Psych Nursing vs. Occupational Therapy

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Hi everyone!

I'm currently a student pursuing a Bachelor's degree in either Nursing or Psychology, and I'm unfortunately at that fork in the road in which I need to choose whether I pursue a track for Psychiatric Nursing or Occupational Therapy. I've shadowed both OTs and Psych RNs, and I feel like my personality would fit either career (I am doing great in my nursing prereqs, love helping others, and am extremely interested in becoming some sort of therapist, whether occupational or psychological).

I just wanted to ask you all, from your experience, whether you think that a Occupational Therapist or Psych NP has the better quality of life and more interesting career. I know I would have to be a Psych RN before NP, but NP would be the long term goal if I choose nursing. I appreciate all the help or input any of you can provide! :)

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If any of you all have any suggestions, insight, or experiences/opinions of psych nurses and occupational therapists, I would appreciate it so much! :)

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I've never been an occupational therapist, so I have no idea how it would compare to being a psych NP. I love being a psych NP, probably get paid more than an OT, have flexibility and autonomy, and get lots of respect from colleagues and patients. I'm lucky that I have the option to provide psychotherapy as well as medication management in my current position and in my private practice as well. I like having a mix of patients I only see for medication follow-up and those I see for therapy as well.

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Specializes in Forensic Psychiatric Nursing.

I would suggest that if you're not completely enthralled with psych, that you should go with OT. Psych is an entirely different career path. It's a chess game.

Just curious, do you play chess or poker?

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Thank you both so much for your input!

lucianne, it sounds like your job as a Psych NP is wonderful, and I'm definitely interested in the field! However, the career seems so different from being a Psych RN that I'll need to be for one or two years before I'd go for my master's degree. How did the two different jobs compare for you? Did you still enjoy being a Psych RN initially, or was it a miserable experience relative to being an NP?

algebra, I've played a bit of both actually! Not really on a regular basis, just for fun :) Regarding Psych in general, I'm fascinated by it, but not certain that I would enjoy being an RN as much as an NP. Difficult decision!

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Specializes in Psychiatry (PMHNP), Family (FNP).

I loved being a psych. RN, and love being a psych. NP just as much or more. OT and Psych RN or NP are two very different things, I think you have to focus on what is right for your temperament. You may have more options as a psych. NP. For example, you could focus on therapy, meds, or ??? :twocents:

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You don't have to spend time working as a psych RN prior to attending NP school. There are many, many programs that take students with a bachelors in something other than nursing and you become an RN in the 1st yr and then a NP a yr or 2 later. There is however controversy as to whether you should have that experience as an RN 1st, but it is not mandatory. I'm starting a program like this in a few weeks!

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Specializes in Psych, Geriatrics.

Even though I love psych, and I am in a psych NP program, I think OT is much more flexible than psych. An OT will earn more than an RN, and possibly more than an NP depending on the setting. An OT can work for the school system, rehab places, home health, inpatient, anywhere really. A psych RN sticks with psych. Actually, I wish I had done SLP but that's a different story.

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