Psych nursing vs BSN

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I'm just wondering how the two differ. I understand one is more specialized but if I wanted to one day change career paths and specialize in maternity etc. Is that an easy transition to make? Or if I graduate and just want to work somewhere as a regular nurse do I still have all the skills that a BSN student has?

Thank you!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

BSN is a degree which does not specialize as the MSN does. Psych nurse versus BSN: one has nothing to do with the other.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

If the psych nurse position that you're interested in calls for a BSN degree, that's coming from the hiring facility. I have a BSN. If I wanted to do psych nursing, I could. Do I have experience in psych nursing? Not as an RN, and very limited during my LPN years. So, I probably would not be selected for the position over an ASN nurse with years of psych experience unless the facility only looks at the degree and the total number of years as a practicing nurse....(warm body syndrome).

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Are you somewhere other than in the US? The US does not have specialized psychiatric nursing programs that are different from BSN programs. Some other countries do. Is that what you're asking about?

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Thank you for your replies.

I am in Canada. My school has a BSN program and a BSPN program. My first choice was the BSPN program but there was a long waitlist so I tried to apply for the BSN program which turned out to be even worse. Now I have a chance to get into the Psych Nursing program.

I am just wondering if as a Psych Nurse I am strictly only able to work in mental health focused settings or I am still able to easily branch out and just work in a regular ward of the hospital if that is what I want.

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Thank you for your replies.

I am in Canada. My school has a BSN program and a BSPN program. My first choice was the BSPN program but there was a long waitlist so I tried to apply for the BSN program which turned out to be even worse. Now I have a chance to get into the Psych Nursing program.

I am just wondering if as a Psych Nurse I am strictly only able to work in mental health focused settings or I am still able to easily branch out and just work in a regular ward of the hospital if that is what I want.

That I don't know (although I tend to doubt that you can move over into other areas of nursing). There are a bunch of Canadian nurses who post on the site; maybe one of them will see your thread and respond.

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

Are you in Canada? I seem to remember reading something about a *mental health nursing* degree.

In the US, we don't have that. You can get an associate's or bachelor's degree in nursing, and then sit for the licensing exam. RNs can then work in the various specialties, including psych.

(And ...you posted as I was typing. :))

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

If you are in Western Canada and go for the Registered Psych Nurse program you can only work psych. If you want to do other kinds if nursing you need to do the BSN.

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Yes, in some places in the US you can get certified as a ... (example) pediatric nurse, but it's not necessary. All you need to be a psych nurse here is to get a job which involves psychiatry. Also, if you venture beyond LPN it really helps to get your BSN.

Interesting about Canada, because with recent events here I'm longing for a travel assignment leading to something permanent.

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Specializes in LTC, Rehab.

In the US I don't think there is a bachelor's in psych nursing only (or maybe I just don't know about it). I used to think I was interested in psych nursing, but at my LTC/rehab facility, I do a bit - which is plenty - of psych nursing every day.

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I would get a solid BSN under my belt and go from there.

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If you are in Western Canada and go for the Registered Psych Nurse program you can only work psych. If you want to do other kinds if nursing you need to do the BSN.

Not true. RPN education covers basic nursing skills. I've worked with Psych nurses in LTC and heard of a few working the Women's Health floors in my system..

rotations are are done during training on the surgical and medical floors but from what I've heard the emphasis is on mental health.

psych nursing is over subscribed because the degree is only now becoming mandatory. It was the last route into RN education without doing the four year degree.

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