Psychology or psychiatric nursing? Any advice?

aarong1169

Don't know if this is the right place to post this and if not, sorry. But I'm currently doing psychiatric nursing and have just finished my 1st year but I'm not sure if I want to continue doing this and am wondering if I should switch courses to psychology in UCC. My plan was not to have a career in psychiatric nursing but rather to finish my course and use it as a stepping stone to then move on to hopefully become a cbt therapist or something along those lines but I don't think I can continue with it because I don't enjoy the nursing side of things. I am thinking about switching but I don't know if it'll be worth it? I've heard that a bachelors in psychology basically gets you nowhere, is that true? (I'm planning on doing further study anyway) Is there a lot more time/money involved in psychology if I wanted to become a cbt therapist or something along those lines? Should I change course or would I be better off sticking with the course in doing now and then moving on? Any advice appreciated.

Pos087

As far as I am aware you need a PhD to practice as a psychologist. I'm not sure but I have a feeling you might pigeon hole your self by sticking with cbt there is new and more effective treatments coming down the line cbt IMO will turn out to be a outdated. DBT is the new big thing coming down the line but I except this will have a short life line as well. Not see if that help. Best of luck with what you

endacl

Pos087 wrote: »

As far as I am aware you need a PhD to practice as a psychologist. I'm not sure but I have a feeling you might pigeon hole your self by sticking with cbt there is new and more effective treatments coming down the line cbt IMO will turn out to be a outdated. DBT is the new big thing coming down the line but I except this will have a short life line as well. Not see if that help. Best of luck with what you

Before posting, perhaps check if you know what you're talking about? 'New big thing'?

Right OP, DBT is a psychodynamic approach which has been used with a decent level of success with patients displaying borderline traits. CBT is a behavioural approach, useful in the treatment of a different client group, with a different type of presenting complaint. Just to illustrate that you should be wary of advice here from anonymous strangers.

And no, you won't need a PhD to practise as a psychologist, although you will require a postgraduate qualification, and most likely further specialist training. A PhDs would be advantageous, but not essential. I get the feeling from your post that you already know this, though...

If you want to work as a psychologist, then a recognised and accredited psychological training is what you want. If you don't want to work as a nurse, then don't train as one. Although you could retrain and adapt post- your nursing degree, if you don't want to be a nurse, there's no point training as one.

Bear in mind though, psychology jobs are few and far between, unless you go the private practise route. You'll walk into a job as a nurse, and this may be a more sensible route long term as you'll have a steady income, and possibly organisational support, if you later decide to retrain.

aarong1169

endacl wrote: »

Before posting, perhaps check if you know what you're talking about? 'New big thing'?

Right OP, DBT is a psychodynamic approach which has been used with a decent level of success with patients displaying borderline traits. CBT is a behavioural approach, useful in the treatment of a different client group, with a different type of presenting complaint. Just to illustrate that you should be wary of advice here from anonymous strangers.

And no, you won't need a PhD to practise as a psychologist, although you will require a postgraduate qualification, and most likely further specialist training. A PhDs would be advantageous, but not essential. I get the feeling from your post that you already know this, though...

If you want to work as a psychologist, then a recognised and accredited psychological training is what you want. If you don't want to work as a nurse, then don't train as one. Although you could retrain and adapt post- your nursing degree, if you don't want to be a nurse, there's no point training as one.

Bear in mind though, psychology jobs are few and far between, unless you go the private practise route. You'll walk into a job as a nurse, and this may be a more sensible route long term as you'll have a steady income, and possibly organisational support, if you later decide to retrain

Thanks! I do realise that it'll be a lot easier to get a job in nursing and that's one of the reasons why I'm so unsure of what to do. But at the same time I don't know if I will be motivated enough to finish my current course when I have little interest in it, and to then get a postgrad qualification. Basically it's down to what seems to be more stable (psych nursing) and what I would enjoy (psychology).

Do you have any idea as to how long the specialist training would take after a postgrad qualification?

EoghanIRL

OP be aware that you will be liable for first year fees if you swap courses.

http://www.ucc.ie/en/apsych/postgrad/

aarong1169

EoghanIRL wrote: »

OP be aware that you will be liable for first year fees if you swap courses.

http://www.ucc.ie/en/apsych/postgrad/

I know this too. One of the main reasons why I have to put so much thought into it and make absolutely sure switching course would be the right thing.