I just graduated from my undergrad with a degree in psychology and am working on getting into grad school. I have been working in nursing for about 5 years as a CNA and I am thrilled that there is a field that combines my interests: medicine and psychology.
Thus, I intend to enter a direct entry graduate program for psychiatric nursing (MEPN).
Until earlier tonight I was thinking I would enter a clinical nurse specialist program, but now I am unsure.
When I google it, the differences most commonly noted between NP and CSP are that NPs tend to work in outpatient settings providing assessment, diagnoses, and medications. I'm assuming in the psychiatric world this means a Psychiatric NP plays a role that is similar to a psychiatrist?
Where as CSPs (according to google) implement care management, administration, cost policies, and occasionally therapy.
It would probably be helpful if I mention what it is I want to do with my career:
I am very much interested in direct patient care within an inpatient facility, preferably a hospital (I understand that APPNs do a lot of administrative work, but I would like several years of experience with patients before I move fully into admin). I am also interested in acute mental health crises, such as psychosis. In general, I just want to help people and I am a patient, caring person who truly loves psych. Also I want to provide therapy- I would like to work with adults.
Any relevant input would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to read, an hopefully help!
Thus is my dilemma! I've a psychology background but I'm also really interested in the biology/neurology behind it all, as well as medication to help with the severe/chronic populations I'm interested in. But you're right; I was looking at curricula yesterday and was surprised at how little therapy training there was- it is entirely insufficient.
I keep thinking that maybe one day after I get a good amount of experience, and wish to settle down more I will go back to school to become a psychologist... These issues we are discussing has made me seriously consider doing that now (With my background it would be WAY easier than nursing), although so far I'm still fairly determined for nursing... I will definitely keep researching it/thinking out it. It's an interesting time (post-undergrad) when you have all these seemingly good options, but you have ti somehow choose what is the best route for you.
Again I can't thank you enough for all your information, you've really helped me get through a confusing time.... THANK YOU!!!
Thus is my dilemma! I've a psychology background but I'm also really interested in the biology/neurology behind it all, as well as medication to help with the severe/chronic populations I'm interested in. But you're right; I was looking at curricula yesterday and was surprised at how little therapy training there was- it is entirely insufficient.
I keep thinking that maybe one day after I get a good amount of experience, and wish to settle down more I will go back to school to become a psychologist... These issues we are discussing has made me seriously consider doing that now (With my background it would be WAY easier than nursing), although so far I'm still fairly determined for nursing... I will definitely keep researching it/thinking out it. It's an interesting time (post-undergrad) when you have all these seemingly good options, but you have ti somehow choose what is the best route for you.
Again I can't thank you enough for all your information, you've really helped me get through a confusing time.... THANK YOU!!!
Psychology doctoral programs take long enough that, if you think you will want to do that "one day" later on, you should probably go ahead and do it now. The more time passes, the less interested and motivated you will be to return to a several-year educational program. I'm not passing any judgment on your motivations (since I know nothing about them :))but, just because it comes up on this site fairly often, will say that if your interest in the psych NP role is that you really want to be a psychiatrist or psychologist but are looking for a quicker/easier path to reach an approximation of those roles, I would encourage you to look long and hard at whether you really want to be a nurse before you take the plunge, and look seriously into what most psych NPs are doing in their daily practice. Graduate school in nursing (like any other discipline) is too long, expensive, and arduous to undertake as a means of "settling" or "making do" instead of doing what you really want to do.
(Again, just offering this as general philosophical musings, not targeted at you specifically and certainly not any kind of criticism or suspicion of your motives :)).
MarshaRabbit
71 Posts
Thus is my dilemma! I've a psychology background but I'm also really interested in the biology/neurology behind it all, as well as medication to help with the severe/chronic populations I'm interested in. But you're right; I was looking at curricula yesterday and was surprised at how little therapy training there was- it is entirely insufficient.
I keep thinking that maybe one day after I get a good amount of experience, and wish to settle down more I will go back to school to become a psychologist... These issues we are discussing has made me seriously consider doing that now (With my background it would be WAY easier than nursing), although so far I'm still fairly determined for nursing... I will definitely keep researching it/thinking out it. It's an interesting time (post-undergrad) when you have all these seemingly good options, but you have ti somehow choose what is the best route for you.
Again I can't thank you enough for all your information, you've really helped me get through a confusing time.... THANK YOU!!!