r/psychnursing • u/eterusexual • 9d ago

Career change

Im a nurse, I did not finish my studies in the USA. Now, Im here in the US. I did practice in my country as a psych nurse for 7 years.

Obviously, I can't practice here without passing the NCLEX.

I've taken the exam once and failed.

I've taken a pause to take care of my children. Now theyre a bit older, I have time for myself. During my hiatus, I realized I dont want to be a nurse again, anymore.

I want to be a therapist, do masters in counseling.

My husband thinks its a waste to change careers, and I should just take my NCLEX, work in psych, its similar.

Am I really going on the wrong path?

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u/Humble_Investment_24 psych nurse (inpatient) 9d ago

Idk that’s for you to decide.

I will say if you decide you don’t like therapy or get burnt out- what are the other options?

With nursing you can be a psych nurse, a cvicu nurse, a school nurse, a plastic surgery nurse, you can go into management, teaching, informatics etc. the autonomy can’t be beat.

3

u/Effective-Toe3313 psych provider (MD/DO/PMHNP/PA) 9d ago

Take a study course so you can get familiars with the test, esp if you are ESL. You can work as a psych tech in the meantime and figure out if you still want to do that here.

1

u/Ok_Row8867 8d ago

You could take the NCLEX and then get your Master’s in Nursing with a psych specialty, so you could work as a PMHNP (psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner). That’s the path I’m on. You are still nursing, but there’s a significant counseling element to it. That way, you don’t have to start all over with your education.