Social workers who became PMHNP

Ninjafluff · Feb 9, 2017

I'm a social worker (MSW) that made the leap to apply to a PMHNP program recently. Since I am a PMHNP hopeful, until I am accepted into a program (knock on wood) I can only speak to what inspired me to pursue advanced practice nursing. I worked as a CNA before I even got into social work so I had the basic nursing fundamentals. My internship during my masters in social work allowed me the opportunity to work with underserved populations where I began to fully comprehend what it means to put the well-being of others above myself. After graduation, I continued to do medical social work and realized that I wanted to return to nursing to be able to practice both psychotherapy along with biological modalities to treat the whole person.

In my experience, I believe applying to PMHNP programs was very similar to applying for MSW programs, both require a strong passion to serve others, and a firm grasp on what you plan to do in the profession. When I wrote my application essays, I wanted to demonstrate clinical experience with direct patient care, along with my passion for nursing. As far as student debt, neither profession is going to make student loans go away easily. A good masters-entry advanced nursing program will be close to 85-100K. You'll be doing an accelerated RN program to start and it is nearly impossible to do anything but that for your foundational/clinical year. It requires extreme dedication and once that is over, you begin your masters portion. It differs from a MSW program in that you have clinical hours from the start, unlike the year of internship time. It is a fast paced program like the MSW and just as challenging. However, if nursing is your passion, then go for it!

09nguyenmy · Feb 9, 2017

Thank you for responding to my post. Your post helped tremendously

Nimrodel, BSN, RN · Feb 24, 2017

I worked as a CNA before I even got into social work so I had the basic nursing fundamentals.

I am hopeful that this is not a deliberately worded statement and that it just didn't have a lot of thought put into it. Being a CNA vs an RN are vast worlds of difference. CNA's don't really learn any of the science that RNs do; the most RN like thing I've seen a CNA do is take vitals. You can get certified as a CNA in a month; RN takes so much longer that to say being a CNA gives you basic nursing fundamentals I feel is a gross misstatement.

HikingNinja, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN, NP · Mar 7, 2017

I have a similar background. I started out with an MS in Psych. I worked under a licensed psychologist and couldn't bill independently in my state so I never got my LPC as it wouldn't have made a difference in my scope or job opportunities in that state. I knew no Psych NP's and at the time, didn't even know what an NP was. I did do some research and discovered Psych NP's, was intrigued. Finally when I moved to a different state I decided to take the plunge. I completed by BSN and have worked as an RN for 8 + years. Currently in a PMHNP program, finally attaining my dream. You might be thinking of bypassing the hands on nursing part. But honestly, it was the best decision I ever made to work as an RN in critical care all these years. I have no doubt that my exposure to all varieties and stages of the disease process with all ages of patients will make me a better PMHNP.

Oh, and depending on your geographic area, after obtaining your BSN, you could work for a hospital system with your RN, make more than with your MSW ..... and have the hospital pay for your NP degree. I make double what the social workers do in my hospital system.

Food for thought...