Advice on going into Psych-Nursing!?!?

[nikki109]

Hi everyone!

I am currently a student at a university (in CT), graduating this May with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, with a concentration in Mental Health. I am applying to nursing programs for this fall (keeping my fingers crossed that I get in!).

I am so interested in the Nursing field.. not sure what exactly I want to go into though! I am currently doing an internship at a hospital in the Children's Psych Inpatient Unit.. and it has been very interesting so far!! I've been there about 2 months, and will be there for another 2. It's really very interesting.. I'm shadowing a milieu counselor, so I am not seeing too much of the psych-nursing part, more of the psychology aspect.. but I try to shadow the nurses as much as I can!

I'm just wondering if anyone has any suggestions as to what the best/next course of action may be for me! So hopefully in 2 years I will have obtained my RN... So I'll have a Bachelor's in Psychology and my RN license.. I would like to use the psychology aspect so that I am utilizing my psych degree. I just don't know very much about Psych-Nursing. I have also seen the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Certification -- is this necessary, or something additional? What is it really?

Any advising or suggestions anyone has would be great!! About anything related to nursing school, going into psychiatric nursing.. experiences, thoughts, etc.

Hope to hear from someone soon!

Thanks so much! :wink2:

[Jules A, MSN]

Hi,

With your background you will be more than qualified to work as a psych nurse when you get your RN. As a second degree student you can probably do a fast track BSN program. The psych certification is something you can take after you have 2 years experience, I think. Why do you want to switch to nursing? Good luck.

[aka640, BSN, RN]

Hey :) I go to UCONN and currently in Allied Health (with no concentration) and a minor in psych. I plan to do the BSN program after college. After you get your license though, how are you able to go from RN to psychiatric nurse?

[RochesterRN-BSN, BSN, RN]

An psych RN is just an RN that works in psych...you can choose to get the cert if you want but it is not required.......

I would suggest the accelerated BSN as well after your BS in psych .........I went that route after a BS in Health Science/Education and am a psych nurse now.......you should be able to get right on a psych floor as soon as you finish your BSN and could even tech on a floor as a Mental Health Tech-- around here you have to have a degree in like psych, sociolgy, a lot of experience, etc. so you would be good to get in for that then you just move up to RN when you are done!! The only thing is you might want to do a year of medical for the experience but you don't have to it's just useful, I think, but you are fine without it. Sometimes I have to do medical stuff so I like having it thats all.

Good luck!!!!