What is the main differences between these 3 jobs?

Specialties NP

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Mental Health NP

Masters in Social Work

Masters in Psychology?

I want to do one of the three, but i'm having trouble choosing. I know social workers make around 30,000 if lucky, but what would the other two make? (in a small city) What are the main differences in all three jobs?

Mental Health NP

Masters in Social Work

Masters in Psychology?

I want to do one of the three, but i'm having trouble choosing. I know social workers make around 30,000 if lucky, but what would the other two make? (in a small city) What are the main differences in all three jobs?

Hello Andreamae

If I had to choose than I would be a mental health Nurse Practitioner. Because the other two would be encompass of the first one. As a mental health nurse practitioner,

you will be able to conduct therapuetic programs, research, and etc. In addition, the position allows you to view all phases within the mental health community. Therefore, I would not lose my skills as a nurse and I would join all of my knowledge and skills into one area...np.

You have to decide what is best for you. Also, look on the web about each of the job titles and salaries. I did and saw the np has a lot more benefits than the other two.

Have a good evening/day.

Buttons

Agreed- do the mental health NP. You can then do counseling as well. Above all, do NOT do the masters in psychology. There are a million MAs in psych without related jobs. Generally, the doctorate is the goal in psychology, and even then the jobs are scarce. Jobs for the MSW are far more plentiful and typically that too is a licensed position. But the pay is not nearly as good as the mental health NP.

Thanks for the advice. What does a mental health NP make? (in a small city)

Thanks for the advice. What does a mental health NP make? (in a small city)

Hello, AndreaMae

May I ask you a question? Are you going into the field for the money? If so, I would not want you to disappointed in the pay because you may not be able to purchase fanatsy island. I can tell you it will give you a decent amount to live comfortable, put food on the table, pay your bills, have a vacation or two and money in your purse and/or pockets. It is not about money here...it is about helping people.

If you go into your own business, one office helper and work out at your home for the first couple of years than you will be able to make the money you are seeking. Going to a therapy session can range 100 to 300 dollars and you could schedule four sessions a day and work at a facility half of a day. Then the dough will roll in. Therefore, consider of building your own business as well as working part time in facility.

If you are working in a small town, than do a market reseach on the town. See how many therapists are located in the small town, how much is the cost of therapy from your opponents, is there a mental heath facilty in the small town?, If so, what is the salary of a nurse practitioner at the facility and so on. Then you can decide is it worth it or not?

I think you need to decide why you are going into the field and what you want out of it.

Good Luck.....

Buttons

It's not that it's the most important thing (the salary) I'm trying to compare each 3 jobs. :)

What is the main differences between these 3 jobs?

Mental Health NP

Masters in Social Work

Masters in Psychology?

These are not jobs, they are degrees/credentials in three separate disciplines. There are many different jobs, doing very different things in different settings, with a wide range of incomes, that a PMHNP, social worker, or psychologist might hold.

As another poster noted, since the PhD or PsyD are the terminal degrees in psychology, Master's-prepared psychologists are sort of "second class citizens" in the psych world. In my state, they cannot practice independently (they are actually licensed as "psychological assistants"), and must be supervised by a doctorally-prepared psychologist. There are far more of them than there are decent psychology jobs.

While advanced practice nursing generally pays better than social work, it is not true that every PMHNP is making more money than every MSW. There are PMHNPs who are making lots of money and some who are making not much money, and there are social workers making lots of money and some making very little money. It depends on your interests, how hard you want to work, what kind of work (specifically) you choose to do, what kind of setting you're working in, how successful you are in developing a practice or getting promoted up through a department, geographical location, plenty of other variables I can't think of off the top of my head, and just plain luck.

Nursing, psychology, and social work are three entirely separate, different disciplines. Since it would take quite a lot of blood, sweat, tears, and $$$ to get through school to get any one of these degrees, I recommend you spend some time researching the three fields in depth to determine which one best fits your interests and goals. Best wishes! :)

Specializes in RN Psychiatry.
Hello, AndreaMae

May I ask you a question? Are you going into the field for the money? If so, I would not want you to disappointed in the pay because you may not be able to purchase fanatsy island. I can tell you it will give you a decent amount to live comfortable, put food on the table, pay your bills, have a vacation or two and money in your purse and/or pockets. It is not about money here...it is about helping people.

If you go into your own business, one office helper and work out at your home for the first couple of years than you will be able to make the money you are seeking. Going to a therapy session can range 100 to 300 dollars and you could schedule four sessions a day and work at a facility half of a day. Then the dough will roll in. Therefore, consider of building your own business as well as working part time in facility.

If you are working in a small town, than do a market reseach on the town. See how many therapists are located in the small town, how much is the cost of therapy from your opponents, is there a mental heath facilty in the small town?, If so, what is the salary of a nurse practitioner at the facility and so on. Then you can decide is it worth it or not?

I think you need to decide why you are going into the field and what you want out of it.

Good Luck.....

Buttons

You seem to have allot of knowlege about starting your own business as a psych NP or CNS. what would be the job title of this job where you are running groups at a facility. Have you started your own business. Also do many Psych NP go in on an office together and share it. if you have had any experience in this I'd love to pick your brain, you seem experienced and knowledgable. Also how does one go about getting the supervision you need to write your prescriptions for your private practice. Thanks in advance for any help! Take care.

Danielle

If you are credentialed by the state, and have RX privileges, then you do not have anyone supervising you for prescriptions.

That is the last thing that someone needs to worry about.

Specializes in RN Psychiatry.
If you are credentialed by the state, and have RX privileges, then you do not have anyone supervising you for prescriptions.

That is the last thing that someone needs to worry about.

but don't you need a doc to collaborate (even if offsite) to sign papers once a month or something?

but don't you need a doc to collaborate (even if offsite) to sign papers once a month or something?

Hello,

Sorry, I am back from my trip in Maine. It was a lovely area to retire and to visit. However, not a place to make money or be able to live comfortable without working your butt off. I love the atomsphere and relaxation in Maine.

ANyways, Danielle.....

Did you read the post from Suzannne?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you are credentialed by the state, and have RX privileges, then you do not have anyone supervising you for prescriptions.

That is the last thing that someone needs to worry about.

__________________

Suzanne RN, BS, MBA

You can work with or without a physician depending on the state creditials and if you are given RX authorization. Therefore, you need to research the state and their rulings of the job tilte of psych. RN.

I cannot do the research for you or know what state you would like to reside as a practitioner. OK?

Buttons

It's not that it's the most important thing (the salary) I'm trying to compare each 3 jobs. :)

Thats good, Andrea,because things sure can change over the years. Making an important decision today with respect to income potential could backfire down the road in any profession. for example, computer hardware and software marketers made a small fortune 20 years ago, now those same wares are being sold for 10% of the amount they were deemed worth back then and can be purchased in a retail store. Who knows what external influences will affect Nursing and other health care pros in the coming years.

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