Nursing vs. Child Psychology

[Zelda, RN]

Right now I am attending college for my BSN in nursing. However, recently I've been feeling that nursing would not quite reach the "group" I'm wanting to reach out to. To really specialize in nursing, it's becoming more clear that you need advanced education, such as a Master's. Even with that, I'd want to specialize in OB nursing or work in the NICU, which it seems like nearly everyone wants to do.

My other option is to study psychology and work as a child psychologist. My family has adopted five kids, one from foster care, two from Bulgaria, and two internationally. I have seen first-hand the issues these kids go through, and I have seen how the trauma of their lives has affected them. As a child psychologist, I would work with foster care agencies and adoption agencies, counseling children who suffer from RAD, PTSD, FAS, and other disorders associated with kids from orphanages or foster care. This is what truly lays on my heart and what I want to deal with.

My ultimate dream is to travel to Romania and live there for a year, working in orphanages and caring for the children. I just don't know which path I can take to make the BIGGEST difference. It's not about the classes or the money or anything, it's just simply what will help me to make the biggest difference in kids' lives, and what will best allow me to and prepare me for what I will work with and see.

[leenak]

Well I for one have no interest in the OB or NICU :)

In order to be a psychologist, you need an advanced degree anyway. Why not continue on with the BSN and see what happens? You could apply to graduate school for psychology if you wanted at a later date and what you learn in your BSN program may be useful.

[Cherry02]

Do what you feel will be most fulfilling. However, nurses don't HAVE to get a graduate degree, whereas psychologists definitely do--usually a doctorate.

Personally, I think nurses can make just as much (or more) of an impact on children's/people's lives than psychologists. I don't think you can really say for sure that one makes a bigger difference than the other.

But, you know what your ultimate goal is...when you envision your future, what does it look like? Pick the career that will bring you closest to that. Good luck!