MSN in Clinical Leadership or Case Management - applicable to a career in MHN?

[GabesMommy2014]

Hello,

I am considering earning my Masters, and have found a program with awards a Master in either Clinical Nurse Leadership or Case Management. I also really, really want to work in Mental Health Nursing.

Would either of these Masters degrees be applicable to a career in Mental Health Nursing? In other words, if I earned one of them, could I use it specifically to progress in a nursing career in mental health?

I have already been accepted into the program, but am now having last minute worries. I have found that my real love is mental health nursing, and I desperately want to take the right steps to have a lasting career in that field.

Thanks to anybody who can help me in advance!!!

[catsladder]

Couldn't you pick projects that are related to mental health during your MSN? I know of a handful of my nursing colleagues who do have a CNL. But they all already are working in mental health already, so I don't know if that would make a difference.

[GabesMommy2014]

Couldn't you pick projects that are related to mental health during your MSN? I know of a handful of my nursing colleagues who do have a CNL. But they all already are working in mental health already so I don't know if that would make a difference.[/quote']

Thanks for responding!

I'm still rather confused about the whole MSN process, so I'm not sure. I hope somebody who knows the answer can chime in! :)

What do your your colleagues with CNLs do? Are they floor nurses, or do they have a different title/role?

Thanks again!

[catsladder]

My colleagues who have CNL are floor nurses. Sometimes they are charge nurses. They are involve and/or lead in other committees and task groups that will have a direct impact on how the floor is run. Participate in scheduling, staffing, budgeting, interviewing... Etc.Of course, there are potentially management type of nursing positions they qualify for if that is an interests.