Leaving Social Work to become a Nurse Practitioner

Jules A, MSN · Apr 13, 2015

I know one former social worker who became a psych NP and is pretty good however I know more who would like to but already have far too much time and money invested in their social work career so they decided it isn't a sensible move.

To answer your questions:

-The math isn't too horrible and you might be able to use whatever math you already have

-DNP is not yet required by Boards of Nursing only some schools so imo I would advise anyone who wants to become a NP and can get into a masters program to go that route and if you think DNP is important perhaps get that later while working as a NP

-Unfortunately many programs do not require psych nursing experience which I think is a shame and is most worth getting the first hand experience of administering and monitoring reactions to medications

-As for paying for it I have never understood those who are willing to go into extreme debt for their education. My advice is work your butt off while in school, possibly nights and weekends to avoid adding more debt. I worked through all my programs and graduated without debt.

-Right now there are tuition reimbursement programs for service in underserved areas that have their pros and cons

-I love being a NP but it is more challenging than I ever imagined it would be and I tend to be pretty ballsy

Good luck with whatever you decide.

WookieeRN, BSN, MSN, RN · Apr 13, 2015

If you are already 56k in the hole just with student loans I would heavily advise you against adding to that. Either get enough scholarships/grants/etc to pay for the bsn/msn/dnp entirely without taking out loans or pay off your other debt first. Otherwise, you will be paying off your school loans until you die (or after).... I would never put that kind of debt life sentence on myself, but others are more willing.

I would go through nursing school and work bedside before you decide to jump into being an NP.

dazed&confused8 · Apr 13, 2015

Welp....this is what i get for listening to my parents... now, i'm stuck in a career that I hate, paying off debt with money I don't have....should stayed a college drop out..until I figured out what I wanted to do, with my life.....so depressed.

HikingNinja, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN, NP · Apr 13, 2015

I don't know how popular my post wil be...but I say go for it! My story in short:

20+ years ago = high school grad with no clue what career path was for me. Graduated early with a fair amount of college debt (I worked too during school) but I couldn't afford food and tuition both. I ended up with a BA in psych, all my jobs in the field paid horribly. After 10 years I completed a rather pricey MS in psych and became a therapist. I loved the job. And I don't regret the degree or student loans I incurred. But I felt like something was missing. I finally put the pieces together when I met an FNP and they told me about PMHNPs. MIND BLOWN! This was it! The career that I wanted! Very few people were supportive. I got the "you're getting into debt way over your head" and " can't you just be happy with a stable job". Don't listen to the naysayers. Go with your gut. It took me a couple of years to finish my prereqs. Then an accelerated BSN. It was intimidating entering a new profession as a novice at my age. But I did it. After several years of working as an RN I have gained a lot of valuable experience and am finally looking at PMHNP programs. I will be in debt up to my eyeballs when I am done but school loans will be the only debt I have. I will happily write that check every month knowing I spent it on the education that got me my dream job.

That ended up long rather than short. But anywho, I say go with year heart.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Apr 13, 2015

Look for a hospital with a Psych ER + Psychiatric inpatient unit as they utilize LMSW. These hospitals often provide educational assistance. My health system provides $3,000/yr for BS, $5,000/yr for MS degree + 2yr commitment. If this is really what you want, this is a way to decrease your college debt.

carachel2 · Apr 13, 2015

Moral of the story here: don't major in psych or social work! I'm sure that sounds flippant, but making a living in those fields is a constant struggle. I've already told my 16 year old I will help finance her education but I will not pay for her to major in either of those fields. But I digress.

Here is what I would do. Find THE cheapest state school with an accelerated BSN or jr. college with a solid ADN program. Get into the program and finish your first semester. THEN go work as a CNA at one of your large local health systems. A lot of them still have programs that will pay some of your way or most of your way through nursing school. Graduate. Work like heck your first year or so as an RN..pick up extra shifts, work nights, live cheap. Pay off those loans baby!

THEN go back to school to get your NP. Don't worry about a DNP...just get the NP.

Jules A, MSN · Apr 13, 2015

I don't know how popular my post wil be...but I say go for it! My story in short:
20+ years ago = high school grad with no clue what career path was for me. Graduated early with a fair amount of college debt (I worked too during school) but I couldn't afford food and tuition both. I ended up with a BA in psych, all my jobs in the field paid horribly. After 10 years I completed a rather pricey MS in psych and became a therapist. I loved the job. And I don't regret the degree or student loans I incurred. But I felt like something was missing. I finally put the pieces together when I met an FNP and they told me about PMHNPs. MIND BLOWN! This was it! The career that I wanted! Very few people were supportive. I got the "you're getting into debt way over your head" and " can't you just be happy with a stable job". Don't listen to the naysayers. Go with your gut. It took me a couple of years to finish my prereqs. Then an accelerated BSN. It was intimidating entering a new profession as a novice at my age. But I did it. After several years of working as an RN I have gained a lot of valuable experience and am finally looking at PMHNP programs. I will be in debt up to my eyeballs when I am done but school loans will be the only debt I have. I will happily write that check every month knowing I spent it on the education that got me my dream job.
That ended up long rather than short. But anywho, I say go with year heart.

I think you make good points and I can appreciate that you are happy with the sacrifices you have made to become a psych-NP.

What I don't understand and perhaps it is a statement about our society in general thinking everything should be perfect and we are entitled to a live with minimal compromise but if someone really loves mental health and wants to work in the field and they have made a substantial investment of time and money in becoming a social worker why can't they find an area in their field that they enjoy? Social work like nursing is very flexible. One can work inpatient, outpatient, on a crisis team, in the emergency department. As much as I love prescribing there is no way I would be happy doing it if it cost me a significant amount of money.

WookieeRN, BSN, MSN, RN · Apr 13, 2015

I don't know how popular my post wil be...but I say go for it! My story in short:
20+ years ago = high school grad with no clue what career path was for me. Graduated early with a fair amount of college debt (I worked too during school) but I couldn't afford food and tuition both. I ended up with a BA in psych, all my jobs in the field paid horribly. After 10 years I completed a rather pricey MS in psych and became a therapist. I loved the job. And I don't regret the degree or student loans I incurred. But I felt like something was missing. I finally put the pieces together when I met an FNP and they told me about PMHNPs. MIND BLOWN! This was it! The career that I wanted! Very few people were supportive. I got the "you're getting into debt way over your head" and " can't you just be happy with a stable job". Don't listen to the naysayers. Go with your gut. It took me a couple of years to finish my prereqs. Then an accelerated BSN. It was intimidating entering a new profession as a novice at my age. But I did it. After several years of working as an RN I have gained a lot of valuable experience and am finally looking at PMHNP programs. I will be in debt up to my eyeballs when I am done but school loans will be the only debt I have. I will happily write that check every month knowing I spent it on the education that got me my dream job.

But how happy will you be if cutting that check could potentially cost a majority of your income for the month?

I think its ill-advised to encourage people to take on towering debt like that, I'm sorry.

dazed&confused8 · Apr 13, 2015

So the overriding theme...is....stay in horrible career to avoid loan debt....or pursue career and be in debt for the rest of my life....like I already am. Hmmmm....@ carachel 2 and the commentor above are the only ones who gave me solid advice...and the other @hiking ninja thanks for the encouragement....(please spare me with the petty disagreements, I'm depressed and need practical advice....not debates...on educational investments...I made a mistake....I get it....never listen to school preoocupied parents kids.)...I digress...

Questions...to be a cna.....don't you have to be certified??....and the psych er advice.....I have applied to several hospitals it seems to be hard to get into the hospital realm...unless you know someone. I'm really depressed and don't know what to do. Social work is not as flexible as every claim and.....the financially you'll be struggling unless you become a supervisor or director... work for city, state or feds....which the cap is at most 75,000. And yeah hard to get into as well....if this is a bad idea, the nurse practitioner field....is a ms in health care mangement....a bad idea too?....I'm making 50,000 right now...I can save up and pay for it.....

Jules A, MSN · Apr 13, 2015

Hmmmm....@ carachel 2 and the commentor above are the only ones who gave me solid advice...and the other @hiking ninja thanks for the encouragement....(please spare me with the petty disagreements, I'm depressed and need practical advice....not debates...on educational investments..

Sorry that everyone who took the time to read your tale of woe and respond didn't met your needs, or tell you what it was you wanted to hear perhaps? Hopefully there are others who will continue to humor your questions knowing that you are likely to be not the least bit gracious.

WookieeRN, BSN, MSN, RN · Apr 13, 2015

No one is telling you that you cant go to nursing school. I just would not recommend taking out more loans to do so.