Trying to decide if Psych NP is right for me?

[xjesssx]

Hi everybody!

I don't know if I'm posting this in the right section or not, but I'm definitely looking for some advice. I recently graduated with a psychology degree and I did apply to graduate school. Well, I got accepted to a School Psychology problem, the only problem is I'm super conflicted if I want it or not. This is because after I submitted the applications I saw the program at my college for Psychiatric Nurse Practioner and that seems like something that's really rewarding. The problem is I can't apply for it because I missed the deadline (it's a May start so the deadline was November). So if I decline the offer I have, I have to wait a year to apply to the to her program (a Masters option for nonnursing majors). To make a long story short, what I'm trying to do is find a coupleasure of either Psych NPs or current students to ask some questions. This is because im having issues finding someone to shadow in my area, most are citing HIIPA and confidentiality reasons, which totally makes sense. Its just that this decision affects my future and I really want to make the right choice.

I'm looking to find out why people chose the career, what their typical day looks like, what are most and least rewarding parts of it, would they do anything differently, what do you wish you had known when looking at this career choice, what are the most crucial skills and abilities to have, what type of person is right for the job, etc. Any and all information is really appreciated because at this point I am very conflicted about the choice. I think I want to choose NP but I really want to be sure.

Thank you all in advance!

[sirI, MSN, APRN, NP]

Welcome to allnurses.com

Thread moved to Student NP forum where Students and NPs will reply.

Good luck with your career plans as an NP.

[Grumble88]

HI there, I'm currently in my last semester of my MSN to be a PMHNP. Personally, I chose the field as it was the most efficient way for me to be trained as and practice as a true psychiatric specialist. PA would've been slightly faster but being trained as a generalist and never having the option of independent practice made that option unappealing. Pursuing my MD would've meant nearly $200,000 more in debt and 8 years of more schooling after my bachelors compared to only 3 years for my PMHNP (Through a direct-entry program).

A typical day can vary widely depending on your practice site. Hours, location and style of interviews, patient load, age, diagnoses all depend on the practice you have. Very generally speaking though, you can expect 15-20 minutes for med checks on clients and 45-60 mins for admissions and discharges. You will interview patients and then based on that as well as chart review and nursing reports you will decide on diagnoses, prescribe meds if needed, provide/refer for psychotherapy if needed, and make other referrals as needed. Some PMHNPs provide paychotherapy themselves, others just refer, it depends on you.

The most rewarding part for me is being able to truly manage a patient's care and see them get better.

The least rewarding part is treatment resistant patients, doing everything you can to help a patient and getting minimal to no improvement. Also dealing with staff and nurses who are just there for a paycheck and have no interest in helping patients get better.

The only thing I would do differently is examine the curriculum of the programs to which I applied. My program in particular overly emphasized primary care, I would've loved more psych and less primary care. Primary care is an invaluable skill set, but I felt that nursing school and the advanced pathophysiology and assessment that all NPs must receive covered it adequately.

I researched my career options thoroughly, so I don't have any regrets pertaining to things I wished I would've known. I will point out that you'll be a nurse and expected to act and think like one, and yes you'll be changing bedpans and doing all the "icky" nurse stuff that psych NPs love to complain about until you get your NP license (that means at least 3 years of it, so don't be surprised.)

By FAR the most crucial skill is the ability to dispassionately, but still genuinely care about and invest yourself in your patients' recovery. Unconditional positive regard is immensely important in this field. If you can't sit down with someone who is an addict, a rapist, a murderer, a racist/bigot, or any other slew of what we generally consider to be "bad people" and care about that person and help him or her get better, move on from psych.