On line psych NP at age 51 -Help!

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Hello to all lovely -hard working -nurses. I have been a nurse for almost 20 years and 99% of my work experience is mental health nursing. I really am passionate about mental health and love to be a psych nurse. However, in the recent years things are changing. I am exhausted trying to advocate for patient in psych wards, when everything is about money, and filling beds rather then patient care. With that intro, I have been thinking alot about going back to school and getting my Psych-NP degree, so maybe I can have more autonomy with patient. These are my concern and worries; I have been away from school for ever, what if I can't keep up with the pressure of school, and all the new changes?

I am in a small town with no university around, can I find an online program that is supportive and no too expensive? would they see me as qualify ? (I have AA in nursing, and BA in psychology, and a solid resume with strong psych nursing experience)

Is there any other ways to be in mental health and actually have the chance to make a different ??? ANY advise, and feedback would bee deeply appreciate. I still have 15 more year before I get to retire so I MUST turn my career path around before I hate everything about what I do ... Thanks for taking the time to read.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Welcome! Your thread was moved to our Nurse Practitioners forum to amass more responses. Good luck to you.

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Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.

Psych NP work is great if you like psych. I do locum tenens. I work as an attending inpatient or outpatient. You can do it well past 65. Do not know anything about schools. Yes you qualify. Make sure you are up to the studying. There are probably pre reqs you can start taking now. Science courses are usually only good for 5 years. Best wishes.

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Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.

I have heard University of South Alabama has a good economical online option. I think they do PMHNP. You might want to do searches on this forum for other options for on line programs.

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Specializes in Outpatient Psychiatry.

You can get the master's. You might just have to take a couple of BSN-type classes. Scholastics for a budding NP are not cognitively taxing. I get the impression your slant is more toward psychosocial stuff in which case LAC or LMSW might be a better avenue for you. As a NP, EVERYTHING will be more about time and money...if you're actually working to work. Devote yourself to science because that's where we're headed.

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Specializes in ICU, PCU, Trauma.

From my limited understanding the pay for LMSW is significantly less and the hours needed are greater. As a psych NP you should at least be able to earn 90K in most markets. Also there are at least three online programs that I can think of off the top of my head under $500 per hour (the University of North Dakota, University of Southern Indiana, and Western Kentucky to name three). Going part time it will take about four years for your masters. You might also wish to consider relocating afterwards to one of the more than 20 states that offer full independent practice where you can essentially prescribe on par with MD's and conduct business in a manner more in keeping with your vision of how things should be done.

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"As a psych NP you should at least be able to earn 90K in most markets."

I totally agree with you on the salary .. thanks for your kind respond, I found it very helpful. I am checking those program and reading the reviews. Thank you again. Be well ..

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Specializes in Outpatient Psychiatry.

Oh we're talking money now. Psych NP is the WAY to go. I make double what Kuaidreamer quoted. I got the impression you were psychosocially motivated but if that were the case you probably wouldn't care about pay, lol.

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Psychguy, are you in private practice, hospitalist or both? Can you tell me how you got your start and how you got to that kind of salary?

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Specializes in Outpatient Psychiatry.
Psychguy, are you in private practice, hospitalist or both? Can you tell me how you got your start and how you got to that kind of salary?

Outpatient. Luck I think.

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Please do not work for $90k unless it is part time. I make about what PsychGuy makes and I think we're very much underpaid when compared to our physician colleagues. Income should be at least 80% of what MDs are paid since Medicare reimburses at 85%.

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Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.

TheOldGuy. This board has helped me ask for and get more money in my locums jobs. A locums psychiatrist makes $120 HR average. I am up to $78 HR. The 80 percent formula would have me at $96. Still a ways to go.

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