sw to psych nurse

Whispera, MSN, RN · Jun 23, 2011

In the hospitals where I've worked nurses make alot more than social workers. Psych nurses in the generic hospital made the same as the other nurses. The nearby just-psych hospital paid alot less to their nurses. I've heard this has recently changed though, and the psych hospital now pays the same.

ddunnrn · Jun 24, 2011

That's all I need is more competition!!:)

Anyways, I've been a psych nurse in the Philly area for 25 years, until recently going on disability. Generally speaking, psych is treated as a specialty, and gets equal to somewhat more salary than med-surg nurses. Usually also there are "steps" for experience. I am at the top level since I have been a nurse for so long. BTW, the steps go by how long one has been a nurse, not for how long one has worked at a specific place.

At my last job, about 8 months ago, a was making almost $40/hr, with an extra $2/hr night shift differential, and $1/hr weekend diff. We didn't have charge nurses, so there was no corresponding diff. I might add that the company I worked for was very cheap, but even they knew they had to try to keep up with local salaries, or they wouldn't be able to retain anybody. I was not in a union (not that I didn't want to be), and it has been my experience that unionized facilities generally pay better and have better benefits.

It's a shame that the only local state hospital is slowly dying, because that would have been a great learning experience. Nonetheless, there are many private hospitals, teaching hospitals, Drug & Alcohol centers, MH Catchment programs, etc. where you can try to find a job. I only have a diploma, but I have never had difficulty finding a job, and have never not been hired, although I knw conditions aresomwhat more difficult now.

All of these facilities have different levels of acuity, staffing levels, and stress levels, but it is good to get as wide a variety of experiences as you can to improve your marketability.

If you have any more questions, please feel free to email me at:

[email protected]

PS. I've worked with a lot of social workers, and y'all really don't get paid very well for the amount of education you have to have. I know it's next to impossible for BSW's to find a job in our area, and they get paid less than some nurses' aides. With your background ,you might want to try out either of the companies that contract for the city prisons:

Prison Health Services (PHS) does medical, and MHM (you don't want to know what I think the initials stand for), my former employer, does psych. Even though they are cheap, and the benefits are not that great, they hire almost anybody with a pulse, and you do get some interesting experience. I repeat, please email me if you'd like more info.

gnursjr2 · Jun 25, 2011

If you have your Master's I would strongly suggest getting a RN and then applying with VA hospitals (especially in CA) they love pp with their Master's, pay is according to how fat a degree you have, and nursing experience. You can be a complete slacker, but if you have a Master's you are set.

ddunnrn · Jun 25, 2011

I have heard, however, that the application process for the VA can be very tedious. A friend of mine with excellent credentials, references, and experience had to wait 6 months before he finally was accepted, From what I recall, he said they kept on postponing interviews, and asking for more and more supplementary credentials. Now that he's there, he really likes it, though. (This is reference to the Philadelphia, PA VA hospital)

laurenlee · Jun 30, 2011

thank you everyone for your replies!! I really appreciate all the feedback I can regarding going into psych nursing or not.....

If anyone else has any insight please share!

Nurse Turbo · Dec 20, 2012

Hi!I am a RN, BSN at PVAMC on the inpatient psych unit. I must tell you that psych RN's salary is just below critical care because of the level of 'danger' we put ourselves into. Anyway, it sounds like you would be great for the VA as a MHICM worker. You have a caseload of a set number of chronically ill patients. You are responsible for finding them adequate housing and ensuring they make it to appointments amongst other things. It's a really great field job! I'm thinking of doing it myself. The only thing is although you aren't technically on-call, your patients are like your kids and you find yourself not wanting to be out of touch with them so, you spend a lot of time with your work cell. I just spoke with a MHICM worker today and she said she sleeps with her phone! If you love them, it's all good!Good luck!Melissa

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Dec 23, 2012

I've always made a better salary working in psych than most of my non-psych counterparts. However, keep in mind that salaries are also influenced by the region you live in and the type of facility/setting that you work in.