RN wants to become a substance abuse counselor....

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I have been a Registered Nurse for 13 years with an assoiciates degree. I am very interested in becoming a substance abuse counselor and would like to go back to school to get my BA in psychology. I am looking for any suggestions on this matter. I am considering using an online university but am a little nervous about that too! I am having a difficult time finding what Georgia's requirements are for their substance abuse counselors so if anyone has any info for me I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks!

Love this site.

Rae

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You realize that you're likely looking at a huge pay reduction if you make the switch as a BA level counselor. Many substance abuce facilities use RNs and get a chance to do some counseling while still getting the nurse pay. Suggest that you start here: http://www.gaca.org/

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A huge pay cut!! Have you considered other avenues where you can work with this population. Perhaps, you can work as an RN or NP (since you're willing to go back to school) in a substance abuse facility. RNs in my area start at about 45K. A substance abuse counselor probably starts at 28-30K. I haven't found any great use for my BS in Psych.

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

You can become certified in addictions. I can't remember the name of the agency that does it, but I worked with 2 great nurses who had the certification. They were awesome with patients too. Their certification was CARN for Certified Addictions Registered Nurse...maybe an online search would lead somewhere?

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatric, Behavioral Health.

Entering into the field of counseling...you are looking at the Master's level...and many of them are paid less than what a nurse makes, especially in community work.

I would encourage you to further your education (Bachelor's/Masters) in nursing, psych primarily with an emphasis in chemical dependency. You will accomplish about the same if not more...and the pay will be better.

My best to you.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Psych.

With a MASTER's in Psych, you might make HALF a nurses' salary. Agree with the posters above, find a way to get your nursing salary and do some of the type of work you seem to want to do.

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Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

a few years ago when I was working on a chemical dependency unit in a hospital, and making 20 an hour (wayyyyy underpaid), the Master's-trained psych addictions counselors were making 12 an hour. LPNs made 15.

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Thank you for all of your post. I had no idea that they were paid so little!

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Specializes in Psych, ER, Resp/Med, LTC, Education.

My ex-Partner is a social worker and she works at a residential drug rehab-- in NY state you have to be a MSW and or CASAC (Certified Alcohol and substance abuse counselor) certified to to drug counseling and it pays much less then most RN jobs. She has her BSW so she is working on her CASAC.......makes like $16 an hour!!! and if she gets the CASAC she will go up like $2/hr. ---**** I made $17.50 my first nursing job out of school almost 6 years ago---no thanks!

I am in psych and see lots of CD--and MICA--maybe psych???

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