Is psychiatric nursing for me?

[veggiemom]

I'm trying to decide if this is the right field for me. Right now, I'm just finishing up my BA. It's basically a general studies BA, but I took a lot of psychology, chemistry, biology, and nutrition. Those are my main interests. I'm also interested in holistic alternative medicine and using diet and nutrition to help one's mental health. I thought of going to medical school and becoming a psychiatrist, but now I'm a mother and I'd like to do something that I could do on a part time basis until I'm done having children and they're older. I'm sort of interested in research, but it seems like a lot of the research in physiological psychology is done on lab rats. If I ever did research, I'd rather it be with people. I'm primarily interested in clinical work.

I want to help people who are overcoming mental illness, I want to be able to talk to them (not in and out, "yep we'll keep you at x mgs of prozac and see you in 6 months" sort of thing like some psychiatrists), assess their physical health (through blood work, physical exams, etc), help them nutritionally, suggest alternative therapies and if necessary, monitor medications. I'm saying this with little knowledge since I've never done any clinical work, but when I picture myself in a career, that is what I want to be doing. Maybe even focus on adolescents with depression, OCD, anxiety, eating disorders... something like that? Hospital, treatment facility, or private practice, not sure which. I just want to be able to look at the whole person and not just the nutrition or the medication or the talk therapy or physical health.

Is that basically what a psychiatric nurse practitioner would do? Would it help to have degrees in other things first, like psychology and nutrition?

I have out the careers in nursing, health care, nutrition, chemistry, and psychology books out from our local library all at once. You could say this has been on my mind a lot lately

And sorry if this is the wrong place for this question!

[elkpark]

I don't understand why you feel there is an obligatory year of bed side nursing but I'm glad to hear you like tele.

There is a long-standing debate about whether people interested in psych nursing (or other specialty areas in nursing) should put in a year or two of basic med-surg nursing before specializing -- there are older threads here that discuss the pros and cons of that idea at length.

In a lot of urban areas, where there is a sizeable pool of experienced candidates for nursing positions, many employers choose not to hire new graduates into specialty areas without a year or two of basic med-surg experience. And, because they have plenty of experienced psych nurse applicants to choose from, they can afford to take that position and stick to it -- so a year of med-surg is, effectively, "obligatory" in those areas.

[Jules A, MSN]

Thanks so much for your reply. I knew it used to be an issue but didn't think it was any more. Interestingly enough in the city where I live since there are so many facilities of all types and a nursing shortage they are pretty much willing to hire new grads in any area. Fortunately most offer nice orientation programs in the specialities.

[elkpark]

Thanks so much for your reply. I knew it used to be an issue but didn't think it was any more. Interestingly enough in the city where I live since there are so many facilities of all types and a nursing shortage they are pretty much willing to hire new grads in any area. Fortunately most offer nice orientation programs in the specialities.

This varies greatly and is largely a matter of how "desperate" facilities in a given area are.

[Therapist4Chnge]

As far as getting a PhD or Psy.D in Psychology -- Something that many people don't realize ( well, at least I didn't until just recently) is just how competitive most PhD Psychology programs are. -- On average, they are far more competitive than most medical schools. (believe it or not) However, should you get accepted, some programs will allow you to go part time (though doing this would probably mean that it would take you the better part of a decade to get the degree)

Most/All quality clinical psych PhD programs have acceptance rates

As for part-time status....I have never seen this at any traditional program, although once you complete your classes you can drag out your dissertation for years, unfortunately some people do, though there tends to be an 8 year (or so) cap on this.