At the University of Rochester, for example, a psychology graduate could earn a BSN in one year and a master’s degree within two more years. Program length varies from two to three years in diploma and associate programs to four years in a BSN program. currently I have a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology, my mom has been a nurse for more than 30 years (basically born a nurse) I would like to become a psychiatric nurse… You may have already completed some of Roseman’s accelerated nursing prerequisite courses during your undergraduate coursework, or at the very least you are familiar with the material.For example, you will almost certainly have completed the psy… Nursing is a great place to start. Nurses and mental health clinicians are entirely different fields and one can not work in the capacity of the other. Copyright 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. In addition to the nursing specialties listed above, there are a wide range of career advancement opportunities for nurses with a background in psychology. As a nurse, you will be at the nexus of a patient’s treatment plan and caregiving experience. In addition to the general accelerated nursing programs, some schools offer an accelerated program for nurse practitioners that include a mental health track. Your nursing experiences will draw upon your background in psychology, especially in dealing with situations such as conflict management and grief. This requires a great deal of empathy, especially in high stress situations. Read on to discover why you should consider a career in nursing, and learn how to become a nurse with a psychology degree. For example, you will almost certainly have completed the psychology prerequisite, and your study of biopsychology will have familiarized you with different systems of the body. Knowledge of psychology is not only a useful skill for a nurse, it is often one of the basic prerequisites or mandated courses in nursing school. Each situation will require a different style of communication. You can do a degree in mental health nursing approved by the Nursing & Midwifery Council. Most nursing programs have both prerequisites and required courses. You will not only be communicating with your patients, but you must also be able to effectively and technically communicate with doctors, and then relay this information to patients, their families, and other parties. Both programs qualify the graduate to take the NCLEX-RN. There are a ton of legitimate and respectable nursing programs all over the UK to look into. The ability to empathize and communicate with people is one of the most critical components of being a great nurse. To become a psychiatric nurse, first you'll need to graduate from high school and obtain a nursing degree through a two-year or four-year program. In fact, your academic background puts you at an advantage and prepares you for an accelerated program’s course work. You may be able to join a nursing degree on the second year of a course if you already have a degree in: a health-related subject; psychology… Nursing allows you to be in a healthcare environment while applying your knowledge in the field of psychology. Earning your BSN is the first step in a wide range of opportunities that come with a career in nursing. If you are a recent college grad with a degree in psychology, you may be exploring creative ways to put your knowledge to use in a field that offers a secure professional future. If you already have your bachelor’s degree in psychology, you may be eligible for Roseman University’s 16-month accelerated nursing program. If you are not already an RN, the best path is to enroll in a university full-time and earn your Bachelor’s degree… You could be just 16 months away from a new and rewarding career in nursing. What do I need to do to become a mental health nurse? To become a psychiatric nurse, you must first earn a nursing degree. Perhaps more important than your academic preparedness are the soft skills you acquired while earning your bachelor’s degree in psychology. You can also earn sub-specialty certification if you choose to complete a fellowship. You can choose to become board certified in psychiatry after completing your residency. Many nurses, including psychiatric nurses, go on to earn their master’s or doctoral degrees within a specialty or in healthcare administration. If you want to stay in the field of mental health, consider becoming a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner. Psychiatric Nurse Degrees & Education. Getting Certified as a Psychiatric Nurse Psychiatric nurses may work in hospitals or in the community, determining their patients' mental health status and helping meet those needs. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Registered Nurses, Regent University: Associate of Arts in Psychology, Regent University: Bachelor of Science in Psychology, University of Rochester Medical Center: Accelerated Master's Program for Non-Nurses (AMPNN), American Association of Colleges of Nursing: Accelerated Baccalaureate and Master's Degrees in Nursing, American Psychiatric Nurses Association: About Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses (PMHNs), American Association of Nurse Practitioners: NP Fact Sheet.