ADN/RN to BS - Community Psychology or BA- Public Policy?

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I start my first semester in my ADN program next month and I'm looking for a CNA position right now.

My ultimate career goal is to create or expand or work in Public Health for at risk and undeserved mentally ill populations. What type of degree should I plan for in the future after my ADN? Is there anyone here who works in that related field? What do you do and how did you get there?

I don't see myself continuing on to advanced nursing education.

I know many of these facilities I aim to work in rely on government funding and policy decisions which is why I always saw myself getting the BA in Public Policy and "fighting the good fight!", but I learned my college has a Community Psychology program, and I figure a BS in Psychology with my RN could allow me to gain some experience in psych floor and help me start a..... (non-profit?) so I would really know what I'm getting myself into. Is that correct that I would need a Psychology degree to even be considered to work with psych patients?

I still want to be hands on, but I know I want to take charge on the business end as well....

Maybe I should do both? :)

After I figure this out.... I know I'm earning a masters in Public Health.

I guess I sound a little all over the place but I'm excited.

It just helps to see my vision so any insight is very helpful. THANKS!

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There's no need to have a psychology degree in addition to your nursing education and licensure to be able to work in psych settings as a nurse. In many facilities, people with baccalaureate degrees in psychology get hired as techs and work alongside CNAs, supervised by RNs. Plenty of people who have psychology degrees and then go into nursing complain here about how unfair and disappointing it is that their psychology degree doesn't help them professionally as a nurse. If you plan to stay in nursing, there is no other degree (in another discipline, that is) that will help you professionally as much as getting further education in nursing. I would recommend you complete a BSN before thinking seriously about getting any other degrees.

If you want to use a higher degree to get out of nursing, that's an entirely different matter. If you want to become a psychologist, you'll need at least a Master's, or, prefereably, a doctorate to practice as a psychologist. Nurses in public health typically have BSNs, and, to further their careers in public health, they get an MSN with a concentration in public health, leadership/management, or public policy or an MPH (or, again, a doctorate in one of those areas). To be taken seriously as a public policy person, you would need more than a baccalaureate degree.

Best wishes for your journey!

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