I'm going to do it.

[CogNeuroGuy]

I've been spending a while researching (e.g., 2+ years) what path I wanted to take to work as a primary provider in mental health. Some of you may have read some of my previous posts and know that I've worked as a psychometrist, I hold a M.S. in cognitive neuroscience and I was set to apply for Ph.D. program in counseling and clinical psychology. The reality of it was more childish than it being practical. I love working with patients, working in the neurology private practice conducting neuropsychological evaluations gave me so much satisfaction in life that despite having a terrible boss and coming into work dreading having to deal with her crazy ass (pun intended), the patients made it worth while.

I just moved to the South Florida area so that my husband could attend the Pharm.D. program at Nova Southeastern University. I am $101,688 in debt, I still have some wiggle room for federal loans at the undergraduate level and I have roughly $43K left in graduate level federal loans (assuming I don't use any undergraduate level loans I have remaining). The market for what I currently do is not there, I work in customer service for $13.50 an hour (this is a set back). It's taken 7 years of my life to really tease apart what path will achieve my goals, and the goals are as follows:

1. Financial stability and growth

2. Market demand for my profession

3. Level of autonomy

4. Work/life balance

5. Amount of time in school

Notice how work/life balance and amount of time in school are at the bottom of my list, they aren't significant factors, but they are factors none-the-less. I urge you to read my posting in the "poop" thread to read up on the path to becoming a psychologist, market demand for both psychologists and master's level therapists (i.e., LPC, LMHC, LCSW, etc.). Once you know the background on that, you will see why I have opted to do the following:

1. Spend 1 year completing 6 courses of pre-req courses at Broward College

2. Apply to and (hopefully) attend an accelerated BSN program at FIU or UM (possibly FAU, but they frustrate me with their additional math class requirement, they are like the thorn in my side with this).

3. Spend the next 15 months (give or take some) in the program and graduate

4. Spend a brief period of time working as a floor RN while I apply to MSN programs to become a psychiatric NP

5. Attend the NP program for 2 years and graduate.

6. At the age of 32, I will sit for my licensing exam and be fully functional

I was actually at the Pitbull concert the other night in Miami and the woman behind me had a seizure. Irrespective of my knowledge of seizures from a neuropsychological standpoint, I knew the basics, I turned her on her side and let her ride it out while I flagged EMTs over. This was an amazing experience for me, so all of the other threads where people complain about doing this type of work or messing with poop, etc., I am sure I will grow to accept and adapt to it. I've sat in on neurosurgeries for my research as a grad student, so blood and other fluids are not that big of a deal (the poop will take time for me to get used to).

I'm a native Texan (from Dallas). I've worked with many psychiatric NPs as well as family NPs. I love what they do, I love the lifestyle it provides them. I also like the nursing model when approaching a patient. I'm very much into the spending more time with the patient vs. what doctor might have time to allocate.

I will probably wait until August of 2016 to start so that I can qualify as an in-state student for tuition purposes, but I see myself taking 2 courses a semester for 3 semesters then take the appropriate entrance exam. I'm a big guy, I'm diabetic and I have hypertension, insomnia and sleep apnea, so despite all of this, I still want to do it. I believe the "dues" I'm about to pay will be worth it.

[umbdude, MSN, APRN]

Hey good luck! Psych is a second career for me as well and I'm loving it. It took me a few years to research and save up as well and my criteria were pretty much the same as yours. I'm 2 semesters from getting my BSN. It's been a great ride and I think you'll feel the same.