Can you throw out some career options for the fields i am interested in?

mshessle · Dec 10, 2011

Be a psych nurse. Major in nursing; don't need a psych or social work degree.

confused256 · Dec 10, 2011

But will i only be working with mental/psychotic patients? That feels like i would be depressed or potentially crazy when dealing with only "crazy" patients..sorry if that came out wrong. People always tell me how psych and social work are depressing but i know i want to help people..just not people who are only mentally ill

mshessle · Dec 10, 2011

You could be a regular social worker. You will probably need your MSW and will deal with a lot of crazy patients anyway.

SweetsRN522 · Dec 10, 2011

You could always double major in psych and nursing and utilize them in your nursing career. I have a degree in Psychology and in Nursing. I do not work as a Psych nurse, but my understanding of human interactions and feelings has allowed me to be a better nurse. Case managers work with social workers on the floor to arrange for outpatient placement and services. Case managers in the hospital try to make sure that patients are getting treated effectively, both cost effective and medically and that the patients stay is not prolonged for any reason because they know how long insurance will pay. If you want to work with all age groups the only level of nursing would be in the Emergency department. There you will be utilizing your nursing skills, psych skills, and social work(to a degree because you can anticipate future needs and pass it on to the floor nurse). Psych nursing is not for everyone and I am one of those people, at this point in my career I enjoy utilizing my psychology background but do not want to work in the psych department at this time, it isn't for everyone. Do some reasearch about the different departments and maybe you can arrange a shadow day at the local hospital and follow around a nurse, case manager, and a social worker. In psychology if you get a BA there are few jobs available, in order to be effective with a psych degree you have to at minimum get your master's but getting your doctorate looks better. So you have an additional 5 years of school to get through befor using your degree fully. GOOD LUCK!

confused256 · Dec 10, 2011

this is so stressful do i have time to figure this all out while i am a sophomore in college? i only have 2 more years left

SweetsRN522 · Dec 10, 2011

You have plenty of time still! Meet with your academic adviser and start contacting different hospitals and ask them if they would be willing to offer you a shadow day. Do some research as well at the same time. Make sure you know what you absolutely want to do at this point in your educational career. I take it you will be starting your 2nd semester of your sophmore year, there is still time to change your schedule if you decide nursing. Think it over many schools also offer summer classes for sciences as well to help you get there quicker. Now is the time to start talking to someone do not hesitate. I always knew I wanted to be a nurse, but I obtained my degree in psychology first (while taking sciences for nursing in case the whole time) then I went back 4 months after I graduated for an accelerated program. It is more cost effective if you make the switch now if it is something you want to do. With winter break around the corner, you have the opportunity to shadow, do some research and find your passion!

A lot of pre-prerequisites are similar in the fields. Nursing requires more science classes and specified criteria, if you want to go that route talk to your academic advisor and possible set up a meeting with the nursing department at your school. It may take longer to graduate, but if nursing or another field is something you want time won't matter :)

confused256 · Dec 10, 2011

Is it impossible if i am horrible at math and sciences? ive heard of people literally in tears over this major at my university!

confused256 · Dec 10, 2011

also would it be a waste of a degree to get my psychology degree? thank you for the idea i am going to look at the nearest hospital so i can jobshadow case managers, social workers, nurses, and psychologists in hospitals. i hope i figure this all out soon!

retiredlady · Dec 10, 2011

Good luck finding a job with a psychology degree. I know too many that did and they can't find jobs. You need a masters degree to get anything even with being a social worker and be working on a doc. degree. BE sure to see how much they make. I would look at what occupations that are really hiring now (maybe not even nursing) and do something with that. I only say this because when I was in college, teaching was the way to go and I really looked at it and thought, I want a job when I get out and I changed after my 2nd year in college ( my mother all most fainted,lol) and I was glad I did. All my friends could not find teaching jobs and when they did they worked at substitutes. I know it's hard, but just think about it.

confused256 · Dec 10, 2011

What type of nursing are you in? And can you suggest a type of nurse that i could possibly be or something in the medical field since i want to help others emotionally physically and mentally and want to work with all ages?

would it be a waste to have back up incase one degree doesnt work out by getting a ba in psych, a masters in social work and then associates in nursing?

tishluvnc · Dec 10, 2011

I feel your confusion. I got into cna just because it was easy to obtain a job. I've been in home health for years. Long enough to do half a degree in medical office administration, one semester in a BSW program, and now about to graduate with a BA in sociology with a minor in substance abuse. I agree that shadowing is the key.

I know I wanted to stay in the medical field, but I was fearful of nursing. Friends pointed me that way years ago. I went the easy way and now realize social work may not be the thing either. I actually had the chance to spend 2 months shadowing lcsw mental health social workers in a mental health agency and they spent too much time on the phone for me in a dim lit room behind a computer linking services and trying to get patients approved for service.

Psychology in interesting I've taken Intro and Human development. Reciently, I visited another LCSW at a treatment clinic and asked her some questions. She advised me to go into nursing if I was thinking about it. She told me there are more opportunitie. Also my cna agency employ social workers to do mental health therapy. I asked the coordinator and she advised me against mental health because of budget cuts.

Every nurse I talk to tell me to go for it because I have the personality. Either way I've used 2 years of my life studying issues that are important, but I love science and health. I've realized that I can spend another 4 years pursuing a MSW partime and another 2 trying to get my LCSW after an internship and taking a state test. Then I believe you only can counsel in the state you took the test in. Afterwards, you make less than a rn comming out of ADN program.

So don't feel bad, at least you still have time. Please don't waste it!