A diploma program is administered by hospitals and takes 3 years, but there are few hospitals that offer this course. And its a 'generic' social work degree, so if you decided you fancied trying your hand at children's social work, you could. For example, both nurses and social workers are often taught to view the patient as a "whole person" from a psychosocial or biopsychosocial perspective, according to the scholarly article, Mapping Dual-Degree Programs in Social Work and Public Health: Results From a … u/vin9000. Hi, I'm at college at the moment doing health and social care and considering doing either mental health nursing at uni, or social work to specialise in mental health after qualifying. google_ad_format = "336x280_as"; Even if you go into private practice, it will take you some time to gain your clientele and your business; in the meantime you have to take care of your needs! As a former social worker and MSW student I left social work specifically to attend nursing school. Some states and employers also require that nurses continue their education to gain credits, so if you want to become an RN you will have to get used to learning throughout your career. Where as with Nursing you can find work with an ASN Degree ( A lot of hospitals do want BSN Degrees, but in my area ASN is still accepted) Now you will take a huge cut in pay if you do social work. I will note that adult nursing is the most versatile of the three. Comment by Kelly — April 26, 2011 @ 2:30 pm, Nursing Or Social Work Degree: Which One To Choose, Removing Kids From Home: Can Social Workers Take Kids Away, Selecting A Graduate Program For Social Work, University Of Pittsburgh School Of Social Work, University Of Wisconsin School Of Social Work, 3 CEU Credits Home Study Course on Yoga, Meditation and Breathing for Depression, Anxiety and Stress, Florida CEU Workshops Using Yoga and Meditation for Mental Health, Join Me on Facebook for Inspiration and Balance, columbia university school of social work, university of maryland school of social work. Nursing a great profession and you can take into any direction whether you want to do counseling or more medication management or both. google_color_text = "000000"; I am also very much interested in working in the area of eating disorders. I know someone who worked in a youth addition treatment centre. The higher your educational achievements, the more room for advancement there will be, and the outlook for employment for those wishing to enter the world of nursing is good. Within nursing there are many different paths and you can really change the direction or specialty any time. Licensure – Social workers registered with the HCPC can practice in the industry, whereas not all case managers require one. I never wanted to do nursing, due to the long shifts and having to deal with difficult doctors more closely. I could do the same work, get paid better, and be treated better as a master's level nurse. For me I realized that I enjoyed the broader role of nurses than as an MSW. I love working with people. My Mum has had severe mental health problems since I was little and has been in and out of hospital and seen in the community which has made me want to help people in her situation. There are many disciplines within each career, and the choice may be difficult. This job requires a master’s degree plus some years experience in the field or another related area. Thanks for your insights. The average salary for a social worker in the UK is £46,000, but there is great variation within that. I'd go for social work. What are the pros and benefits of both careers? To advance to a position such as a nurse-midwife or a nurse anesthetist will require a master’s degree. You will make at most 50k plus you will be limited in your scope of practice to just counseling folks with eating disorders instead of adding a "unique" niche to your craft by consulting on the physiology of what an eating disorder could result into like depression, body image, lack of nutrition etc. google_color_url = "999999"; 4 months ago. I have a MSW and I am transitioning into nursing for more opportunities for my career and financial stability! In my area there is lots of social work type Nursing Jobs and the trend seems to be going that way as far as I can tell...because I think we are starting to realize a lot of people's social problems stem from physical problems as well so it's valuable as a professional to be able to have a conversation about one's social AND physical well being. Mental health nursing is not what it looks like from the outside. Its ridiculous. Medical social workers can be found across the health care system, from hospital pediatric wings to nursing homes. You can also become nationally certified and/or state certified (state requirement differ across states). I work in a community mental health team, work part time to fit around school times and is really flexible. Posted by. Education – Case managers may have a degree in nursing, therapy, social work or other relevant fields. Typically a registered nurse earns on average $65,000 per year, but some nurses can command salaries of nearly $100,000 per year. Just food for thought! [/h], I am still a prenursing student but I will chime in my two cents. The opportunities for social workers are increasing too. And I too am thinking which route to take. Yet they are not liked. Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life). You’ll be taking more science courses if you go into nursing so that is something to consider. Can anyone enlighten me more on the role of a nurse and social worker? I will graduate with my MSW in six weeks. I'm facing the same debate as you (and it's a never ending internal debate for me too)...so I may not be much help but I'll chime in anyway. Posted from TSR Mobile Taking a master’s degree course will help you advance up the ladder and enable private practice options. But Since you are already in a Nursing program I would advise you to finish it, try it out for a year or two and if you dont like it go on for your Masters in Social Work. The social work profession occurs where individuals, communities, and society intersect. Our mission is to Empower, Unite, and Advance every nurse, student, and educator. Nurses make great money. Social work revolves around service, but is inherently interdisciplinary in nature. google_ad_type = "text"; She is struggling to choose between an MA for social work (1year) and PGDip for mental health nursing (2years). google_color_link = "0000FF"; Not sure where Fisherpe was looking with a max salary of 50K for MSW, Indian Affairs, VA, and most organizations will start you OFF at 55K, with License, and I see jobs, however, it is true that you can do ANYTHING in Nursing, get much more PRESTIGE with your job title, respect from individuals, never ending job opportunities, schedules. A social worker in a school may have to deal with difficult teenagers and try to solve problems due to poor home situations, antisocial behavior, depression, learning problems and possibly drug addiction. A licensed clinical social worker can make about the same. My local Uni does a Joint Practitioner degree which is a Social Work degree with Mental Health nursing. A BSN taken in a college or university lasts for 4 years and an associate degree or ADN will last for 2 to 3 years. By using the site you agree to our Privacy, Cookies, and Terms of Service Policies. Again, I'm proud to be a social worker. My wife is going to school for logistics, I refuse to be bringing in $50K as a Social Worker with a masters degree while she brings in $70,000 with a bachelors in supply chain/logistics. The Average for Social Work is 50 thousand dollars a year, were as for Nursing its around 70 thousand dollars a year. allnurses is a Nursing Career, Support, and News Site. There is a good deal of overlap with counseling vs. social work, and many professionals go back and forth between the two professions before making a decision. A medical social worker based in a nursing home can expect to make, on average between $45,000- $50,000 per year, depending on location and experience. The choice is difficult, especially with the responsibility of caring for sick people under strict scrutiny and supervision. allnurses.com, INC, 7900 International Drive #300, Bloomington MN 55425 Federal jobs have really good pension, continuous raises, and plenty of job choices. I already have an MPA degree. We would expect the community to be on the side of a profession that exists to protect children or vulnerable adults, or to address the effects of social deprivation or exclusion, wouldn’t we? Most social work careers, whether as a school social worker, medical or public health social worker, or a substance abuse or mental health social worker, pay around forty to fifty thousand a year with the MSW degree. Would mental health nursing be more geared to psychosocial health or would it be more medication management? //-->. Sounds like that could be a good fit. Following an adult nursing degree you could do an 18 month midwifery conversion, or a social work masters, or Frontline (like Teach First, but for social work). Social worker salary. I agree what others have mentioned previously! Nursing vs. Social Work (the never ending internal debate), Huntington Hospital New Grad Residency Program (Pasadena, CA) 2021. Sounds like you would be great for mental health. I work in close contact with our school student support and counseling team and many of student's psychosocial issues present to me as physical symptoms. The BLS projects 14% growth for healthcare social workers and 12% growth for child, family, and school social workers. What are your strengths and your interests? Remember this is starting out. Remember this is starting out. google_ad_channel =""; Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac. Nurses are generally better paid than social workers but may have to work long hours and nights and work with patients who may have infections diseases. Our members represent more than 60 professional nursing specialties. google_color_bg = "FFFFFF"; There are many disciplines within each career, and the choice may be difficult. Subjects like sociology, psychology, criminology, economics, education, health, and political science are all essential to this field. In some ways different from nursing and physical therapy in that a social worker is involved with the whole person’s emotional,physical, and spiritual well being. Nursing pays more, there is more career opportunity...you may have to pay your dues in an area you are not passionate about for awhile, but once you find your niche I think you may find it more rewarding...you can always volunteer at social services agencies on the side if you are very passionate about eating disorders and at risk youth. I have never heard of a school-based eating disorder service. 3. Plus, I have to say that other professions do not have or have limited respect for us because our profession is based on liberal arts education and “soft skills”, whereas nursing is based on the “science & art” of caring for a patient or client. Good luck to everyone. 1-612-816-8773. If you become a Psych NP (MSN specialty in psych) you can definitely write your own ticket and provide "holistic" care to patients who represent the demographic you want to work with! A career in nursing starts out with a bachelor’s degree, an associate degree or a diploma. Yea..I want to help people, but I also want my kids to be able to go to the best schools, live in a nice neighborhood and enjoy nice things in life. Which means that once qualified you can do either mh or sw. Has 35 years experience. There are accelerated bachelor’s degree programs if you wish to switch careers, and for those who already hold a BSN in another field may take as little as 12 months to complete. If you are interested in working with people who have mental and psychological issues, as well as emotional problems and addictions, the odds are that you will be looking at a career in social work or counseling. Your current experience will do you well and it's much less stressful and family friendly than nursing or children social work. Social Work on the adults pathway. Social Work vs Nursing (UK) Close. google_color_border = "FFFFFF"; But social workers perform a public service and we know as nurses that public servants tend to collect good will. Take a look around your local area on job boards, etc. I commend those of you who majored in both fields. To be a school nurse, most districts require a BSN. [h=1]I am currently in a nursing a program and it seems that so much of it is based on medications/pharmacology. Where as with Nursing you can find work with an ASN Degree ( A lot of hospitals do want BSN Degrees, but in my area ASN is still accepted) Now you will take a huge cut in pay if you do social work. Now both professions help people. However, a social worker must have a specific social work degree to gain a license in the industry. Id say volunteer or take up agency work as a mental health support worker for a month and then decide. Specializes in Critical Care, Education. I have done EXTENSIVE research as I want to work with mental health, and here is what I have found. Particularly I found a passion in working with at risk youth. Three-quarters of social work jobs pay over £38,000. I originally thought nursing and working as an eating disorder nurse or within the schools. As a whole, the number of social workers could increase by 13% from 2019-29, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).