Help! Non-nursing best path to Psychiatric NP

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Hello all!!! I already created a similar thread about this in the Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner portion of the site but received limited useful feedback.Maybe this is the more appropriate location for such a post?

I am looking to become a PMHNP and currently only have a BA in Psych. I am looking for the most efficient and least expensive path to get me there. Will I need to get a BSN separately then pursue the MSN? Or is there any way to combine the two in a direct-entry type program. I know these programs do exist but they seem far and few between and I am not free to relocate so would need to find a distance learning option with limited on site components. My location is near Wichita, KS, so I have limited options as far as brick & mortar locations... Any thoughts on doing online programs? People with regrets or good things to say about them???Just looking to talk with anyone in a similar position on what they have found about this or hear from others who may be more successful than me in their research of various programs. Any feedback is welcome!!!

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

You would still need to go on site for skills labs if you have no previous nursing experience. Most NP programs require nursing experience first. Any nursing program will require hundreds of clinical hours.

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While there are many Direct Entry MSN programs that would prepare you to become a nurse and a NP in one 3-year (full-time program), none of these are fully online. None of these are in Kansas. Since you are not available to relocate to another state, I would recommend pursuing an Accelerated BSN program, and then pursuing PMHNP preparation (in a MSN or a BSN-DNP) at a later date.

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.

...or, do an entry-level MSN (generalist) and then enter a post masters verification program.

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Thanks so much for the feedback and replies!!!

That was what I was afraid of!! I am now weighing whether or not I'd rather do WSU's accelerated 2nd bachelor's program in person to get the BSN or do it online elsewhere.... I am looking to do this in the most reasonable way as far as expenses and cohesiveness with the programs selected.

I know there are a lot of pro's and con's to each option but I'm open to opinions on this. Really would like to hear from those that have gone the online route and how they liked it, regrets, tips etc.

Any thoughts on what criteria to look for in a BSN program? Will certain PMHNP programs have different requirements/preferences that might sway my choice in BSN program or is that irrelevant? I am somewhat nervous about going about a tiered approach to education as honestly and truly I don't think I would utilize a BSN alone. I also question the legislation aspect of the supposed 2015 transition from MSN level ed being acceptable to the DNP as the standard. Much of what I have read has suggested that it would take quite a while for state legislatures to change certification requirements and that the 2015 date is merely a recommendation.... On the other hand part of me is somewhat anxious about the thought of pursing a degree (BSN) that is not useful to me and getting stuck there before I am able to achieve the degree that WILL be useful to me (MSN/ PMHNP) and that in the midst of me working toward the degree the law will change and damn me to another many years of education before I can actualize my overall goals.

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A good BSN or introductory MSN program is going to provide you with a solid foundation on which to build your advanced practice skills. You will receive a generalist education that will expose you to a variety of health issues. You will develop critical thinking skills, an understanding of the nursing model of care, get a strong introduction to physical assessment skills, pharmacological and pathophysiological knowledge, and learn how to integrate evidence based practice into daily care.

Even if you never work anywhere but in psych, these are issues that would be important to be aware of because of the potential way the treatment of one illness could affect another.

You should look at the accreditation of the programs you are interested in, as well as their NCLEX and certification exam pass rates and general reputation within your community.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

How would a BSN be of no use? The " N" in NP stands for nurse. you have to learn to be a nurse first.

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sadiemae quick question: are the NCLEX pass rates made available by each college individually or is there a centralized way to access pass rates?

loriangel, I am not meaning to be antagonistic at all however you really do not need to continually prove the point that learning to be a nurse is important and hard to do. I have much respect for nurses. My grandmother became one at 60 years old and nursed geriatric patients younger than herself throughout her 20 year career. I am well aware of what goes into it. What I mean by a BSN would be of no use is that to my knowledge RN's and BSN's are not able to prescribe medication and conduct independent practice therapy. This is my ultimate goal which I stated in the other thread that you also presumably read and replied to. Therefore if I only received a BSN, this degree would be useless in achieving those ends. That is not to say the education contained within that BSN isn't interesting or valuable... but there are no powers conferred to me with it... therefore if the laws changed to require a DNP and I at that point only has a BSN I would be left with a 'useless' degree, unable to do the things in my career that are important to me. I do not mean to make anyone defensive about nursing as a career or their particular degree being 'useful' or important, this site is called ALL NURSES so of course I understand many are coming from exactly that background. I personally align more closely with mental health and psych than nursing, and would not be satisfied in a career in a different type of nursing field. I am merely looking for constructive input on how to actualize those goals, not to be questioned on my perceptions of nursing or whether or not it's possible to get nursing accreditation online and how many hours of face to face time are needed... obviously this is all possible otherwise so many schools wouldn't have the distance learning option.... so I don't really see the point in debating that. I suppose it's somewhat useful to see that your opinion of distance/online learning doesn't seem to be very high... maybe that is something to take away in that potential employers may also view it differently. Please anyone else with experience in online BSN or MSN give your input!!!!

Thanks everyone

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Having an MSN does not automatically make you a nurse practitioner, or give you the ability to prescribe medications. Even if you go the accelerated route, you'll come out with a master's but your scope of practice will be the same as someone with a BSN or ADN.

Just making sure you understand the difference, because it can get a little confusing.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.
sadiemae quick question: are the NCLEX pass rates made available by each college individually or is there a centralized way to access pass rates?

loriangel, I am not meaning to be antagonistic at all however you really do not need to continually prove the point that learning to be a nurse is important and hard to do. I have much respect for nurses. My grandmother became one at 60 years old and nursed geriatric patients younger than herself throughout her 20 year career. I am well aware of what goes into it. What I mean by a BSN would be of no use is that to my knowledge RN's and BSN's are not able to prescribe medication and conduct independent practice therapy. This is my ultimate goal which I stated in the other thread that you also presumably read and replied to. Therefore if I only received a BSN, this degree would be useless in achieving those ends. That is not to say the education contained within that BSN isn't interesting or valuable... but there are no powers conferred to me with it... therefore if the laws changed to require a DNP and I at that point only has a BSN I would be left with a 'useless' degree, unable to do the things in my career that are important to me. I do not mean to make anyone defensive about nursing as a career or their particular degree being 'useful' or important, this site is called ALL NURSES so of course I understand many are coming from exactly that background. I personally align more closely with mental health and psych than nursing, and would not be satisfied in a career in a different type of nursing field. I am merely looking for constructive input on how to actualize those goals, not to be questioned on my perceptions of nursing or whether or not it's possible to get nursing accreditation online and how many hours of face to face time are needed... obviously this is all possible otherwise so many schools wouldn't have the distance learning option.... so I don't really see the point in debating that. I suppose it's somewhat useful to see that your opinion of distance/online learning doesn't seem to be very high... maybe that is something to take away in that potential employers may also view it differently. Please anyone else with experience in online BSN or MSN give your input!!!!

Thanks everyone

I fail to see how anyone can be an effective NP when they skip over the learning to be a nurse part. Although I admit my point of view is different since I am from Canada. Up here you have to actually be a nurse first. Sorry.

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subsippi: after the accelerated route for an MSN, assuming I can find a program where I can do PMHNP, what would I need to do additionally to attain nurse practitioner? Licensing I assume? Depending on the state a psychiatric nurse practitioner can prescribe meds.... It is very confusing indeed!! Any further clarification would help. My understanding is to reach that ultimate goal the steps are as follows, please correct me if wrong!!! 1. BSN program which licenses for RN in the course of the program 2. MSN in specification of PMHNP??? Or is that not possible and I need 3. post-masters specialization program for 1 year? and then 4. certification/licensing??? or is that typically encompassed in programs??

loriangel out of curiosity are you a psychiatric nurse practitioner?? and if now how are you going to speculate about what will and will not make one an effective PMHNP?? it's your prerogative to be on a high horse I suppose but it isn't helpful to me. Yeah. You need to do schooling AND in person experience to become a nurse. I don't argue any of that. Obviously if the programs exist there are many intelligent QUALIFIED people who have decided that their coursework and program progression would be adequate schooling for the degree obtained and practical purposes of the scope of that degree. If that annoys you go argue with them instead of giving me useless comments. I am trying to figure out HOW to go about this and the logistics of it. And this is the 4th comment by now that's completely useless, doesn't help answer any of my questions, makes inaccurate assumptions and really ultimately is just meant to further your own recalcitrant opinion. I'd love for you to join the discussion on logistics if you have the knowledge to reply to any of the specific questions I have. Thanks!!!

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If you get the master's, you'll still more than likely have to apply for a psych NP program, and complete it. It's not just a matter of getting licensed or taking a test. I know some accelerated programs include a few master's level classes that you could apply for the NP, but I'm pretty sure you'd still have to complete the majority of the program.

It sounds like you need to get on the phone and call some nursing schools. If there's an accelerated program in your area, ask them if it's faster to go that route, they'll know better than anyone on this board.

Keep in mind that accelerated programs are usually much more expensive than a BSN. Each hour costs more at a master's level.

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