Finish out Psych degree or Switch to Nursing?

Nurses General Nursing

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I was originally majoring in Psychology in university- I will be entering my undergrad Junior year this upcoming fall.. and am about 75% away from finishing my Psychology degree. I will graduate in 1.5 years if I finish with Psychology.

I had a change of heart when I started volunteering at a hospital. I helped serve food to ER patients, and was around nurses and felt inspired by their care. I contacted the Nursing department within my university, and I was able to make a switch to Nursing within my university. The thing is that will take about 3 years to finish with a BSN (Since I still have some pre-reqs to take). The first year would be towards pre-reqs, and the next two years are strictly nursing.

I feel so conflicted. I don't actually have REAL medical experience besides that short volunteering experience. I think I could be good at Nursing, as I am compassionate and a hard worker. But I don't know enough about it to feel confident about my decision.

I am not sure if I should just finish with a BA in Psychology since I am almost done, and then consider applying to a accelerated BSN program after.

OR if I should just go for it, since I have a place in the BSN program if I'd like (this would be the cheaper option as well since i am an undergraduate student).

I was thinking to start the semester towards a BSN degree (taking the pre-reqs) and in the meantime shadow some Nurses (there's a local program at the hospital available in the Fall) and use that semester to decide.

What do you guys think?

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I think you are on the right track. To make a big decision you need to do some research into nursing and decide if this is what you really want to do.

With your psych major, what did you have planned as a next step? What kind of job were you thinking about?

If you are able, I would recommend getting a job as a CNA. It makes a good student job with the flexible hours, the training is not long and it will put you in a nursing environment. Most students need a summer job, right?

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I wouldn't spend my time and money on a BA in psychology unless I planned to quickly move on to the master's level. It just doesn't seem like a reliable way to make a living.

Nursing may be worth exploring, but you won't have nearly as much time to be "caring" as you do when you're a volunteer. Shadowing a nurse sounds like a good idea to me, but I have to say ...even as a nursing student, I had no idea what I was in for.

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Specializes in ICU.

Also you need to check into financial aid. It may be more difficult to obtain if you complete your psych degree. But you also may run out of time with credits as well. I would meet with them and map out your best options. The last thing you want to do is get into a financial hole with school.

Just make sure you fully understand the job of a nurse. Really understand. I see so many people in here who waste time and money never realized the sheer volume of charting and stress a nurse is under every day.

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I can't offer you much help but I can tell you what my experience was. I was in your exact same situation a year ago and decided to finish my degree in Psychology. (I have one semester left, after which I will do an ABSN). I honestly wish I had changed. An ABSN is way more expensive (and hard) than a traditional BSN. Once you're sure this is what you want (I mean, really sure) then do it! A BA in Psych will get you nowhere unless you plan to continue grad school. Is that something you're considering? Otherwise, change. If you still wanted to work with a Psych population you can do it with nursing, so why not? Good luck!

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Good recommendations by PPs. I've become more pragmatic as I've aged. I'm thinking finances - be careful if you've taken out student loans and how it will affect them if you change degrees midstream as versus withdrawing & starting anew.

A BA in Psych may not be a sound decision; social work might be a wiser program for career options. Although you say you "are compassionate and a hard worker", there is more to nsg than that.

Do your RESEARCH talk to the RIGHT people for sound advice before making any more commitments in time and money in careers for which you are unsure. Volunteering, shadowing and becoming a CNA are also helpful.

Good luck.

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Specializes in Operating Room.

I was in your situation before. I finished me degree bc i felt i was so close to graduation. I wish I would've just stopped the degree. You may need a Masters degree if you major in psychology for certain jobs. Also, once you have a bachelors degree you are no longer eligible for pell grants at all. It's also very difficult to get scholarships once you get a degree. Don't finish for sake of having only 1.5 years. Finish b/c you really want to work in that area.

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Specializes in Behavioral Health.

Just for some contrast, I have degrees in psych and nursing, and I love them both. I use my nursing skills 3-4 days a week, but I use my psych degree every single day. Fundamental attribution error, Yerkes-Dodson law, Dunning-Kruger effect, egocentric biases, anchoring, priming, misinformation effect, the seven sins of memory... I use something I learned about psychology every day, and it makes me a better person, a better partner, and a better nurse. It hasn't made me any money, and it made nursing school more expensive, but to me it was utterly worth it.

Nursing has done the same. I'm able to support myself and my family, I'm able to help my family navigate health care more effectively, to explain medications and procedures to them, to translate what doctors say into language they understand, to care for them when they have injuries... It's been very fulfilling to me personally and professionally. But I still don't do these things everyday.

Bottom line: If you'll apply what you learn in your everyday life I can't recommend a psych education highly enough. If it's just going to be a piece of paper in a frame in a box somewhere, don't waste your time and money.

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Thank you so much for all the feedback! I'm planning to discontinue pursuing Psych and start working on my BSN. Its going to take a bit longer, but It will be cheaper. I also found out financial aid is still offered as long as an undergrad student doesn't exceed 180 credits. Regarding psychology, I enjoy Psychology, but I figure I can always study it on my own time :) the learning doesn't have to stop just because it won't be my major anymore.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

OP - here in central NJ not too far from me, there used to be a shiny diner by the name 'Blue Dolphin'. Interesting name.

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I know this is an older thread but I want to say that being a CNA us a totally different job than being a nurse... I would not commit to a job that is in a related field, but quite different, to see if I might like a degree. It would be like telling a doctor to take a job as a paramedic to see if he would like to be a doctor...

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