Marketable Degree Combo: RN & MSW

Good Evening Nurses and other Professionals,

I have a question about the future of the Medical profession, as it pertains to what I am thinking.
I am currently in my second semester of my MSW.The more classes and time I spend in the degree, I am feeling as if it is not fully for me.

I want to know if I were to complete my MSW and then jump straight into Nursing School what would my edge be if any? With and RN and an MSW-- would I have an advantage? Would I be able to start working at a higher lever maybe as a Nurse Case Manager? What would my options be (if any).

I want to in a helping profession it has always been my passion. I also like to move and shake and every time a take a career quiz it always said Nurse but was always afraid of the Science classes but, I know I can do it.

Well any input would be great. Thank you.
I think the only advantage you will have is if you want to do a quickie MSN program to become a RN. It has been my experience that having another degree like your MSW even if you wanted to be a psych nurse isn't as impressive as you might hope. Good luck.
Other degrees don't really offer much advantage in nursing -- just as a nursing degree would not be a big help to someone looking for a career in social work. You probably would have an advantage in getting into case management, but that would still require that you have significant (as in at least a few years) clinical nursing experience.If you really want to be a nurse, you may well be best served to cut your SW studies short and get right into a nursing program. Your prior BA/BS gives you somewhat of an advantage there, as you are eligible for accelerated BSN or direct-entry MSN programs if you want to go that route. Is your interest in social work more in the medical or psych area? Lots of social workers looking at "jumping the fence" are interested in becoming psych NPs. You can get into a direct-entry program to do that, but it still involves learning all the "basic," hands-on nursing stuff and getting licensed as an RN before getting the advanced practice certification.How deeply have you looked into nursing so far?
I have been looking pretty deep. I will finish my MSW because I started it and Im not a cut short kind of person. I would love to find a good program that would accept me into the accelerated RN or BSN after my Masters. I know I need a few science pre-req's so I have time. But, If i could find a program that only took 18 months or so that would be great. I live in the Bay Area, Ca Also, I found a ELM MSN that accelerated the RN portion. If I took just those classes (to get the RN) would I have to finish the BSN in order to take the test and be registered? Could I drop the program after I tested?
Quote from MSW_StudentI will finish my MSW because I started it and Im not a cut short kind of person. I would love to find a good program that would accept me into the accelerated RN or BSN after my Masters. I know I need a few science pre-req's so I have time. But, If i could find a program that only took 18 months or so that would be great. I live in the Bay Area, Ca Also, I found a ELM MSN that accelerated the RN portion. If I took just those classes (to get the RN) would I have to finish the BSN in order to take the test and be registered? Could I drop the program after I tested?
Hi! I'm interested in this topic because I am stumbling the same question. Right now I'm currently working towards my BSW but I have this question inside my head that I want to do nursing too. Can you tell me more info if we can get into nursing after the MSW? Thanks!!
i realize this is a pretty old thread. so hopefully you've found your answer by now. at any rate, this combo could be helpful, but not really necessary working in social service. due to "community based service rule 132" you would be able to petition individuals more easily with your lcsw.as for working for a hospital, that combo would better suit you in the social service area as a therapist more than a psych nurse, or to run a social service oriented program. hospitals use lcsws for the rule compliance, but typically a nurse would run the department.however, community based programs would eat you up. because you would offer a clinical component around physical health that is much needed in the arena; in addition to working as a therapist. you can theoretically do what most psychiatrists won’t and they probably couldn't afford you. so, this would probably be best suited as a part-time gig, depending on your goals. personally, i would pursue psychiatric nurse practitioner; that covers the gamut.gluck!