Is Nursing right for me?

Nurses Professionalism

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I was originally planning on going to school to become a journalist because I'm an excellent writer and terrible at math, but that changed to psychology, which has recently changed to nursing. I'm very intrigued with how the human mind works and would like to help people overcome mental illness, so now I am thinking about going to school to become a psychiatric nurse. I'm choosing nursing over psychology now because first off, there are way more opportunities in nursing especially with our economy the way that it is & I need a stable career as I have two children. Also, I've already taken a CNA course but have not applied for licensure yet because I have a juvenile record. However, I am in the process of getting charges expunged and will most likely apply to the board when that finishes (although I am aware that I will still have to inform them). But, because of all of that and the fact that I have two children and am not good at math, I'm not 100% positive this is the way to go, but like I said I'm very interested in Psychiatric Nursing. I'm very determined though and anything I choose to do I will work extremely hard in order to achieve it.

What's with the sarcasm? yes, she can prescribe as a nurse practitioner base on her state laws but not just if she's just a RN adn or bsn. I think people come to this public forum seeking more information from people in the field. The nursing field can be confusing for outsiders looking in because a good portion of nurses tend not to clarify if they are lpn, rn asn, rn bsn, rn msn. Folks tend to just say I'm a nurse.

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

She never mentioned becoming an NP, just a psych nurse.

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Until you are 100. % sure your record can be expunged.. don't even bother with school.

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Until you are 100. % sure your record can be expunged.. don't even bother with school.

My expungement will be completely approved and over with on the 17th of next month so I'd say I'm pretty sure :-)

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She never mentioned becoming an NP just a psych nurse.[/quote']

Yes, perhaps I should have said that I would like to become a PMHNP... although I did not know that psych nurses could not prescribe medicine.

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The challenge of nursing school is more one of time management and pacing than of academic rigor or intellectual challenge.

Be prepared to spend a whole lot less time with your kids than your or they would like.

Also be prepared to compromise on your desire to be in psychiatric nursing in favor of economic realities; psych nursing is comparatively small specialty with relatively few jobs.

That said, having chosen nursing as a 2nd career at the age of 41 (and 45 when I graduated) remains one of the better decisions of my semi-century life and my only regret is that I didn't do it 20 years earlier.

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Psych nurses are RNs.
or LVN/LPNs...
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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.
Yes, perhaps I should have said that I would like to become a PMHNP... although I did not know that psych nurses could not prescribe medicine.

Nurses cannot prescribe.( with the exception of NPs)

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There is a world of difference between being a psychologist and psychiatric nursing. You really need to experience and find out more about the differences between the two before you make a final decision. I don't know if you have job shadowing in your country but if I were you I would try and job shadow and psychologist and a psychiatric nurse for a week each then think again. Whatever you do good luck!

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Specializes in NTICU.

Ok maybe I didn't see it but am surprised no one mentioned this. If you are thinking about psych nursing; after your record is expunged get your CNA certification and go work in a psych facility.

As for having family who already work in the field that is great for some insight. But I have friends who are CEO's and DON's and they will tell you sometimes the worse person to hire is a family member or friend. Like one friend of mine said, "Where is the family member or friend when that person continuously calls in sick; they are not here." So it can be good and bad to hire family/friends.

Good luck with any decision you make and may career be fulfilling and joyful.

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I think I have figured it out! Atleast for now, I think I am on the right track and only time will tell whether I will be able to handle it or not. I've been putting this in prayer, and if it is God's will he will make a way is what I believe. I'm about to get hired at that publix pharmacy I mentioned in one of the posts, they're willing to train me to work as a tech. So I'm thinking that this will definitely be good experience for the pharmaceutical aspect of the job... they may see my background and that could be a potential issue but like I said if God's will he shall continue to make it happen. Thanks for all of the informative advice everyone!

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Specializes in ICU.

As soon as your record is expunged, apply to your state board. It is NOT a standard background check and it's possible you'll have to explain anyway. It's just something to address before getting too far into pre-reqs. Some schools will not admit you into nursing with any kind of background unless you've already been cleared by the board.

Good luck!

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