Advice for changing my major. Leaving nursing?

[Nursls21]

Hey everyone, I am applying to NS, but I didn't look at my other options before I dove into this major 100%. The human mind and human behavior interest me way more than any of this pharm, physiology, or bio stuff. I know I want to do something in the "helping field", but I am not particularly excited to begin NS. I have looked at other fields such as social work, management, and counselling... and yes, psych nursing too, my hesitation with that is I will have to make it through NS to get there lol... which I have already mentioned I'm not very excited about since it doesn't seem like anything they study interest me. Since many nurses work side by side with some of these professions (Mgmt, SW, psych nursing, counselors) what can you tell me about what they do? Pros/Cons of the profession? Thank you!

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

Thank you both for your advice. Cyc0sys Nursing is hard to give up bc it is so diverse. Of course, with social work I will have to "pay my dues" by working with the population that are seen as less desirable, but that's okay. I'm actually interested in doing that... for a little while. And I know new grads don't jump into private practice. Job descriptions in my area typically look for 1yr of experience to get hired on with a agency that doesn't work with "undeserirables". I would never JUST get a BSW. SW is MSW-LCSW or ending up in your 3rd friends position after years of service. How do your friends like their jobs? And where are their jobs located if you don't mind me asking?

Brownbook you didn't really say anything that wasn't money realated. I suppose I should have added I am not money motivated lol. I know what I need to make to have the life I desire in my area, which it is possible with the career choices I am researching. Do you know anything about psych nurse job duties or the setting they usually work in?

I am a psych nurse in the community. I work with a lot of social workers. I can do all the same stuff they do, plus a lot of stuff they can't do with less educational time and expense and more pay. I am also highly in demand as nurses who are interested in community psych are very few and far between.

My social worker friends have to intern for various licensing and letters after their names, and interning means working for free. It's a racket. There is an intern where I work. She does everything we do without getting paid for it.

For these reasons I usually suggest nursing.

However, given that you refer to underserved people as "undesirables" I don't think you would really be happy in nursing or social work.

If your goal is to counsel rich people in an office with a brown leather chaise in an affluent community, then nursing and social work are not for you.

Study psychology instead.

[djh123]

I went to school with a guy who was not interested at all in being a mostly-medical RN... he was already working in a mental health clinic and wanted to get his RN to further his work (and $$/status) there, and that's what he did. It sounds like you might be interested in a similar path. Get through the nursing school part and then go into psych nursing.

[Nursls21]

You feel better now? You really showed me there buddy. "Undesirables" is what other people refer to the population SW work with when I tell them I want to be a SW. Same as people saying SW is fine but you'll have to "pay your dues" by working with poor people. I was the undesirables. I was poor people, so get off your soap box. The stereotype has proven to be true that female dominated careers are filled with smug brats. I'll enjoy my "leather chaise" now, please lmao.

[Nursls21]

Thanks djh123! I will look into it!

[Golden_RN, MSN]

I have 3 SW friends. One retired from CPS (Masters degree), one works in a skilled nursing facility (Bachelors degree), one works for a big hospital system in a neurology clinic (Masters degree). The ones that work at CPS and a nursing facility did not make much money. The CPS worker had an EXTREMELY demanding job at an agency that was constantly under scrutiny and attacked in newspapers/media. It seemed like a ton of stress/responsibility for not much money. I don't think it's the kind of job you can "turn off" at 5pm.

On the other hand, a psych nurse can make pretty good money. And if you decide you want a change, there will be other nursing opportunities.

You can look at SW salaries online at your county & state agencies.

Both careers are noble and needed!

[Nursls21]

Thank you Carrie

I feel for your friend working in CPS. It seems to be the hardest on people. Nursing seems so versatile, that's why I keep going back to it. Thank you!

[pro-student]

Of course, with social work I will have to "pay my dues" by working with the population that are seen as less desirable, but that's okay. I'm actually interested in doing that... for a little while.

I would respectfully suggest that if you're only willing to put in as little time as necessary with people you or anyone else views as "less desirable" and if you use the term "undesireable" even if it is n quotes, you don't actually want to work in a helping profession. Nurses, teachers, social workers, etc... spend a majority of their professional lives caring for people no one else wants to precisely because those are the people in need of help. If you're looking for a career where you only have to punch your ticket working with these people (regardless of what you call them or who you try to brush it off on) then you will be sorely disappointed by ANY of the helping professions.

[JoannieO]

I'm a retired RN, from year 1971 and retired 2 years ago. I worked in all areas, having many employments including surgical, pediatrics, community health, long term care (management-QA, infection control, nurse manager), medical instructor, IV therapy (hospital based), and my final job before retirement was occupational health/wellness. My degrees are: RN diploma, BSN, and a Master's Degree in Information Systems Science (computer + business). I even taught computers at a University but the pay wasn't near what I made as an occ-health nurse. When I entered nursing at 18 y/o, it was because I "wanted to help people." The course of study is difficult and the hours a nurse puts in are not glamorous. Are you willing to work evenings, nights, rotating shifts, holidays, weekends, double shifts (if short of help), having to go into work in a snowstorm (if that's the case)? I'm telling the job exactly like it is. Huge advantages to nursing are the ability to change up your type of work; also, once experienced, the pay and benefits are great--hoping this helps and good luck!! -J.

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

You feel better now? You really showed me there buddy. "Undesirables" is what other people refer to the population SW work with when I tell them I want to be a SW. Same as people saying SW is fine but you'll have to "pay your dues" by working with poor people. I was the undesirables. I was poor people, so get off your soap box. The stereotype has proven to be true that female dominated careers are filled with smug brats. I'll enjoy my "leather chaise" now, please lmao.

In 10 years of working with underserved people, I have literally never heard this term before you said it here.

It's completely unacceptable in the social work world. I was doing you a favor, and you in turn called me a smug brat.

I was being completely honest with you that a degree in social work will NOT prepare you to be a life coach or counselor to middle and upper class people.

If you continue to react this way to senior professionals in your field, you won't make it anywhere.

And use the quote button.

[anewsns]

I think your lack of excitement about nursing school is a clue that you shouldn't do nursing, (that's my personal opinion, others please take no offense.) From my small experience in psych (clinical ) being a psych nurse is still a nursing job. They did a little 1:1 with patients and were good with behavior deescalation and bringing patients back to the present. Also med passes and lots of assessment and paperwork! I didn't feel like we got to really know the patients much outside of their disease and crisis . (Given , this was on an inpatient psych floor and I strongly disliked my preceptor). A lot of the people who did group counseling or hung out with the patients more were in psych. (I think they're called psych techs.) They make way less money and do less big picture planning but they are closer to the patients. I think you get a lot more in depth if you go into a psych field. You have to pay your dues in every field but a lot of "paying dues" in nursing is going to be completely different than psych.

I second the person who said to become a sitter! That is a wonderful job and they often take students from other fields (like social work) . You can see major behaviors and some psych problems up close and personal ! We need a lot of sitters in my world (I work on a neuro step down and have history in neuro rehab and ltc.) But you can also see some psych issues who have suicidal ideation. If you work as a sitter in a hospital you may be asked to float around everywhere and you can see all the specialties come in and see what they do - nurses, case workers, psychiatry, behavioral specialists, stress management, gero- psych team and observe them with the patient. The hospital is often the pinnacle of problems for people so you get to see ALL the issues and decide which issues you like to deal with the most.

I also like dealing with the human mind but needed the money and options and a better quality of life more so went into nursing in 2008. I've had a rough path with it and it never was a natural passion. I had to grow into it and make it be my passion. Don't get me wrong, it is extremely satisfying now, but I still caution people who aren't entirely sure. You end up dealing with a lot of psych issues no matter what helping field you go into.

Yet, I would warn against nursing if you definitely want psych to be on the forefront. I would start thinking about what ignites passion for you.. handling crisis? Motivating / inspiring people? Handling complex cases ? Managing simple cases? Etc . Etc.

I know money isn't as much of an issue for you, but also make sure to look into the job market for different fields in your area, a lot of the psych market is totally flooded. OTOH if you DO decide on the nursing path, correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think there are many barriers to being a psych nurse ? I think you could go straight into that if you wanted.

[umbdude, MSN, APRN]

Psych nursing is nursing. If you are not interested in pharm, patho, or other health science topics, psych nursing isn't a good choice and you won't be providing the best for the patients.

[brandy1017, ASN, RN]

Truthfully the body and mind are interconnected and pharmacology is an important adjunct to treating many mental illnesses along with therapy. Understanding this relationship would make a person curious to learn more about biology, pathophysiology and pharmacology. Keep an open mind when you are taking your nursing classes and try to soak in all you can. Trauma actually changes the chemistry of the brain. Bessel van der Kolk is a leading author on trauma and you might want to read his book The Body Keeps Score: Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma.

No matter what career you choose you will probably have to take some classes you aren't at first interested in, but you may find they are worthwhile and interesting if you give them a chance. I only took psychology because it was required for nursing, but it actually was an eye opener for me and explained alot about the abuse I suffered as a child. I never would have taken it voluntarily, but it lead me on a journey of healing and letting go of the past.

As to your coworkers who are unhappy it may be because of the healthcare system they work for. Since corporations have taken over healthcare workers are stressed out and overworked to increase profit margins and bonuses for the CEO and his buddies at the top. That said some places are worse than others. A lot of what you describe could be burnout from overwork.

As to money not being important, it really is. Life isn't fair. We all need a roof over our head, a car to get around, health insurance and in general, the price has no relation at all to what a person can afford. If you are in a low paid job that means you have less money to pay for essentials and definitely less spending money which causes stress. Personally I find nursing very stressful, especially since the corporate takeover by Wrongway Regional Medical Center, but there is no way I would go back to being a secretary even though I was happy at that job because I wouldn't be able to afford my house. Maybe I can't go on a fancy vacation on a regular basis, but I can pay all my bills and also save for retirement which I wouldn't be able to do if I was a secretary. The importance of financial security cannot be overstated in career choice. Financial security can mean the difference between living in a safe neighborhood, driving a reliable car, being able to save for the future and still afford the here and now.