I would ask:

"What is the age range of your patients?"

"are all the beds voluntary, or are there some involuntary committments?"

"What kind of a patient mix do you have?"

Most facilities have a mix of depression, bipolar, borderlines, psychotics, and developmentally disabled, as well as various emotional problems. Some facilities have more "upscale" patients (I've had physicians, nurses, lawyers, etc as patients) but others have lots of "homeless" types, alchoholics & addicts.

Seriously, when I did hands-on nursing, psych was by far the most enjoyable. Is this a private facility or State? I've worked in both.

No, not familiar, but I worked in three New Jersey State facilities - the one for kids, the one for the criminally insane, and one general psych (Marlboro). i worked in the ITU (Intensive Treatment Unit) where they send the out-of-control patients.

But most patients in State facilities are there in "cottages" living in big dormitories. Most are there on involuntary committment, for reasons such as attempting or threatening suicide, or being picked up for minor offenses. Perhaps they wuild go to a psych unit in a general hospital, or a private psych hospital, but can't afford it.

They get a hearing before a judge periodically to determine if they can be released. Most are well controlled, and as long as they behave they can get out of the cottage to go to the dining hall, or the on-grounds store or walk around the grounds. They even get passes to visit family, and family or  friends can visit them. The psychiatrist sees them once a week to evaluate them and adjust meds.

As an RN you usually are in charge of your shift on the unit or cottage, do all the admin stuff including supervising the techs (aides). The aides in state facilities can be kind of tough, so you must be a strong leader, and not put up with insubordination. But you must treat them fairly - they are your protection. The aides always ran to my assistance because they knew I always backed them up too. I know that sounds a little violent, but I was on the locked down ITU (they put all us big guy RNs there). Most units are very calm.

You dress casually - jeans, sneakers, whatever, to put the patients at ease. Lots of patients are very intelligent anfd fun to talk with. Some are just very normal people who had a problem at one point.

Now that is New Jersey, but I have a feeling New York may be quite similar. I hope youget the position! Let us know!