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
lovedillpickles - I have decided to volunteer in the psychiatric floor of a local hospital. I hope to get a better picture of what it's like to be a psych nurse and also a social worker in a hospital. I am not sure if this would help you, but it seemed like a good way to get a feel for someone who is a visual learner.
ghillbert- could u tell me where these programs are i've never ever heard of it. i just dont know if i should throw away getting a master for a bachelors besides the salary for nursing is much better than msw.i have been in hospitals with rleatives and the blood,needles etc never bothered me
I just ran into a friend who was working as an MSW at a major mental health provider where I live. She was laid off and STILL looking for a job. She has thirty years experience. Same old story, how I wish I had known all of this before getting the MSW.
I graduated with my MSW in 2007 and I would definitely recommend going for a RN instead. The pay is much lower for MSWs and you end up with a lot of student loans to pay back. The only way that one can probably make $ is to work for the VA or for a state or county job, and those have so many applicants now.The majority of jobs that are available only pay like $35,000 a year which really dosen't support someone living in NY. I currently work in the field of research where I make under $35,000 a year.
I considered going back for a Ph.D in school psychology, but that is not a great field right now . So I will be going back for my ADN in the evenings and finish in 2 years and do the rest of the courses online for the Psychiatric Nurse Practioner program.
I generally like the idea of a MSW, but it is so not rewarding and it is sad that the profession gets such little respect.
Thank you for the advice Kay. At this time I am planning on taking a CNA course soon to get an idea of what some of the gross side of nursing is and see if I can handle it, as well as to perhaps get a job while I'm taking nursing prereqs. I still haven't made up my mind about the MSW program. I know the financial outlook is not great, and that is really frustrating. Also frustrating is having to go back and get an ADN or try and get another bachelor's degree, plus all of the prerequisite courses after already having a bachelor's degree. I guess I will have to get over that. I never thought nursing would be something I would do, but after working desk jobs for ten years and hating it, I am excited about a career where I get to stay busy and directly help people at the same time.
jcmoore07
40 Posts
lovedillpickles - I have decided to volunteer in the psychiatric floor of a local hospital. I hope to get a better picture of what it's like to be a psych nurse and also a social worker in a hospital. I am not sure if this would help you, but it seemed like a good way to get a feel for someone who is a visual learner.