LPC vs. RN??

I was a non-nurse CM in MH and Psych with a BA and an MBA. I contemplated returning to school to earn a MPH or MSW and earn a license in counseling, but I got tired of being paid so little and having trouble paying for basic expenses. Thus, I returned to school and became a RN. So, no, it is not unheard of.... However, understand that you more than likely will work as a RN first with patients by the bedside before you return to Case Management. Being a bedside RN is a different way of thinking and it is in a different field.

Therefore, I encourage you to stay in touch with former employers so that when you graduate, you will have a job right out of school. Otherwise, become a CNA (poor pay, but very good experience) as soon as possible so that you can have your foot in the door of a place of employment right out of school. There is no nursing shortage and no shortage of New Graduate RNs seeking employment at this time. Good luck!

Despite your extensive MH experience, you would not be a candidate for most employers seeking to hire an RN case manager. My hospital requires 5 years of solid nursing experience for consideration and you would then need 2+ years case management practice prior to applying for certification. As an experienced nurse who provides CM to patients on a 28 bed locked MH unit in a large urban trauma center, I can tell you jobs like mine are few and far between. Make sure you really want to become a nurse rather than seeing the license as a means to the end of avoiding what is (and I completely agree with you) a very burdensome, underpaid, and lengthy required supervised practice period.