Masters of social work vs. BSN

Nurses General Nursing

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I am having trouble deciding what step to take next. I originally started college wanting to do criminology and psychology. The criminology didn't pan out as the schools just didn't have the program i wanted. I was looking for criminologist/profiler. I had fallen into cna/home care work and saw that psychology and nursing crossed paths and that i could be a psych rn. I finished my bachelors in psychology and all the pre-reqs i would need for the accelerated bsn rn program. i am waiting to pay off my last year of college before i apply to a program where i would only have clinicals left to do. however a bachelors in psychology isn't exactly paying the bills. i want case management but the age old problem of having to have experience to get hired.. well i need to get hired to get experience! lol in the meantime i have been looking into the bsn rn programs.. they aren't cheap.. it would take at least a year in the accelerated program and you aren't able to work during that time. looking at $40k loan. Granted i would make decent money as an RN and always have work but the time and financial commitment is heavy. plus.. its only another bachelors degree. I've been looking into masters of social work programs and have found that some are completely online allowing me to work while i do the program. To date aside from my very last year in college i took all my classes online, which is the option i much rather take. I've just had it in my head for so long to get my RN. However psychology is my true passion. I struggled greatly in the sciences during my last year and basically had a nervous breakdown. I am an excellent nurse out in the field but have trouble reciting a textbook. Plus it took me 8 years just to get my bachelors degree because of work and paying as I went along. Frankly.. I'm sick of school. If it takes more than a year.. I don't know that I can mentally do anymore.

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I'm not sure what you're looking for in response to your post. Is nursing school hard? Yes. Does it involve a lot of memorization ("reciting a textbook")? Yes. Are ABSN programs expensive? Yes. Do you have all the nursing prerequisites completed? If not, it will take you longer than the 12-18 months of the actual ABSN program (possibly another year or two). Traditional nursing programs (not accelerated) are not as intense and might make it possible for you to work while you're in school. If you really don't feel you're "up to" starting a nursing program at this time, you're probably right (you would know that better than any of us).

I would be cautious about any completely on-line MSW programs, and make sure that they are legitimate, respected programs before you spend any money on them.

Best wishes for your journey!

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Specializes in psychiatric.

I know about 4 people that had their bachelors in psych or another field, ended up doing an accelerated RN (1 year) and went directly from there into a 2 year NP program (psych and FNP), all at the same well respected university. It is highly dependent upon your location of course, the whole thing cost them under 30k. It is intense and difficult to work at the same time.

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Specializes in Dialysis.

Also, read the posts on here. You are not always guaranteed work. Many on here struggling to find a job. Don't ask the school, th hey will say whatever it takes to reel you in. Check the places where you want to work to see what new grad hirability really is. Good luck!

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I have all of my pre-reqs and would only have clinicals. All of the accelerated programs I have looked into state that you can not work. I would be doing accelerated as I already have a bachelors and all of my pre-reqs. Im looking just for information about those who have chosen either path and what worked best for them. It is hard to make a decision based on the curriculum a college has laid out when everything mimics each other. Thanks for the feedback.

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I have thought that I would go as far as the Nurse practitioners and continue with a masters/doctorates in the psychology. I guess Im just worried as its already seemingly taken so long that whatever I do next might be the last thing I do and I want to get the most out of it. I am currently in florida.

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I have all of my pre-reqs and would only have clinicals.

You've said this twice now, and I don't understand what you mean. Nursing programs have concurrent didactic (lecture/classroom) courses and clinical courses. Have you already taken all the nursing nursing classes (not just the prerequisites, which you have to finish before you start the nursing courses)? There is a lot more to nursing school than "just" the clinical experiences.

Also, you aren't limited to accelerated BSN programs just because you already have a baccalaureate degree. Another option would be to get accepted into a traditional (non-accelerated) BSN program; in that case, assuming you already have all the necessary prerequisites completed, you would just have to take the nursing courses. While that would take longer than an accelerated program, it would likely be significantly less expensive (depending on the individual school, of course) and the slower pace would make it possible to work part- or full-time through the program.

Best wishes.

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Specializes in Cardiac critical care.

I was also a psychology major and after graduating I was considering an MSW. I would caution you to do some research into MSW. It's true that the MSW is quite versatile but not as versatile as nursing. Also, the salary for MSW's is pretty sad, and it's essentially a terminal degree so you have little room to advance your paycheck. While nursing may only be a bachelors, there are many opportunities at the masters and doctorate level that can increase your income into triple figures.

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I was also a psychology major and after graduating I was considering an MSW. I would caution you to do some research into MSW. It's true that the MSW is quite versatile but not as versatile as nursing. Also, the salary for MSW's is pretty sad, and it's essentially a terminal degree so you have little room to advance your paycheck. While nursing may only be a bachelors, there are many opportunities at the masters and doctorate level that can increase your income into triple figures.
Thanks. That helps. I was looking for info like that. May I ask what you eventually decided to do?
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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

Since you have all your pre-req's, why not go for a ASN, get your RN, and then do an online RN-BSN program? Or work for awhile before working on the BSN? Overall, it might be quicker, depending on the school.

Elkpark is correct. You need the didactic part of your courses, that go along with the clinical courses. I don't know any school that lets students take one without the other...

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