RN's offered same jobs as Clinical social workers?

[Healthcare102]

I noticed that a lot of jobs, especially in mental/ behavioral health settings require either a LCSW (licensed clinical social work) OR RN credential.

Are RN's trained to provide psychotherapy as well?

If that is the case why would anybody go through all the schooling to get a masters in social work and be limited to just mental/ behavioral health when they could work a little harder to get a nursing degree and do the same thing PLUS have a bigger variety of options should you choose to do another area.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

The only jobs I've seen are screeners, care coordinators/case managers or community outreach that will accept RN or LCSW. No counseling or therapy involved just assessment, referral, and care coordination which are 3 areas of LCSW/RN over lap

RN with a BSN definitely has a broader opportunity of practice and scope of practice than an LSW/MSW/LCSW. Both are needed in the healthcare system RNs are more generalist and SW more specialized. A psych-mental health nurse practitioner can usually provide counseling and medication management.

[elkpark]

What makes you think nursing school is "harder" than an undergraduate program plus MSW program? Also, LCSWs are not "limited to just mental/ behavioral health." As in nursing, the majority of social workers work in other areas, not psych settings.

As Beachy noted, there is a small area of overlap between RNs and social work practice, but it is small and specific (and does not include psychotherapy).

[Libby1987]

I don't know if this is true but a psychology friend told me that LCSW have to complete 4000 residency type hours before they can be licensed. I may have it confused with another type of therapist. Anyone know?

And I would assume people choose LCSW because that's their preferred focus and not all of the other nursing care. I can't imagine my friend going through nursing school, any type of hands on care was not her thing.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

LCSW is a credential beyond MSW that requires a specified number of hours of supervised clinical practice under an authorized LCSW clinical preceptor...I believe it is state dependent but 400-500 or more hours is 3-4 months full time

[brownbook]

Are you asking why would someone get a LCSW instead of a Masters in Nursing because some jobs will hire either?

Many people have no interest in hospitals, medicine, nursing. Actually the thought of working around sick people makes them sick! After working in social service jobs they see career pathways to better paying jobs and advancement by getting a Masters and LCSW.

It would take a big commitment for them (after getting a Bachelors of Arts with just the basic electives in physical and life sciences) to go back and get a nursing degree instead of a MSW.

[Infofreak411]

So what else besides psychotherapy can a social worker do that a nurse can't?

[pinkiepieRN]

So what else besides psychotherapy can a social worker do that a nurse can't?

How about all the things that are within a social worker's scope of practice vs. a nurse? The job description of a social worker has (as far as I know) usually been relatively different from a nurse as far as a functioning member of the health care team. Social workers are trained in case management, coordination of community services and have a different perspective (psycho/social) than nursing, which is more medically based/linked.

You can't seriously be asking what the difference is between a social worker and a nurse, right?

[Infofreak411]

How about all the things that are within a social worker's scope of practice vs. a nurse? The job description of a social worker has (as far as I know) usually been relatively different from a nurse as far as a functioning member of the health care team. Social workers are trained in case management, coordination of community services and have a different perspective (psycho/social) than nursing, which is more medically based/linked.

You can't seriously be asking what the difference is between a social worker and a nurse, right?

Well yes only because I myself have also read articles where nurses are taking over more and more social work type jobs and tasks in the hospital so it got me thinking. Im not by any means belittling social workers but it made me wonder what can they do that a nurse can't?

Like you had said social workers do case management and coordination of community services. Can't a psych nurse or public health nurse do all that as well?

[pinkiepieRN]

Like you had said social workers do case management and coordination of community services. Can't a psych nurse or public health nurse do all that as well?

A nurse of any kind could probably do case management and coordination of community services with the right training, but it's my impression that that's what social workers go to school for and are trained to do. Obviously you can teach someone these skills OTJ but a job is not just about performing skills. Social workers operate under a different framework and learn different theories. I have seen these job postings where it says SW or RN, but I wonder how often an RN gets one of these positions over a SW.

[turningred15]

I am a RN with experience in care coordination and case management. I see a lot of those jobs transitioning to RN vs SW. RN's are able to understand medical, psych-social, and emotional needs. A SW cannot contribute as much medically. SW is still needed for guardianship, POA, mental health, and therapy (if LCSW).