Opinions about Direct-Entry MSN Mental Health/Psych Programs

williamd · Feb 5, 2011

I am just finishing my psych NP program, and have 20+ years experience as a psych nurse. This background has been invaluable as I have progressed through my program. I know many of my classmates do not have the psych experience that I do. They are good students, and can make up the difference with a lot of hard study and research, but there is no way to quite make up the difference of experience when you are talking to a patient- you just have a feeling for what their issues are.

However, I do believe that direct entry is a valid road to success, you just have to put a lot into your education to make up for what you have not already learned by experience. And don't count on your program making sure you have all the knowledge and training you will need. At the Masters level, a lot of your training is self directed: you get out of it what you put into it. Your prof's will seldom spoon feed you, you have to go out there and learn on your own.

Psychcns · Sep 14, 2011

I agree with the above post. I got my graduate degree after years of psych nursing and there are many ways to learn. I think the more contact you have with psych patients, psychopathology, diagnostic interviewing, medication management, and psychotherapy the better a clinician you are and the more you can be helpful to patients. I am mostly a prescriber now but I have a background in psychotherapy. Psych NP jobs vary--many are prescribing but some include psychotherapy.

danceluver · Sep 25, 2011

@HazelEyedDream...why have you decided to move away from Healthcare Administration? I would like to know because its a field i am considering getting a degree in.