Psych RN vs Medical social worker

[Nursetobe25]

If my ultimate goal is to work in mental health which one would you recommend?

[xenogenetic]

Psych RN. Of course I am biased because this is a nursing website and I am a Psych RN. But in terms of flexibility of working all three shifts and the number of different upward career advancement opportunities in nursing I would choose psych RN 10 out of 10 times over social worker. Having worked as both in my working career (dropped out of a Masters of Social Work program before I went into nursing) I can tell you that the paperwork in nursing is much less arduous than social work. I would recommend becoming a psychologist over becoming a social worker, but that is just my personal opinion.

[fiba]

I don't think I am one to really advise lol. But I want to put my input!

Because I too have had this question.

It looks like to me that being a medical social worker is a very broad term.

There are many areas in the hospital that social workers are employed in. Mental Health is one area of many. I have asked some professionals in the field.

Psychiatric social work seems like it takes a very long time to get into. Whereas a psych nurse is less time.

In canada a psych social worker would need a MSW. Whereas a psychiatric nurse can start working with mental health patients after a diploma in Psychiatric nursing and the opportunities are even more so with a BSN in Psych nursing.

Also psychiatric social workers are not hands on. The service they provide are resources and some counseling and education to the patient and their families to help with the illness they may be dealing with. I think they may have some say in the care plan as well. Social workers also help with the integration of the patient back into the community. They work with physicians, nurses, and other medical staff.

Psychiatric nurses are hands on and encourage/ do personal care. RPN's work in hospitals, psychiatric institutions and in the community. They have opportunities to counsel, but that is not their main role.

I feel that if one wants to work only in mental health and likes hospitals, institutions, community settings and can deal with emotional, physical and sometimes violent abuse.

While maintaining an empathic and observant approach with an interest in medicine, than psychiatric nursing is for you. I was told that psychiatric nurses are not exempt from cleaning someone.

Oh and I quote from a psych nurse I met at volunteer, the assessments between psych nurse and a social worker are very different.

[fiba]

Psych RN. Of course I am biased because this is a nursing website and I am a Psych RN. But in terms of flexibility of working all three shifts and the number of different upward career advancement opportunities in nursing I would choose psych RN 10 out of 10 times over social worker. Having worked as both in my working career (dropped out of a Masters of Social Work program before I went into nursing) I can tell you that the paperwork in nursing is much less arduous than social work. I would recommend becoming a psychologist over becoming a social worker, but that is just my personal opinion.

so since you obtained a BSW in social work,

did you work in social services? and why psychologist over social work, was it due to the paper work alone?

[swtonursing]

I worked both as a LSW and RN (LSW before RN). You get paid more as an RN and have more knowledge. Overall in my opinion you can do a MSW job as an RN but you cant do an RN as an MSW.

[EatYourVeggies]

Psych RN over social worker. It is more stressful and you have more responsibility but it pays better, has more flexibility, and demands less time in school plus less money spent on school ; ) Though nursing school is way more demanding and academically challenging!