degrees for psych nursing

[wtgirl]

I am a sophmore in college. I am currently in the prenursing program (RN)...so good so far...and will be applying for the program next month. I am also taking a second major in psychology. Do I need a degree in psychology along side my nursing to go into psychiatric nursing? The advisors here have not been much help. Thanks.

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

No, although having it might give you a leg up on other new grads with no psych background. I've seen that some psych facilities strongly prefer a BSN over an ADN, but none that require a psych and nursing double major.

[rn/writer, RN]

I agree with Eric. You'd be better off pursuing a BSN (and taking psych courses for electives) than getting an ADN with a separate psych degree.

Once you have your BSN, you can work in psych and then pursue an advanced practice degree if that interests you. That will allow you to consider counseling and/or some med priveleges.

But just to get in the door of psych, you don't need a psych degree.

I'd encourage you to get some exposure to psych (and other areas) before limiting your options. Sometimes the idea of psych proves to be quite different from the reality.

[wtgirl]

I am currently going for my bsn as well as a bs in psych. I had worked at the state facility as a CNA for about a year when I worked with the nursing pool. I decided then to pursue my RN. I love the nursing profession, but at the same time am drawn strongly to the psychology field. I guess two degrees can't hurt. I am so glad that I found this site. Thank You for all of your comments.

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

If you're looking to go to grad school, that's where the real advantage will lie I think. If you decide you like counseling/therapy type stuff, you could either go the psych route - marriage/fam therapy, counseling or clinical psychology, etc - or you could pursue the nursing route and become a Psych NP/CNS.

[wtgirl]

Okay, now can you tell me what a NP/CNS is please. Thank you.

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

Sorry for the incomplete explanation. Nurse practitioner (NP) and Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) are two types of advanced practice nurse, or APN. APN's perform roles that are beyond the typical scope of a registered nurse. For example, a Psych NP might perform psychotherapy or prescribe psychotropic medication, two skills which were previously associated only with physicians or other health professionals.

Usually a person will have a BSN and one or more years of specialty nursing experience prior to entering the graduate NP or CNS program. The NP or CNS program usually leads to an MSN, although there is a lot of talk recently about making APN's earn doctoral degrees like a Doctor of Nursing Practice.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I'm an LVN psych nurse at an inpatient behavioral health facility, and none of the other psych nurses (LVN or RN) have degrees in psychology.

[branco]

I got a BS in psychology and couldn't find a job so I went to LPN school. Only once, did the degree help me in getting a job or negotiating pay.

And get this: my current employer, a psych facility, phased out LPNs (now using "psych techs" that are not CNAs nor have any education beyond HS) so I transferred to another department where a 4 yr degree was required.....and they CUT my pay!!

I'd say 99% of LPN positions pay more than position requiring a bachelor's degree in psych. So, I pretty much consider that degree worthless (unless I decide to get off my butt and go to graduate school).

Focus on one or the other: Nursing (BSN) or getting an advance degree in psychology.