Continuing Education Options, Need Advice

Published

I take the NCLEX in a couple days, I have already been hired to a large local hospital. I just graduated with my ADN and I also have a BS in Psychology.

I absolutely plan on continuing my education (and hope to do so asap), I simply cannot decide which path is best to take. My mentor from my nursing program absolutely insists that I do an RN to MSN track since I already have one Bachelors degree. I agree with her, but I am finding it difficult.

I was hoping to find an online program to carry out while working. Currently, I have an application open with WGU for RN to MSN in Leadership/Management. I told my mentor that I was considering doing this and then going on for my Doctorate in Psych Nursing. I thought this was a full proof long-term plan.

Recently, I attended my state SNA convention and spoke with a Pysch Nurse professor from a Psych DNP program at a local university. I picked her brain and she told me it would be best that my MSN be related to psych nursing as well, or at least family nursing. She made it seem as though an MSN in Leadership would be no good if I someday want to be a Psych Nurse Practioner. Is this true?? What do I do? I thought an MSN in Leadership would be a good stepping stone to whatever DNP program I'd like.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac (adult), CC, Peds, MH/Substance.

You've written quite a bit about what others have told you.

However, you've not told us about you. I can't give you career advice without understanding more about you as a person. Tell us about your career background, why you got a degree in psychology, what you did with it, what you did or didn't like about it, why you went to nursing school, what you enjoyed in nursing school, what you want to do with your nursing degree in the short term, some ideas you've had about what you might like to do later on, hobbies, things that are fun to you, and so on.

It is not true that a previous MSN would be "no good" if you later want to be a psych NP. It is just "good differently" than going directly to psych NP, but that's something we can talk about after we understand more about you as a person and professional.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
You've written quite a bit about what others have told you.

However, you've not told us about you. I can't give you career advice without understanding more about you as a person. Tell us about your career background, why you got a degree in psychology, what you did with it, what you did or didn't like about it, why you went to nursing school, what you enjoyed in nursing school, what you want to do with your nursing degree in the short term, some ideas you've had about what you might like to do later on, hobbies, things that are fun to you, and so on.

It is not true that a previous MSN would be "no good" if you later want to be a psych NP. It is just "good differently" than going directly to psych NP, but that's something we can talk about after we understand more about you as a person and professional.

I am 25 years old and have no career experience in either psychology or nursing. I have worked customer service jobs part time as I plowed through school. Three-quarters of the way through my bachelors degree, the crazy amount of students seeking psychology degrees and getting nowhere with them didn't sit well with me. My advisors were encouraging me to double major in business but I didn't want that either. I wanted something that was sure to help people and that was rooted in evidence-based practice. I finished up my psych degree and immediately entered nursing. I have wanted to work within mental health for 11 years and I want to be a psych nurse. The job I was just hired to is in a Nursing Residency in Med/Surge because that avenue includes mental health at the hospital I was hired to. At the end of the residency, I will have a say in which floor I end up on, and I hope to be on the adolescent psych floor. I don't really want career advice, I need continuing education advice to get to the career I want.

It is my understanding that by 2020 a masters degree will no longer lead to nurses being an NP, and that a doctorate will be required. Psych Nurse Practioner is the end goal for me, but I get different answers on how to get there every time I ask someone.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac (adult), CC, Peds, MH/Substance.

That's more helpful. My understanding is now that you desire to go into psych nursing initially, then eventually be a PMHNP.

It sounds like you're on the path to goal 1.

The path to PMHNP certification is variable. I have also heard that a doctoral degree will be a requirement by 2020, yet have seen very few school programs changing it, and seen no state boards of nursing pushing this requirement. Some professional nursing organizations have been pushing for it since the 90's, maybe earlier, but don't seem to be making much traction. In 1999, I heard that by 2010 they were going to require doctoral degrees. Doesn't seem to have happened.

It's one of the things that a lot of people have been hearing for a long time.

PMHNP programs are currently available primarily as MS or post-master's certificate programs currently. Some are doctoral-only, but very few. I can't even name one off the top of my head, but vaguely recall running across a couple when I was reading. There are some that are doctoral-optional. As in, you can get a doctoral degree leading to (potential) certification, a master's, or sometimes a post-master's certificate.

If you were to get an MSN first, you could go the post-master's certificate route. However, not all schools that offer MSN-PMHNP degrees offer post-master's cert PMHNP options. DNP is also an option leading to certification, but again, there are less programs offering this.

So, in short:

1) PMHNP is available as a MSN, post MSN certificate, or DNP. Most programs currently are MSN.

2) This gives you a lot of options, but MSN seems to be the most common route.

A list of all PHMNP programs (of which the APNA is aware of, in any case) is located at: Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Graduate Programs by State - American Psychiatric Nurses Association

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac (adult), CC, Peds, MH/Substance.

A quick skim of PMHNP programs... most seem to require a BSN. The first 10 I skimmed over required a BSN. However... found one that will let you apply with a non-nursing B.S. as long as you're an RN. It APPEARS to be online with some minor site visits, but may require more research. A contact's email is listed right on the page. Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Program | University of Michigan-Flint

There are probably more out there. Otherwise an online RN to BSN is pretty quick.

That's my contribution for the day! Off to do other things.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
A quick skim of PMHNP programs... most seem to require a BSN. The first 10 I skimmed over required a BSN. However... found one that will let you apply with a non-nursing B.S. as long as you're an RN. It APPEARS to be online with some minor site visits, but may require more research. A contact's email is listed right on the page. Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Program | University of Michigan-Flint

There are probably more out there. Otherwise an online RN to BSN is pretty quick.

That's my contribution for the day! Off to do other things.

Do you think it would be acceptable to stick with my original plan, then?

An RN to MSN in Leadership through WGU and then maybe a post-masters or doctorate in psych nursing?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion