RN Social Worker?

I am a social worker returning to school to be an RN. My hope is to combine the education. I think there are alot of positions where both degrees would be beneficial. I am interested in case management as a way to use degrees.

Psychiatric nursing.

We have 3 of them at our hospital and one SW who is going to school for her RN. They do case management.Call the insurance companies to get longer stays if needed, assist with long term placement, provide referrals for social service help. They all love their job. As a plus for some, they dont wear scrubs, they get off at 4pm and they dont work weekends or holidays. I have no idea what they are paid though? Do they make more than floor/patient care nurses??

Sounds like a case manager. But I feel that many times the extra mile is not taken to help these people. That sounds like a very much needed position!

At the hospital where I worked, case managers did not make as much as the floor nurses. But there were some other benefits.... like the no call, no week ends/holidays, etc.

Thanks for the replies. I just started case management, and thought studying social work might be helpful. I really don't want to get a higher nursing degree.

Thanks for the replies. I just started case management, and thought studying social work might be helpful. I really don't want to get a higher nursing degree.

Hi, I work with a few Case Managers with specialized Master degrees in social work or health care. The ones who specialize in a particular area of demand make a lot more then those that did not, so be sure to figure out what your area needs.

I worked in social work for a while and am burned out. I am happy to discharge patients quickly and move on. I do not envy the nurses who follow up with patients, just as they do not envy my decision. May you find your niche and love your new job! GL!

We have case managers who are RN's, who are social workers and who are both. There is no difference in pay. Unless this is something you specifically want to do for yourself I say go for it, if you're looking for additional money it's not there.

Case Management, in some hospitals, are required to be unliscensed social workers, plus utilization managers (a three in one deal for the hospital). However, I have never ran across a social worker working as a nurse.