What will a bachelors in psychology get me as a nurse?

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I passed nclex last dec 2013 and I've always considered being a psychologist or even eventually getting into psychiatric nursing. So if I were to take psychology how could I use my degree being a RN? if ever I decide not to pursue being a psychologist in the future. I would really appreciate any opinions or input you have about this.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Honestly not much. If you would decide to go the psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner route you would need a BSN & MSN/DNP. A BA in psychology is usually theoretical not clinical. Clinical psychology is usually masters level or higher. I know several PsyD/PhD psychologists who have a bachelors in a different social science or liberal arts discipline

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Honestly not much. If you would decide to go the psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner route you would need a BSN & MSN/DNP. A BA in psychology is usually theoretical not clinical. Clinical psychology is usually masters level or higher. I know several PsyD/PhD psychologists who have a bachelors in a different social science or liberal arts discipline

thanks for your feedback. ive been going back and forth between the two. From my research they say you always need to have a bs in psychology to be a psychologist. in your opinion do you think it would be more practical to pursue the mhnp career path?

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Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.

There is another forum you may want to check out: student doctor network.

I have a BA in psychology. Eventually went back to get my BSN and now practice as a Psych APRN.

The BA in psychology exposed me to different aspects of the psychology field- experimental psychology, physiological psychology,

Etc. it was more of a general liberal arts education.

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There is another forum you may want to check out: student doctor network.

I have a BA in psychology. Eventually went back to get my BSN and now practice as a Psych APRN.

The BA in psychology exposed me to different aspects of the psychology field- experimental psychology, physiological psychology,

Etc. it was more of a general liberal arts education.

Thanks. I will check out that forum. Im considering taking bs in psychology as a stepping stone to becoming a psychologist

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical, Telemetry/ICU Stepdown.

Psychiatric floors in a hospital: booooooring...nothing is going on. They look like motels (no medical equipment of any sort) except with weird people sitting on the floor in the hallway.

Are you sure you want to pursue the psych nursing path? Can you reconsider?

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Specializes in CEN, CFRN, PHRN, RCIS, EMT-P.
Psychiatric floors in a hospital: booooooring...nothing is going on. They look like motels (no medical equipment of any sort) except with weird people sitting on the floor in the hallway. Are you sure you want to pursue the psych nursing path? Can you reconsider?

Wow, with that kind of comment I can easily envision you are one of the weird people sitting on the hall way in the psych unit lol!!

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Specializes in Psychiatry, Mental Health.
thanks for your feedback. ive been going back and forth between the two. From my research they say you always need to have a bs in psychology to be a psychologist. in your opinion do you think it would be more practical to pursue the mhnp career path?

I was a psych RN and then became a PMHNP (psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner). Your career path will depend on what you want to do in the end.

Please forgive me, but it sounds like you are not really sure of the different roles in psychiatric and mental health care provision. I would suggest that you research the different roles before you make any decisions: RN in inpatient and outpatient settings, clinical social worker, psychiatric nurse practitioner, educational/developmental/clinical psychologist, testing psychologist, psychiatrist... and others like music, art, recreational and occupational therapy and even more.

I love working in psych. It's challenging and fun for me, but it's not for everyone. Good luck in whatever you decide!

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Psychiatric floors in a hospital: booooooring...nothing is going on. They look like motels (no medical equipment of any sort) except with weird people sitting on the floor in the hallway.

Are you sure you want to pursue the psych nursing path? Can you reconsider?

This is very ignorant

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Specializes in PDN; Burn; Phone triage.
This is very ignorant

Dude, as a former frequent-flyer psych patient, the poster's description of psych units as motels is pretty much spot-on.

Only motels where you really don't want to sit in the chairs because someone probably peed in them.

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Specializes in ICU.

It definitely won't get you anything. My first bachelor's was in Psych - I was qualified for the exact same $10/hr job I was already working after that, which is why I went back for nursing. I started off at exactly the same pay as every other new grad nurse. It will not get you opportunities and it will not get you a job. I can't really see a positive aspect in it, honestly. If you have a lot of disposable income to burn, though, I will tell you that I had a lot of fun getting my psych degree!

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thanks wveryone for your feedback. Psych is something I am really interested in even before I took nursing. I'll take into consideration everything and do a little more research into it. Also, I know what psych wards look like but im not phased cause everyone needs help and thats how I want to help, thats where mybinterest really is. Based on the comments im a little discouraged to pursue a career as a psychologist but Im not going to be satiafied working as a nurse even a mhnp. I guess ill have to do some research into this more.

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