Pharmacist to PMHNP

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I am a 50 year-old male pharmacist (PharmD). I completed a BS in Biological Sciences from UC Davis in 1987. When I graduated in 1991 (from University of Southern California), the demand for pharmacists was very high due to a shortage; for that reason, I did not complete a pharmacy residency program. Over the next 13 years, I went to work in traditional areas of pharmacy. I consider myself a forward thinker and innovator, seeking to make new trails and follow my dreams. In 2003, the only way I saw this vision possible was to start my own pharmacy. Granted, I made this decision not knowing about the future existence of Medicare Part D (drug benefit).

I had the pharmacy for 10 years; it had to close due to personal health and financial business reasons. Unfortunately, part of these personal health issues resulted from working 60+ hours a week both practicing pharmacy and keeping the business afloat; thus, it interfered with my competent practice of pharmacy and thus led to its closing in November 2013. The board of pharmacy had to step in and take action. Soon after, my therapy team and I realized the situation was the problem, and not anything inherently wrong with me.

While going through my mental health treatment, I often thought about becoming a nurse practitioner if I could accomplish that without getting the RN degree first. I have always wanted to do more with my pharmacy degree since graduation, and only NOW (20 years later) has the need for increased scope of practice been recognized. With a surplus of pharmacists in the marketplace, the economical benefits (eg compensation) are diminishing. Yet, the current salary level of a PMHNP seems very comparable to PharmD.

I am looking for something different that will give more gratification that I am helping people and using my clinical skills and knowledge for patients' benefit. I had first-hand experience with the serious shortage of mental health prescribers in my area.

So in that vane, I am considering a career change to become a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. I am interested in accelerated programs available online for 'second career track?' folks.

What advice would you have for me?

Soul-searching Pharmacist

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Specializes in Mental Health.

As long as you're willing to take on the debt, I think this is a good idea. Starting salaries range from 90-150k, depending on where you are, so, at least for now, this seems like a sound investment. Vanderbilt and Boston College have accelerated programs (RN and MSN) that are 2 years in length, while others (Yale, MGH, Seattle, U Penn, UCSF) are 3 years in length. So it depends on how fast you want to finish, whether you can handle going straight through even during summer, etc. Tuition wise they all seem to run around 100k total, but of course the longer programs will cost more due to the extra time in school and not working. You will have to take pre-reqs, but they can be done at a community college.

I wish you the best with your decision!

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That sounds like a great option. There's a major need for psych providers almost everywhere. You will certainly have an advantage with psychopharmacology as there are many medication interactions, drug monitoring, and EPS of all psych meds.

Just a heads up, there are no online RN programs. If you choose an accelerated program, the first 12 months or so would be completed in residence at the school and include clinicals in the major areas of basic nursing (med/surg, psych, peds, and OB). Following this you would need to pass the NCLEX an become licensed as an RN. Most of these career-changer programs are also going to require you to do your specially (PMHNP in this case) coursework and clinicals locally even if they offer a distance option. I know this is true at Vanderbilt in particular.

If you absolutely cannot relocate to attend a career-changer program, you could earn your ADN at a local community college (which will take at least 2 years) and the apply to a distance PMHNP school for the MSN.

Best of luck with the new career path!

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Specializes in allergy and asthma, urgent care.

Hi-

I changed careers and went back to school in my mid 40s. I went to an accelerated Masters' Entry program and it was very worth it for me. I've been practicing for 4.5 years as an FNP. If this is what you want, then go for it! Definitely take your pre-reqs at a community college. See if the schools you apply to accept CLEP exams in lieu of some intro courses. I was able to skip repeating intro Bio and Chem that way. Also see if there are any state schools where you live that have Masters Entry programs. You can save a lot on tuition that way.

I wish you the best of luck. Please let us know how things turn out.

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thanks folks for your kind advices i am also a PharmD in my early 40s who is seriously considering a career change to a NP. i am all for the fast track program because i can't afford the lengthy programs. my concern however is having to re-do those introductory science pre-requisites all over. Is there any way to by-pass thoses?

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As the poster of this thread, I would love to get in touch with you (Abraham) and compare notes on your thoughts, experiences, and concerns. I am quite concerned about having to do the 12 month accelerated RN (first) program (with repeat prereqs) knowing what the goal really is....

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As the poster of this thread, I would love to get in touch with you (Abraham) and compare notes on your thoughts, experiences, and concerns. I am quite concerned about having to do the 12 month accelerated RN (first) program (with repeat prereqs) knowing what the goal really is....

dgmrph, I understand your concern with doing an RN program first, but there really is no shortcut to becoming a NURSE practitioner - you have to be a nurse first. There is absolutely NO WAY around becoming an RN first, as it is an absolute requirement. 12 months for a Bachelor's in Nursing is nothing (before the accelerated programs, you'd be looking at FOUR YEARS). That means 12 full months condensing the 4 year BSN curriculum - it cannot be done online, is usually extremely costly (no financial aid for second degree), and will require many hours of hospital based clinicals as an RN student. When that is complete, you can move onto the Master's portion for the PMHNP, which varies from 18 months to 2.5 years full-time (Vanderbilt is the shortest I know of at only one year). I understand your goal is to be a PMHNP, but please think of some things before you do this:

1. Minimum time commitment will be between 2-4 years depending on pre-reqs needed, application cycles, etc.

2. Cost could vary, but most accelerated BSN programs are around 50-60K. Master's programs run around 50-100K, so you're probably looking at at least $100,000 total, plus living expenses if you need them.

3. You WILL have to become an RN first. While you will not have to work as an RN, you will have to do clinicals. Are you ready to give bed baths and change linens all day? It can be very humbling for someone who already has a doctorate degree.

4. Make sure you're interested in PMHNP and not just the salary - the salary is not always guaranteed to be that high. Would you still do this for 50K per year? The market could always saturate in then near future.

Things to think about. It may be easier for you to become a PA?

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Specializes in Cardiac ICU; CV Nursing; Medical Surg; Psychiatric.
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetail/359036000
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4. Make sure you're interested in PMHNP and not just the salary - the salary is not always guaranteed to be that high. Would you still do this for 50K per year? The market could always saturate in then near future.

Things to think about. It may be easier for you to become a PA?

I don't think you have to worry about PMHNP market saturation, especially with there being fewer psychiatrists coming along. I've also never heard of a salary as low as 50K, more like double that.

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Make sure you're interested in PMHNP and not just the salary - the salary is not always guaranteed to be that high. Would you still do this for 50K per year? The market could always saturate in then near future. Things to think about. It may be easier for you to become a PA?

FutureeastcoastNP is right. PA can be done easily in 2 years and you already have the pre-requisites for the program as a pharmacist. But I still encourage for NP route in case you want to work in independent practice states where NPs are preferred over PAs. Some physicians like the relief that the liability is completely transferred over to NPs in those states.

And just for correction. There is no way the salary could be as low as 50k. It won't be that low even if the market is saturated. It is because RN will have no incentive to go back to school. That's too extreme. However, it is important to know that pharmacist salary is "generally" much higher than PMHNP. The salary ranges for PMHNP vary GREATLY between states to states or even from employers to employers. You have to research local demand/supply before making assumption. Here in the southeast, even with pharmacist saturation that you claim, some new pharmacist grads still earn as much as 116-130k in retail, while PMHMP (esp new grads) earns significantly lower than that. And yes, with one expensive private school I know that admit 50 students last year and the recent class size increase in local schools, the saturation is possible. if you search the web, you will find out that psychiatry residency slots have increased in the recent years as well.

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The 50k thing was not realistic, I was just giving an example to think about. My point was would you do it even if you didn't make much.

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Specializes in allergy and asthma, urgent care.

Just one small clarification. While you do have to be an RN before becoming a NP, you DO NOT have to have a BSN. Some Masters' Entry/Direct Entry programs are BSN-MSN programs, while others are RN-MSN. That can make a difference in program length. I have an RN-MSN degree and not having the BSN did not affect my marketability.

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