Is a Psychology Degree Good For Nursing?

Nurses are the backbone of the healthcare system. As they work with patients day in and day out, understanding psychology can be beneficial. While you can't become a nurse with just a psychology degree, there are many reasons to consider a psychology degree before becoming a nurse. Keep reading to learn more about psychology degrees for nursing.

What Are the Benefits of a Psychology Degree for Nursing?

While a psychology degree on its own won't lead to a nursing career, there are several benefits to earning a psychology degree before entering a nursing program. We've broken them down below.

Deeper Understanding of Human Behavior

Psychology degrees dive into the depths of human behavior and the mental processes that drive that behavior. As a result, it makes a great basis for a healthcare career.

Mental health can affect physical health, just as physical health can affect mental health. Understanding human behavior helps you understand why people make certain healthcare choices and how certain conditions can affect someone's behavior.

Awareness of Mental Health Issues

As we mentioned above, mental health issues can play a huge role in physical problems and vice versa. By being aware of mental health issues, you'll be better poised to help your patients with their medical needs. Awareness of mental health issues also allows you to approach your patients beneficially. Someone with depression, PTSD, or anxiety may need a different approach than those without mental health issues.

Improved Decision-Making Skills

Psychology degrees usually involve a lot of critical thinking and research skills. These skills can help you improve your decision-making skills. Nurses make a multitude of decisions every shift. Psychology degrees help you fine-tune those skills so you can succeed in various careers, including nursing

Refined Communication Skills

Another benefit of psychology degree programs is that they help you refine your communication skills. When you understand human behavior, you comprehend how to best communicate with people. Communication is key in any industry, especially nursing and other healthcare careers. Nurses must effectively communicate with doctors, healthcare workers, patients, and families.

Enhanced Research Skills

The field of psychology is constantly changing- that's why there are five editions of the DSM. As a result, psychology students naturally enhance their research skills. Research skills are valuable for nursing studies and a nursing career. Nursing students must study hard to pass their courses and exams, while nurses may use their research skills to understand medical conditions, treatments, and more.

Best Psychology Degree Specializations for a Career in Nursing

There are many different psychology specializations that psychology students can pursue. We've broken down some of the best psychology specializations for a career in nursing below.

Clinical Psychology

Clinical psychology is a field of psychology specifically focused on helping those with psychological disorders. Some clinical psychologists further specialize in working with people with specific mental illnesses. Clinical psychology is a great option for nurses because it gets you used to working directly with patients. Clinical psychologists learn how to assess clients in a clinical setting, which is also what nurses do, even if the specific issues a patient faces are different.

Developmental Psychology

Developmental psychology focuses on psychology throughout the lifespan, from infancy to old age. These psychologists study how the brain changes and develops and what impacts these changes.

Nurses, especially those who want to work in pediatrics, may benefit from a background in developmental psychology. This will prepare them to work with patients of any age, especially children, and also prepare them to work with patients with developmental disabilities.

Cognitive Psychology

Cognitive psychology is the field of psychology that treats mental illness by understanding a patient's mental processes. This includes how a patient thinks and perceives the world around them, their memories, and how the patient speaks. Those who specialize in cognitive psychology deeply understand various mental processes that influence someone's mental health and behavior. Understanding these processes can be very helpful for nurses who have patients with mental illnesses.

Neuropsychology

Neuropsychology is a cross between psychology and neuroscience. It studies how the processes of the nervous system influence behavior. Nurses can benefit from understanding neuropsychology because it helps them understand their patients with neurological disorders. It can also help them treat patients and better relate to them.

Social Psychology

Social psychology studies how humans interact and how that interaction influences human behavior. It's very similar to sociology. Understanding social psychology can help nurses better manage patients and their families. It also has the benefit of aiding in situations with colleagues as well.

Additional Requirements for Psychology Majors Who Want To Pursue Nursing

To become a nurse, you must complete a nursing program through an accredited nursing school, pass the NCLEX, and obtain your license. We've broken it down below.

Complete a Nursing Degree Program

Most nursing school students earn an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN). But if you already have a degree in psychology, your path may be a little different.

If you have an associate degree in psychology, you can usually transfer into a BSN program. If you have a bachelor's degree in psychology, you generally have two options: a second bachelor's program, also called an accelerated BSN, or an entry-to-nursing master's program.

Second bachelor's degrees are for those who already have bachelor's degrees. They allow you to earn a bachelor's degree in nursing in about two years. Entry-to-nursing master's degrees are for those with a bachelor's degree in a different field and also take about two years.

Both types of programs will provide a foundational nursing education, and both require nursing majors to fulfill clinical experience in patient care through clinical rotations.

Pass the NCLEX and Gain RN Licensure

After you've completed nursing school, you'll be eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) for registered nurses. The NCLEX-RN is required for licensure by all states. The NCLEX-RN is a lengthy standardized test with several different sections. Study guides are available to help you pass your licensing exam.

Gain Experience as a Registered Nurse

Once you have your license, you'll be ready to start your first nursing job. Nurses are often in demand and can work in a variety of departments. Some departments require prior nursing experience, and many advanced nursing degrees require experience as well. Once you've worked as a nurse for a few years, you'll be ready to further your career if you desire.

Consider an Advanced Nursing Degree

Advanced nurses, like advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs, better known as nurse practitioners), nurse anesthetists, and nurse midwives all require a graduate degree in nursing. For most kinds of advanced nurses, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is sufficient. However, there has been a push lately for nurse practitioners and other types of advanced nurses to hold Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degrees.

FAQs About Nursing Careers for Psychology Majors

Below, we've answered a few frequently asked questions about nursing careers for psychology majors.

How Do You Switch From Psychology To Nursing?

If you're currently in your psychology program, speak to your advisor about changing your major or adding a double major. If you've already graduated with your psychology degree, reach out to nursing schools near you to find out how to apply.

Can You Become a Nurse With a Psychology Degree?

While you can have a psychology degree and be a nurse, you cannot become a nurse with just a psychology degree. To obtain a Registered Nurse license, you must have completed an accredited nursing program.

What Are Good Nursing Career Paths for Psychology Majors?

One of the best nursing career paths for psychology majors is in mental health nursing or psychiatric nursing. These nurses work with patients with mental illnesses, making it the ideal department for someone with a psych degree.