jumping from RN to Psychology

Sour Lemon · Apr 20, 2017

hello everyone i hope you are doing well
i have a question i'm planning to start a RN programme.my question is how can i jump from RN to bachelor in psychology because i'm really looking forward to be a therapist may be one of you will ask why won't i get a psychology associate degree ?? well because first with RN i have more opportunities to get a job and also because of the wage

This might be a better question for "allpsychologists" if you want to know how to become a psychologist ...or maybe for an academic advisor at your school?

NightNerd, MSN, RN · Apr 20, 2017

As someone hoping to make this very transition, I would recommend cutting out the nursing part if becoming a therapist or counselor is your ultimate goal. Nursing is a good living and there are lots of jobs available, but this is so draining and challenging if your heart isn't in it.

Let's compare the preparation for each career. To become a nurse, you can surely start out with your Associates degree. However, many employers are requiring their new hires to commit to getting their BSN within a certain timeframe (this might vary some by geographic area). That is a good chunk of time, money, and energy, just to have a job that you may not do for very long.

You will need a graduate degree at minimum to practice as a counselor. You could transfer into many such programs with a BSN and the required pre-reqs, but above all you will need a Bachelors in *something*. Are you willing to earn two nursing degrees and then completely switch gears? If not, I think it makes more sense to get your Bachelors in psych or something related, and get a job in human services, non-profit, etc. It is the path of least resistance.

I will say, being a nurse is great preparation for becoming a counselor in many ways. Not trying to completely discourage you from nursing if it is something you believe you would truly enjoy, but this is so hard, even on good days. If you're going to be a nurse, just make sure you're invested in it as something you genuinely would like to do, not just as a brief transitional job.

Trauma Columnist · Apr 20, 2017

Moved to more appropriate forum for more responses

WCSU1987 · Apr 20, 2017

I don't want to be a downer. I mean psych is a rewarding career. However, it's a lot of burn out, under staffed, roles being taken over by other various positions, and little recognition unless a psychologist or psychiatrist.

Defiantly can be a LPC or MFT or LCSW. Out of those jobs LCSW has decent pay if in a hospital setting. Still workload can be overbearing at times for LCSW at hospital's.

If on the path to a BSN can work towards becoming a Psych APRN where in some States run your own practice.