BSN & LCSW?

I am currently working on my BSN and looking ahead at more options. I have recently been thinking about additionally becoming a LCSW on top of an RN. Have any of you done this? Know of someone who has? Any advice or thoughts? I am open to any programs or ideas at this point. I would really like to go further then an RN and I love the counseling aspect of nursing but would also like to be a nurse.
Hi studentnurse:I am a BSN and also an LCSW. I took the opposite path that you are considering getting a BA in psychology and then went on to an MSW program. After spending a couple of years as a clinical social worker, I decided that I wanted to be able to do more than just the counseling/therapy piece of the work and went in to an accelerated BSN program. I am currently in a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program. Social work and nursing are certainly a very nice marriage of careers and education - I currently work in a role that utilizes both my RN and LCSW. My recommendation to you, if you are only considering getting an MSW to be able to provide therapy, would be to explore the option of PMHNP programs. This will allow you to do therapy and prescribe (depending upon your state's practice act) - essentially offering you a much more marketable (and lucrative) skill set than a BSN and MSW alone. Though the MSW and MSN are certainly very different approaches to psychotherapy, you will again find some overlap between the MSW and PMHNP programs. If you haven't worked in psych or mental health, I would suggest that you explore this area of practice as well before deciding which direction to go. That's just my two cents Feel free to ask any other questions - best of luck to you!

Thank you so much for your input. I love nursing but I want to be able to do more on the therapy/counseling side of things. I do like mental health a lot but I am also not sure if that is what I want to specialize in. I want to be able to do more in Women's health and do more counseling. I am also thinking about mental health though. I don't know if you know the answer to this...but...if I become a LCSW then can I do both or change. In social work licensing does it encompass everything? Your input is appreciated!

I'm considering the same thing. I have a BSN and I'm applying to MSW programs. Thanks for starting this thread.

Quote from studentnurseforHIMThank you so much for your input. I love nursing but I want to be able to do more on the therapy/counseling side of things. I do like mental health a lot but I am also not sure if that is what I want to specialize in. I want to be able to do more in Women's health and do more counseling. I am also thinking about mental health though. I don't know if you know the answer to this...but...if I become a LCSW then can I do both or change. In social work licensing does it encompass everything? Your input is appreciated!