Psychiatric NP AND Psychologist?

westcoastgirl · Jul 15, 2008

I would strongly encourage you to look into the educational costs and job prospects of a Psychiatric NP versus a Psychologist.

I know people who did both and the Psych NP education is by far a better return on investment because you can prescribe. All the psych NP students I knew had good offers before graduation. Not so the psychologists, whose pay is not good relative to the length of their education, and some institutions hiring MSW instead of Psychologists wherever possible to cut costs.

You should do what suits you but given the choice between two choices both being in mental health I would always opt for the prescriber route.

ruralnurs · Jul 17, 2008

Hi,

I was a psych nurse for 5 1/2 years and worked with many psychologists. I know that pay differs in all states and areas but I had been a nurse for a year and we got a newly graduated psychologist and she was making a whopping $2.00 more an hour than me! She had her PsyD and I was an ASN nurse.

Some psychologists in private practice can make good money if they work with the worried well-wealthy i.e. rich people's kids with eating disorders etc. There is not much funding from insurance companies for psych care in relation to therapy and counseling (although I truly belive that is a huge piece of the puzzle). Most of the people that need the most psychology care are very poor and have no inusrance.

Some of my psychologist friends are employed for lawyers trying to show that so-and-so was mentaly ill at the time of a crime??? But it has been said that psychologists are a dying breed. There is a move in some states to allow them to prescribe meds, but that is a huge controversy, imagine a person getting meds from a regualr health care provider, the psychiatrist and then the psychologist as well as any specialists!!! What a nightmare! Most of my psychologist friends want nothing to do with prescribing meds.

I have several psych nurse practitioner friends that do very well and I have completed my MSN as an FNP and have been accepted for a post-masters as a psych NP and I have had way more job offers and interst in me as a psych NP than even an FNP.

That said I truly believe psychologists are wonderful, and necessary, I learned so much from them, but (as one told me) they are a dying breed in some areas.

Check things out and then make a decision. And yes they are both graduate school, but a psychologist is a doctorate, you will be in school much loinger and hove more $$ invested to be a psychologist.

firecoins · Jul 17, 2008

psych NP is the better route if you have a backround in nursing, which you do.

Jo Dirt · Jul 17, 2008

psych NP is the better route if you have a backround in nursing, which you do.

Thanks. The only reason I am interested in clinical psychology is because I am excited about grief therapy, specifically Induced After-Death Communication using EMDR techniques. My judgement is telling me it is not worth it to spend time and money on a masters in psychology just to do this.

I'm also interested in making money. I'm the sole wage earner in my family and just to live an average quality of life I need to get up around 80K or so.

I know at the nursing home where I work we have psychiatric NP consultants who come in to evaluate the patients (we have a large percentage of psych patients). I hear they make A LOT of money, though I don't know what "A LOT" means. To some people 50k a year is a lot.

It's ineteresting to know job prospects are increasing fpr psychiatric NPs. I wonder if becoming a FNP then combining that with a psych NP is the wisest choice?

inthesky · Jul 21, 2008

Keep in mind that NP are now going the route of the DNP. I'm going to have to get a DNP (no NP programs in my state anymore) to be a psych NP. As a psych NP, you might be able to weasel your way into therapy if that is what you want to do =P I have been conflicted about the NP route, but there is no way I'm going back to school for another bachelors degree!! =)

Therapist4Chnge · Sep 3, 2008

Psych NP and Clinical Psychologist are very contrasting career paths, so it is important to know what you want to do with the training....as both would not really make sense for the amount of schooling required, etc. Clinical Psychologists are primarily trained in research, assessment, and therapy. They are often professors, researchers, private practitioners, supervisors, administrators, consultants, etc.

The goals of each profession are very different, and they both have their drawbacks. The amount of education needed vs. pay isn't as good...but few people go into psychology for the money. The autonomy/lifestyle that comes with clinical psychology training is often a draw for people. It is true that MA/MS level people are being hired for primary therapy, but the supervisor and administrator roles are going to the doctorally trained clinicians who often have private practices on the side. Private practitioners who run cash practices and/or do consulting can make significant amounts of money, but on the whole it isn't a profession that is going to make a person rich (unless you own a practice and/or are a specialist who can get high $/hr rates.)

If a person is looking to primarily do meds management, go the route of NP/PA/MD/DO as prescribing psychologists are a small minority of clinicians in practice. If a person wants to teach, supervise, publish,

run a private practice, handle psych assessments/reports, etc....clinical psychology can be a rewarded career.

henrysmom · Sep 3, 2008

If money really matters, I would recommend becoming a Psych NP over a psychologist. My husband is a clinical psychologist and makes $72K a year in California at a salaried supervisory position. He also has a small private practice, but the reimbursement is so low it's hardly worth keeping his private practice open, especially during slow times like holidays. I am a MSN (FNP but not working as an NP at this time). I make $95K and will get about 10K more when I get re-certified and stay with the same employer. He loves his work, but we know lots of psychologists who make less than he does and there are fewer and fewer jobs as psychology moves towards medication and away from therapy. JMO, Kim

infimi · May 15, 2009

Is there a high demand for psych NP in NY

fidelio · May 30, 2009

Mental health has always had a big political side to it due to funding issues. Right now, scope of practice is the big issue. Good luck with your choice. :up:

Smitty08 · Jun 1, 2009

I really do respect the psychologists I have worked with and they perhaps do get the most rigorous training in psychotherapy, however, I think managed care has not done right by them, in that so many other disciplines now do therapy at (I believe) lower rates. As a psych. NP, you really can pick what you like best, prescribing, psychotherapy or some combination thereof. I know many Psych. NPS who have additional trainiing in EMDR, Cogitive Behavioral therapy or what have you. Best of luck to you!