University of South Alabama Family Psych NP program?

booklovinrn · Jun 6, 2010

Sorry, I don't have any info on the program you are looking at, but I'm also interested in psych programs and I can't find a lot out there on them. Have you heard anything about the job market for pysch? I'm looking at University of TN at Memphis DNP for psych and I just can't decide if I want to do psych or family practice.

peaceful · Jun 6, 2010

Your stats should be just fine. When do you expect to hear back?

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Jun 7, 2010

I just calculated my last 60 hrs gpa and its actually a 3.36 so I hope that is good enough, not much I can do about it at this point anyways lol.

Peaceful: Im apply for spring 2011 and they haven't even opened up the application online yet for USA. I plan to apply as soon as they do, not sure when I would find out. Im going with USA mainly because of their tuition. Im also going to apply to University of Missouri (not sure when their applications are due, may not be until next fall '11). Are you applying anywhere?? Im interested in staying in contact with other potention or actual psychNP students.

CAMeadors: I am looking for Family psych programs (masters; I only want Family so I am able to see children as well as adults, I dont want to limit myself in the future). May I ask your reasoning for DNP? Ive thought about it, just am not sure how much money Im willing to go into debt with (already have so much from BSN) and the need for DNP at this time. Those are my thoughts, I would love to hear yours. I had gone back and forth over the last year between Psych and Family NP. I decided on psych for a few reasons: better lifestyle (I dont really want to be working 12 hours shifts, spending all my time running around the hospital all night, not as physical, psych patients are always interesting, plus I think the demand for psych NP is definatly out there from what I have read, there are a LOT of FNP out there and everyone I know is doing FNP, I want to do something different and have something different to offer). Im a psych RN right now and I enjoy it.

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Jun 8, 2010

Bump....

booklovinrn · Jun 8, 2010

marilynmom,

Thanks so much for sharing your reasoning for psych rather than family NP. I share a lot of your concerns about family NP. I am 49 and just getting my BSN now (will graduate in May 2011) However, I am in the honors program so I am taking 10 hours of grad classes in my BSN program that will count toward either a masters or DNP. I also think maybe the pace and the hours of the psych practitioner would be better. I agree that psych is extremely interesting. This summer I am doing a geriatric externship where I get to shadow various NP's . I have specifically requested to follow a geri-psych practitioner to I am anxious to see what that is like. I do want to make sure that they don't just hand out prescriptions all day-I would like to talk to people too and possible hold group counseling sessions too. I'm glad to hear that the demand is out there for Psych NP's because I was not sure about that. About the DNP-NP question - I still thinking about it but here is what I am thinking. First I agree that I want to do family psych-I definitely want to have that flexibility. I have also heard that the nurse practioner over time will turn into a doctorate degree. The program I am looking at is a family psych and it is online. You only have to go to Memphis about 1 week a semester and you can do clinicals wherever you live. The big thing though is in 3 years I can get the DNP from a BSN. It would take 2 years to get a masters and then 2 more if I decided I wanted the doctorate. I'm thinking at my age I might as well go ahead and get the doctorate. I'm hoping to work at a place that will at least help with tuition, though. I'm not really sure what a DNP can do that a NP can't or if there is much of a pay differential. I"m still trying to look into that and if you find out anything on it I would love to know. I also don't know about the job market and if there is any difference in APN's vs. DNPs. What part of the country are you in? I"m in Arkansas now but will probably move in a few years to Georgia or Tennessee.

Sorry this is so long, but I appreciate the opportunity to bounce my thoughts off someone else. Let me know what you think.

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Jun 10, 2010

I'm in Oklahoma. I'm not sure about the differences between the DNP and masters np in psych either as far as roles, pay, etc. I think more education can never hurt though.

That's really cool about your honors classes : )

Do you work in psych now? I work with teen sex offenders, about 1.5 years now. I enjoy it.

You just can't go wrong with a NP degree. I like the options I will have with it.....np, teaching, administration, etc. Im interested in med management, etc but like knowing I will have other options as well.

I'm not overly concerned about the job market, I am kinda worried about lining up psych np for my clinicals, etc though and being able to network with other nps. Ive seen psych np jobs through the VA so I might try to contact someone through them.

when do you plan to apply or start grad school?

I'm jealous of your externship program with the psych np, your lucky to have that opportunity !

catslady56 · Jun 10, 2010

I'm in Arkansas also. I've been accepted into UAMS' FMHNP program but their patho class was full this summer so it has put me behind before I've even started! I have also applied to USA and they rolled my application to the spring, so I really don't know what to do. If USA accepts me in spring it's a 6 straight semester progam and I would be finished in 1.5 years whereas UAMS is now a 3 year summers off program. So do I start ? Im 54 and live in a rather rural area for clinical sites and I probably will not go back for DNP unless forced too. I have not seen many openings for Psych NP's and I know of none around here where I live but the VA is opening rural clinics and doing psych at them so hopefully there will be jobs. I don't mind traveling to Little Rock or Ft. Smith a few days a week but not everyday. I ahve worked in Psych mainly adult and geriactric for 15 years and usually love it. I do psychiatric home health now and really like it. Really would love it as an NP. My GPA is 3.2 (I think). I know its above 3.0.

booklovinrn · Jun 11, 2010

marlilynmom,

No I don't work in psych now. I'm still in a BSN program and won't graduate until May 2011. I'm planning to start grad school Aug 2011. I know that is not the best way to do it, but I'll be 50 then and I figure I need to go ahead and get the advanced degree. I'm hoping to be working while I'm going to school so I can start to gain experience. I bet working with teen sex offenders is interesting. I used to teach high school and I know that got crazy at times. Will the U of South Alabama help you find clinical sites? Is their program all on line or will go you have to go the campus? I haven't looked at their program yet. Oh, we used to live in Lawton, OK don't know if you are close to that or not. Interesting area.

catslady56

I'm currently in the BSN Honors program at UAMS. I have heard some other stories about students not being able to get in graduate classes and I find that worrisome and one reason Im thinking about going straight for the DNP at Memphis. The DNP program (at least it says on the website) is 3 years from a BSN to DNP. What do you do in psych home health? I didn't know that even existed. Do you drive all over Arkansas?

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Jun 12, 2010

Catslady: I would also like to hear more about your psych home health experience. I know there are jobs like that here. It seems like they are always desperatly hiring RNs which is either because the job is horrible here or there are just not enough of us around. Also, may I ask why USA rolled your application to the spring? Were there too many applicants? I'm hoping I'll get in for the Spring as well, but am nervous I wont. I'm just ready to get started I guess.

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Jun 12, 2010

CAM: with USA you do have to arrange your own clinicals....I am most worried about finding a psychNP who will do that, there are just not many around. I think its fine to apply to grad school right after your BSN. You have your high school teaching which is awesome experience and relevant to adolescent psych and I think older students just have the life experience and maturity that most young nurses don't have. I'm 36 yrs old and don't want to be a staff nurse forever.

USA is all online except for clinicals, and there is one time you have to attend an on campus orientation for 3-5 days prior to starting your clinical part of the program. All the FAQs are online in the nursing section of their website.

catslady56 · Jun 12, 2010

Hi Marilynmom and cameador: I work for Amedisys Home health out of Van Buren (50 miles away) and I really like it. I just see patients around where I live , I mainly do this with another nurse and we are both part time, but the pay is decent for part time. Since the state no longer cares for the mentally ill unless they are a real danger to others the mentally ill are all over the place in assisted living facilites and in the community. We usually give injections or monitor clozaril therapy. It is quite interesting. As for UAMS I don't know what to do. I'm excited I got in but not about a 3 year committment. USA rolled my application because it was late April 6, UCA turned me down because I forgot to send my NURSING APPLICATION. Yes I sent the other 10 pages of stuff. I'm still not over that. So do I wait or start at UAMS then transfer if I get in at USA? I will probably start at UAMS. I looked at their(USA's) website and you can transfer 9 credits (I thinK). But how hard is it to transfer? I just want to do it now!