Counseling degree going to help my RN career?

[Zookeeper44, RN]

I have a BA in Psychology and an M.Ed. in Community Counseling, never got licensed, became a SAHM instead. Have a couple of years' experience in Social Work/Counseling, though, so I do know a good bit about psychiatry. My job was a "Diagnostician" and I did everything in a community mental health center except actually making the official dx (we gave "impressions") and prescribing meds (psychiatrist).

I am curious to know from anyone out there who is an experienced psych nurse, will this previous education/experience boost my status at the end of my RN program, any higher up the ladder than your average "grad" nurse who is in their early 20's and has no other job experience? (I am also 44 years old and mother of 5, so lots of so-called life experience as well).

TIA!!

[inthesky]

When I graduated from nursing school and wanted to be a psych nurse, I was only (and still only) qualified to do inpatient psych nursing (important experience, but definitely not my calling in life). I was actually lucky to get a psych RN job as a new grad. You shouldn't have a problem with that aspect. With your background, you could do community psych nurse case management. I actually had a classmate with a social work degree do this.

[Mr Ian]

I am curious to know from anyone out there who is an experienced psych nurse, will this previous education/experience boost my status at the end of my RN program, any higher up the ladder than your average "grad" nurse who is in their early 20's and has no other job experience? (I am also 44 years old and mother of 5, so lots of so-called life experience as well).

TIA!!

Prob not the grad year as, aside all your good experience, you've never been a newly qualified nurse.

But after that .... I see big things possible.