CNS in Psych???

Specialties Psychiatric

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Specializes in Correctional Nursing; MSN student.

Just wondering if the CNS in Psych nursing is a good direction for a nurse wanting to pursue more clinical counseling/mental health care? The NP route is looking grim for my situation...DNP. Any input on this route? Other options besides LCSW for more of a counseling role for RN in mental health? Will complete BSN on-line then look for psych specialty route. Recommended on-line programs?

Thanks for your valuable insight.

Specializes in Psychiatry.

I'll finish Sacred Heart University's RN-BSN online program soon. It was fine, whatever. I only enrolled because I wanted to pursue the Psych APRN track, but now I would imagine many of us are reconsidering. I have a feeling I'll stick to it because I love this specialty and, unless someone gives you some great answers/options, what else is there to do? If I change to administration or whatever, then this RN-BSN will have been a colossal waste of time.

Thanks for posting this question & good luck.

Specializes in Correctional Nursing; MSN student.

I don't think you'll find the RN-BSN program will be a waste of time regardless of what you decide to do. In spite of a projected severe nursing shortage the BSN will be an important level of education, albeit entry level for those of us who want to specialize. I think it's great you are going to go ahead with the APRN. I am looking for a CNS track because quite frankly I don't think I can go through the DNP level in terms of time, money and stress. If I were 10 years younger it might seem feasible. I was pretty excited about it before the DNP began to loom overhead. I think you're right, many nurses will reconsider because of this. I will go ahead and complete my BSN ASAP online but after that I don't know. Our state program is going the DNP route next fall. :( Good luck to you.

Specializes in Med/Surg, Neuro, ICU, travel RN, Psych.

I've actually been wondering the same thing, with what track to take. I switched to psych a year ago, and love it. I still need to finish my BSN as well, but am not sure what to do from there. I really have no desire to do the NP as it is pretty much just med management it seems. I don't know too much about the CNS in Psych, but that was the route that was recommended to me to look into as well.

Specializes in Correctional Nursing; MSN student.

Well perhaps between the 2 of us we can figure out a plan. I work in corrections and do a lot of psych indirectly. I don't want to manage meds primarily. I've seen some great psych programs...CA for one...but not online. I don't have access to a CNS program in our community. I'm sure there must be some avenue to pursue for nurses and psych...beyond a BSN. Keep in touch!

Specializes in Med/Surg, Neuro, ICU, travel RN, Psych.
Well perhaps between the 2 of us we can figure out a plan. I work in corrections and do a lot of psych indirectly. I don't want to manage meds primarily. I've seen some great psych programs...CA for one...but not online. I don't have access to a CNS program in our community. I'm sure there must be some avenue to pursue for nurses and psych...beyond a BSN. Keep in touch!

From what I'm reading and researching, as long as a CNS is recognized in your state, that is more the way to go if you want to be more involved in psychotherapy, rather than med management. Seems that an NP is unable to be reimbursed for psychotherapy, where as a CNS can. But I've also read a lot about them integrating the programs in a lot of areas. So not really sure how that plays out now that the NP will be a doctorate program.

I'm going to be moving to NC soon, and "hopefully" will be settling down there. We've moved a lot, and are trying to figure out where we want to live. So that will have to be my next step is looking into the nurse practice act for that state, after I finish my BSN of course.

There is no program in your general vicinity at all? I've never really looked into online programs for it.

Specializes in Correctional Nursing; MSN student.

I'm from NC! You should have ample access to programs there. Good luck with that! We have nursing programs in the state but the MSN in not in pysch. That's my interest and I agree about being more of counseling type degree than NP. I even considered MSW but the pay is sooooooooooo bad compared to nursing. Something will work out. I have 14-16 months before I even have my BSN. Keep me posted on your progress.

Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

I'm a psych CNS and know a few other CNSs. Being able to use the degree isn't as simple as getting it. For me and the others I know it's been pretty difficult. First, there aren't that many psych CNS job opportunities in hospitals. I had the only one in a psych hospital, even though there were 4 FNPs that worked there. I was also the only psych CNS in a huge generic hospital before that. The generic hospital position was eliminated as not needed.

Then if you want to work on your own, you have to do some big hoop jumping. You have to get certified and get approved by insurance companies in order to be able to bill for your services. This is complicated. If you want to prescribe, you have to get the approval for that and if you prescribe controlled substances there's additional approval. You would need big . You would need a collaborating doctor. That's complicated too. Many don't want to do it unless you work with them. Otherwise you have to pay them, if you can find ones who are willing.

I think you need to be very specific in what you want to do with the degree...not just "counseling/mental health care." Then ask alot of questions about the program you're thinking about. Ask to talk to its graduates. My CNS schooling didn't prepare me for much. I had to learn to do what I do on my own pretty much.

I'm happy being a CNS now, but it took awhile. I've done pretty much all the roles it says it gives, but I had to get to do them on my own. Persistence, flexibility, and a bit of pushiness are helpful. You can do it if I did it.

Specializes in Correctional Nursing; MSN student.

Thank you for that enlightening post. I can see what you mean about ambiguity regarding positions, etc. So if a nurse wants to work in mental health are we better off just going into counseling and maybe working into a position? I don't want to re-invent myself but rather build on my nursing by branching off into mental health care. I see a huge need for this and it's expected to grow in the future. Perhaps a BSN with a counseling degree is the way to go. Work part-time in my current field and part-time in counseling. Food for thought and your input/perspective is very helpful. Thanks you again.

Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

The path I took was to work as a psych nurse first. I learned so much from that that was invaluable to me as I became a CNS.

I don't think you'd get all of what you need from being a counselor first, to say nothing about how much less counselors earn (who are employed by others) than nurses earn. The patient is a holistic being and medical is sooo intertwined with psychological. Nurse get the big picture. I'd advise taking psych courses as electives, particularly developmental psychology and abnormal psychology. During my last year of my BSN, every time there was a project to do, I geared mine toward psychiatry when I had a choice. That helped me.

Also, get a job in a psych facility while you're in school and after graduation. Sometimes it's a "foot in the door" thing that can be helpful for getting a job as a psych APRN too, as well as giving you lots of experience with psychiatric patients. That's how I got my CNS job in the psych hospital.

I don't think getting a double degree (BSN and counseling) would help you get a job, although it would help you know what you're doing as a nurse counselor more.

Did you know that generic psych nurses do lots of a form of counseling called therapeutic use of self? I found that extremely rewarding when I was a psych nurse. I think it made a big difference for some of my patients. As a psych nurse you'd be doing teaching and running groups too. You wouldn't just be handing out meds and doing paperwork.

You will need some experience as a psych nurse before most places would hire you as a psych CNS or APRN. You need to experience to feel competent as well as to be competent and to be seen as competent. Going out on your own without experience under your belt is really, really, in my opinion, NOT a good thing for you or your potential patients.

Are you a nurse already? What's your current job?

Specializes in Correctional Nursing; MSN student.

Yes, I'm an RN...ADN with BS in another field. I work in a detention facility...very small census but lots of addiction and mental health issues. I have almost 7 years experience in this area. I enjoy the informal counseling I do but eventually would like to branch out into more psych directed nursing. Would like an advanced degree in this area. Thank you again for all the valuable info!

Specializes in Med/Surg, Neuro, ICU, travel RN, Psych.

MTsteelhorse, hope you don't think I'm hijacking your thread, lol. It's just become very informative so I'm responding to Whispera's post as well.

Whispera, when you are talking about the general psych nursing and doing groups and such, was this something you encountered in inpatient facilities? I am currently a psych RN in a hospital. We have 4 units as well as an ER. I'm a float, so I go between the units. Although we do not do any groups. We have counselors on staff that do our groups. I actually posted a thread earlier today, asking about the difference between units and how the roles vary. My job is close to what you described, meds and paperwork.

I do agree, I have looked into a Masters in Counseling or MSW or something instead and it seems as if it would be a step backwards with more schooling. Not a smart move.

MtSteelhorse, that is good to know about NC. I am hoping it will be the place we decide to stay. I'm ready to pick a place and build a home and career.

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