Did anyone consider becoming a psychologist first?

Mr Ian · Apr 9, 2009

Not really before - but then I didn't know I was interested in mental health nursing til I finished the 3 year course (in pure Mental Health Nursing!)

Since then I've toyed with the idea - but that's cos mental health nursing is poorly recognised or subscribed over here (Oz). It's all generic nurses doing psych - like the US version.

inthesky · Apr 10, 2009

Nursing and psych are (usually) completely different fields. Psych nursing is often only a one semester class/clinical of an entire curriculum. I discovered that I wanted to work in mental health about half way through my program. What is it that you most want to do in psych? If your answer is the medical aspect, then psych nursing is a good fit. If your answer is therapy, groups, actual psychology, then that is your fit. Let's say my "1:1" sessions outside of medication and medical status are impromptu and I can often see someone glaring at me for not doing something like paperwork or for being behind in stuff that matters much less. Every facility actually has a wide variation and does utilize their nurses differently. I'm currently doing the psych nurse to NP route. The pharmacology nerd inside me is squealing with excitement which is good because most NPs work with meds. NPs can do therapy but they are more expensive to hire and not necessarily more effective than therapists. Although I suppose one must be creative in life in order to savor personal success =P

mental health nurse · Apr 13, 2009

I seriously considered doing psychology first, it was only cost that meant I became a nurse as it was a paid job back then. However I did do a full time degree in cognitive psychology a few years after I qualified.

As Mr Ian says psychiatric/mental health nursing is not valued here in Australia and I have seriously considered doing the MA in clinical psychology, although I'd love to be a neuropsychologist. Again it is cost that has meant that I have not pursued this (it would require me to work only part time due to clinical hours that are an essential part of the course).

However I would also say that I actually love being a psychiatric nurse, its the system that I find difficult. If I were to pursue psychology then I would not be able to perform the holistic, client oriented and recovery focused care that I really enjoy doing. Psychology would mean 'performing tests' and writing reports, unless you work in the private/1:1 sector, which is not aimed at those with debilitating mental illness.

It sounds as if you need to experience the clinical environments before you decide on your specific career pathway. Choose subjects that you are interested in, and an academic workload that you can cope with, destiny will take care of the rest.

elb252 · Apr 22, 2009

I considered psychology in high school, and sometimes with all the stress from nursing school, I sometimes wonder if I missed my calling! But your post basically describes myself...I am interested in so many things from psychology to nutrition to nursing (psych, OR, ICU...crazy, isn't it?!?). Kind of nice to know I'm not just a scatter-brained nut who has a wide variety of interests.

But I have yet to enter my psych nursing clinicals...I guess that will help me narrow down my ideas. Saying that I enjoy studying/learning about psychology, neurologic effects, or diseases that have an effect on the brain is an understatement. I'm actually very excited to start my psych course in nursing next semester...can't wait.

So, I have a question for the more experienced nurses in psych out there...if I do choose psych nursing as a career pathway, anyway I can combine counseling and nursing together? I mean, does a regular RN psych nurse do any official counseling, hold group meetings, etc...?

Whispera, MSN, RN · Apr 22, 2009

A regular psych nurse most likely will talk with her patients individually, and listen as they talk about their problems. This isn't "official" counseling, but it's often called "therapeutic use of self." She might do this with groups of people too. She will probably be involved in facilitating groups, especially education groups, and maybe morning and evening community meetings.

(pardon to the males here...for some reason I just started typing about the females...)

amandapmct · Apr 25, 2009

I am a master's level mental health therapist and am in the process of applying to nursing programs. I am not sure if I will go to an ARNP program (there's a nursing immersion program where non-nurses with a Bachelor's degree can get a Master's in nursing) or do an AA program first and slowly work toward a graduate degree in nursing. I eventually want to be a psychiatric ARNP.

I sometimes wish I had gone into nursing first, but I have always wanted to be a mental health therapist, so that's the route I went. Unfortunately, AA level nurses make more money than master's level therapists (at least in the Pacific NW where I live) so I want to combine disciplines and be a psych nurse. Hopefully master's level.

StudentPrudence · May 28, 2009

Yes, I did... until I discovered that I hated research psych and was told that I'm too introverted for clinical psych.

Orca, ADN, ASN, RN · May 28, 2009

I looked into it long before I went to nursing school. The problem was, at the time I was an undergraduate the odds of getting into a clinical psychology program were worse than getting into medical school. I bought the directory from the American Psychological Association that listed all the programs in the country, plus the previous year's statistics on applications and openings. It was not uncommon to see things like 1,200+ applications for a program with 15-20 openings. Even if you had perfect grades (which I didn't) you could still be left out. It worked out, because I found nursing years later.

tconlgirl · May 28, 2009

I looked into it long before I went to nursing school. The problem was, at the time I was an undergraduate the odds of getting into a clinical psychology program were worse than getting into medical school. I bought the directory from the American Psychological Association that listed all the programs in the country, plus the previous year's statistics on applications and openings. It was not uncommon to see things like 1,200+ applications for a program with 15-20 openings. Even if you had perfect grades (which I didn't) you could still be left out. It worked out, because I found nursing years later.

Thats kinda sad about the openings, and the fact that it pays poorly in comparison to nursing. A classmate of mine was working in psychology and got to the Bachelor level and began working in a "emergency placement" for children who had recently been taken from their homes r/t abuse. Anyway she saw some really emotionally difficult things while she was there and became very depressed and would seriously go home from work and cry every night. She recently graduated from nursing school and she is ever so glad she made the switch, for her own mental health.

Sally

StudentPrudence · May 29, 2009

Orca-

It's still true, especially now, with the recession, ahem, "encouraging" people to enroll in grad school. As one of the more popular undergrad liberal arts majors, psych programs -- which, as you said, were already quite competitive -- are sure to see an uptick in applications. Put that together with the fact that many schools have to cut admissions to compensate for drops in both state and private funding, and the neck of the bottle gets thinner.

beat2beat · Jun 7, 2009

I considered being a psychologist before becoming a nurse. I got a degree in Human Services and spent some time working in the field. I love psyche. I stand in awe of the mind and how it works. Working in Human Services for awhile I decided that it was a very unrewarding field because I primarily worked with patients who did not want to get better (even those patients who were capable) and found that it basically boiled down to maintaining the patient. I envisioned it to be different. I wanted to work with patients who wanted recovery, who would go to any lengths to obtain it.

When I left Human Services and decided to go into nursing I decided that I WOULD NOT go into psyche. I had my fill. How odd it is that I have basically been locked out of the "medical" end of nursing because I haven't been able to find a job. So here I am back where I promised myself I wouldn't be, and I am truely happy and feel the passion and excitement that I once felt for psyche and had lost. Now I plan on going further in my nursing and psychology education because I want to work one to one with patients, I want to facilitate groups and be out there with the patient where I want to be.

Time and time again I have been told that I have a God given gift when it comes to psych and working with psych patients. I therefore find it no coincidence that I was unable to get into the "medical" end of nursing and instead was "forced" into psych because flat out, I needed a paycheck. I am where I am supposed to be, and am breathing a sigh of relief that I am here.