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Hailey
Student
Shelby, North Carolina
1
Question
Updated
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Would it be useful to have a degree or minor in Psychology to become a Psychiatric Nurse?
I want to pursue the career of a Psychiatric Nurse, but I am getting my degree in Psychology first and then Nursing. I am thinking to change my major from Psychology to Nursing with a minor in Psych, but I would like to know if my original plan actually be more helpful to my career plan. #Spring2026
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1 answer
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
1403
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hi Hailey,
You’re thinking in the right direction, and your goal is very clear, which is a big advantage. If your end goal is to become a psychiatric nurse, the most direct and efficient path is to major in nursing and, if possible, add a minor in psychology. Nursing is what qualifies you for licensure and allows you to actually work as a nurse, while psychology becomes a strong supporting layer that helps you understand patients better.
Your original plan, doing a full psychology degree first and then going into nursing, can work, but it usually takes more time and doesn’t necessarily give you a strong advantage in becoming a psychiatric nurse. What employers and healthcare settings really need is someone who is clinically trained as a nurse and also understands mental health. You can achieve that combination more efficiently with a nursing major.
The psychology minor is still very valuable. It strengthens your ability to connect with patients, understand behavior, and handle mental health situations with more insight. But it doesn’t replace the nursing qualification; it complements it.
So from a practical, career-focused standpoint, switching to nursing as your major while keeping psychology as a minor is a smart, streamlined move. It gets you into the field faster while still giving you the knowledge that will make you effective in psychiatric care. You’re not losing anything by making that shift; you’re actually aligning your path more closely with your goal.
Best wishes!
You’re thinking in the right direction, and your goal is very clear, which is a big advantage. If your end goal is to become a psychiatric nurse, the most direct and efficient path is to major in nursing and, if possible, add a minor in psychology. Nursing is what qualifies you for licensure and allows you to actually work as a nurse, while psychology becomes a strong supporting layer that helps you understand patients better.
Your original plan, doing a full psychology degree first and then going into nursing, can work, but it usually takes more time and doesn’t necessarily give you a strong advantage in becoming a psychiatric nurse. What employers and healthcare settings really need is someone who is clinically trained as a nurse and also understands mental health. You can achieve that combination more efficiently with a nursing major.
The psychology minor is still very valuable. It strengthens your ability to connect with patients, understand behavior, and handle mental health situations with more insight. But it doesn’t replace the nursing qualification; it complements it.
So from a practical, career-focused standpoint, switching to nursing as your major while keeping psychology as a minor is a smart, streamlined move. It gets you into the field faster while still giving you the knowledge that will make you effective in psychiatric care. You’re not losing anything by making that shift; you’re actually aligning your path more closely with your goal.
Best wishes!