chibix

I know this is old but I'm bumping it because i had the same question about the Los Angeles area.

I appreciate the replies.

I want to be competitive for nursing school and my husband is planning to move to California which I have heard is very impacted. So staying put (in Arizona) might not be an option. I currently have a 3.0 and have not taken anatomy, physiology, microbiology or chemistry yet. I don't know how I will do yet (I took a high school level pre req biology class and had no trouble with it). Should I retake some of my prerequisite classes and try to get A's to be more competitive or just focus on my science classes?

I have a couple of questions. I am deciding between becoming a LCSW, a PA and working in mental health and a PMHNP. I am leaning toward the NP. I am still in my prereqs of undergrad studies. will Ibe prepared for a PMHNP role with just a year of RN experience? I had assumed that a LCSW and PMHNP have very similar duties. Is this correct? There seem to better job prospects for the SW and NP than the PA in mental health but i seem to hear that PAs are more prepared even coming fresh out of grad school. Is this true?

Thank you for the replies. @ christineN I hadn't really considered that about patients with co morbidities but that. makes sense. Does a weak stomach ever go away in nursing? @HouTX I had also sort of ruled out the psychology route because I read that they are having very few job prospects as well. I thought nursing would be better, its dissapointing to hear that its not but I guess no ones doing well in that area these days. Are the job prospects good for LCSWs?

I want to work in mental health and am not sure I can handle bed pans and vomit and such (as RN). I was looking into licensed clinical social work but the pay is very low. On the other hand med school to become a psychiatrist is too costly for me, plus I would like more paitent interaction and not just perscribing medication. So I am considering becoming an advance nurse practitioner and specializing in psychiatry. Can anyone give me some advice on the best career path? How long would Ineed to work as an RN before trying for my masters?