Needing advice about MSW vs RN

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Hello,

I'm a 31 year old guy, who's been trying to make up my mind about this for some time now. I am interested in the mental health field. I find it fascinating and I think it would be a great way for me to help others who suffer.

I have a bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, and basically a minor in Spanish. I've been sort of on an exceedingly random career and life path since I graduated from college 9 years ago. I worked for a year and a half doing design, realized it wasn't for me, found an internship in Costa Rica for 6 1/2 months, lived with a host family and learned Spanish. Pause...then I came back to the U.S., became an elementary ESL teacher, did that for a year and a half, then taught Art and Spanish to high school students online.

I recently got married, moved to a different state and now have a completely different job working for the government. I do feel, however, that I am closer to my goal of helping people directly. I want to work with people in intimate settings, ie 1 on 1 or in small groups. Teaching didn't really allow as much of that as I wanted.

I am fascinated by psychology, and I have begun a track toward getting my MSW (master's of social work degree). I have, however, been somewhat dispelled because I am concerned about 1. can I provide for my family on the income 2. if I have to get my master's part time (because I have a dayjob), then work for 2 years before I can get my license (it's my understanding that it's very hard to get good jobs without a license or at least any that pay well) is it worth it?

I looked into the nursing field about 2 years ago, as well, and I took a couple of prerequisite courses for an ADN degree program (my thinking was that I could become a nurse and then go back and get a master's in the future should I so desire), and I did a little shadowing of an oncology nurse. I feel that a few things that are intriguing about nursing to me are 1. It's a busy job; you aren't ever really sitting behind your desk wondering why 4 hours seemed like 8...2. You have a very hands on job, where you are providing people something tangible, touch, the rewards nurses give people are manifested in very 'real' ways, which I feel would be rewarding to the nurse as well

The challenge of becoming a nurse is definitely there. Science wasn't my best class in high school, but I don't think I really tried either. I did better in college, but I was still very young. I feel I could learn what I have to and pass the tests if I made up my mind to do it; also, I am not by nature the most detail oriented person; I have to work at it...I'm an artistic person, but I also can excel when I put my mind to something.

After all of this nonsense, my question to you psych nurses is...for someone like me, what would you recommend...the MSW or going ahead and taking a 180...getting the ADN and trying to get into mental health nursing?

*I appreciate anyone's time in reading and replying to this posting

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatric, Behavioral Health.

In my honest opinion, a MSN with a focus in psych (vs a MSW) still holds more weight and career potential.

Wolfie MSN, MSEd, BSN, RN

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Welcome to allnurses! :balloons:

I can't tell you how many MSWs I've known in my career who were thinking of switching over to nursing because they were sick of watching staff nurses with ADNs make a lot more $$$ than they did with a Master's, doing practically the same stuff (not that that's really true, but that was their perception) in the same workplace ...

Esp. if you're concerned about being able to support a family, I would definitely recommend going with nursing rather than social work. Yes, you have to have the LCSW credential to get any good jobs (and you'll still be making less than most staff nurses, in most cases). Plus, as an RN, you'll have the flexibility to move into any area of nursing that interests you -- many of us had the experience of starting nursing school sure we wanted to specialize in one particular area, and, by the time we graduated, ended up being most interested in another specialty entirely. Plus, it's comparatively easy to move from one specialty area to another if you become "burned out" in one area and want to try something different.

Another consideration is that, with your previous BA, you could consider an accelerated BSN program to get into nursing. Entering the field with a BSN rather than an ADN would give you a small step up right off the bat, would give you a wider range of options as you proceed with your career, and would put you a step ahead (of an ADN) if you decide to return to school for an MSN.

Best wishes for your journey --

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Specializes in chemical dependency detox/psych.

The challenge of becoming a nurse is definitely there. Science wasn't my best class in high school, but I don't think I really tried either. I did better in college, but I was still very young. I feel I could learn what I have to and pass the tests if I made up my mind to do it; also, I am not by nature the most detail oriented person; I have to work at it...I'm an artistic person, but I also can excel when I put my mind to something.

Those qualities that you recognize about yourself (not being strong in science or being detail-oriented) could be a something that would eventually drive you out of the nursing profession, or cause you to spend a lot of money on nursing classes, only to fail out (I've seen it happen). How well do you like math? Most people don't realize the amount of math used in nursing, either. Perhaps you could take a career aptitude test at the school you were planning on attending? Or perhaps you could ask to do another job shadow?--perhaps of a psych nurse? Good luck in your journey! I wish you well.

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In my honest opinion, a MSN with a focus in psych (vs a MSW) still holds more weight and career potential.

Thunderwolf, I would be interested in hearing why you believe this. Also, what does a psych MSN actually do? Do they do counseling sessions like an MSW would do, or mainly just medication managment?

Op, I too struggle with the RN vs MSW question. I finally settled on getting a BSN with the idea that I can always get a MSW later should I desire too. I just figure it is never a bad idea to get an RN license, as it is a marketable skill. Good luck with whatever you decide!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatric, Behavioral Health.

As a psych CNS/NP, in many states, one can perform much of the same duties as a MSW (especially outpt psych) plus med management plus physical assessment. And the pay is much much better.

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

I'm a psych CNS, and have an MSN with a focus in psych. I've been able to do therapy with groups and individuals, prescribe, assess, order labs, and get paid a WHOLE lot more than the MSWs who worked in the same facility.

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Hi JCmoore,

I am an BSN who contemplated becoming an LCSW, took 2 MSw courses...but the reality of the salary and work to get the MSW made me realize i could become a mental health nurse practioner...I was good in science but bad in math..so i bought a 'math for nurses" book during nursing school and it helped me immensly...i also bought a 6th grade fraction workbook because my school made us take math test without a calculator and i had to retake that test 3-4 times until i got a passing grade of 80...my nursing experience has always been in the "community' with psychology as a unrealized dream...now i am only pursuing that psych nurse job and i feel it within my reach...thinking positive.....:saint:

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Specializes in Mother Baby & pre-hospital EMS.

I'm really glad that this thread exists! I have had thoughts about whether or not I should pursue a master's in social work or something psychology-related. Psychology was my first degree, and I wish I could study it further or do something related to it in my career or even in my free time. But now I see that if I wanted to, I could attend a psych/mental health NP program and it would be very similar to a MSW but also incorporate my RN education (and maybe even my psych degree!).

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Specializes in Geriatrics, LTC.
The challenge of becoming a nurse is definitely there. Science wasn't my best class in high school, but I don't think I really tried either. I did better in college, but I was still very young. I feel I could learn what I have to and pass the tests if I made up my mind to do it; also, I am not by nature the most detail oriented person; I have to work at it...I'm an artistic person, but I also can excel when I put my mind to something.

I'm just a nursing student myself, but I wanted to comment on the quoted paragraph. Even if science isn't your forte, you can still succeed in the class. I was never very good with science in high school either, and of course struggled with my chem, micro, bio courses freshman year. Get tutoring if you need it, start study groups, whatever you need to do to get by...remember just to take things one step at a time in the courses. I know it's easier said than done, but you've already got the right attitude!

For the rest of the nurses who participated in this post...THANK YOU! I've been wondering about various career paths a psych nurse could take if s/he wanted to also professionally counsel, intervene, and assist in psych patients (almost similar to a psychologist). This thread helped me as well.:nurse:

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Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.

From reading your description of your work history, it seems that you need change from time to time - sometimes drastic change. Nursing can certainly provide that. If you wind up in a specialty that you hate or you just want something different, you can switch specialties without the time and expense of returning to school to get another degree. MSWs in most places are not paid in proportion to their education.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

When I was 18 I was going to college to become a Social Worker. It is relatively well known to make real money in social work you need your Masters degree. Even then, the job market is not great. You don't get rich doing nursing either though! However, in my opinion, it is much easier to find a job! And I truly feel there are much more opportunities out there as a nurse then there are for MSW's. I decided back then to choose Social Work over nursing because people told me how hard nursing school was, and I didn't have the confidence to tackle it (Nursing). I am 34 now, and finished my ADN in May of this year. I have 2 children and a failing marriage the whole time. If I could do it, anyone can do it! And when it comes to math, I am one of the very weakest you will find! I was actually in Special Ed in Middle School my math was soo poor. I was also in Special Ed for math when I was in Elementary school! I score very low on the ACT's for math. Embarassingly so. But I am telling you that if Nursing is what you want to do, and you are confident in it, and driven, then you will succeed. I am very good at science, and my Reading, English, and Science scores trump my math scores. I surrounded myself with successful and driven students. My attitude and those around me all contributed to my success. Please don't limit yourself because you think you aren't capable. Choose what you want and go for it! I did absolutely FINE in nursing school! Nursing is about a lot more than math :-)

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