Psychiatric Nurse or Pharmacist...?

2 mos. pregnant, quitting job to go to school fulltime. Husband supporting me & baby...I have a B.A in psychology, worked as a case worker and a pharmacy tech. Love healthcare, but want to stay in psych field. Takes 6 yrs 2 finish pharm. school(won't be able to work) as opposed to 2 1/2 years for nursing school. What should I do????

If the above are your only choices, take Pharmacist. We all need someone back there who cares about us, and will carefully watch so we're not given the wrong medication by our doctors.
I've worked at a Psychiatric Hospital.. and while they honestly need our help.. it can become too stressful at times. I was told when I started, don't plan on making it a career.. sooner or later you're going to take on some of hat your patients have..
Sanity is so over rated <winks> Don't you think..
Truthfully.. Pharmacist.. please. We need people watching our backs..

Do what makes you happiest!! Good Luck
I have a friend from high school who is a Pharmacist now. She works two part-time jobs, averaging about 34 hours /week. Last year she made $98,000.00
I've also graduated as a phamacy tech....but I find that the pay is too low for retail, and hospital is too boring (working with the same ppl with no patient contact). I've ended up as a nurse in the ER and I love it! Always a challenge...but I love my work. I help ppl! And so would you if you decided to go the psychiatric route.....but I don't know you so that depends on who you are! Much luck!
Most PharmD programs are 4 years, so I'm not sure why yours is 6.

Anyway, although they are both healthcare fields, they are entirely different careers and the day-to-day work is entirely different, like apples and tuna.

A pharm in a hospital has little to no direct patient interaction. She works strictly in the pharmacy, dispensing ordered drugs, perhaps consulting with doctors/nurses when drug info/adjustment is needed. Usually, she is on her feet most of the day. When the day is over, she never/rarely takes her work home with her, i.e, having to prepare reports, patient logs, or next-day meetings. The pay can be excellent, in excess of $100K, and the stress manageable.

Pharms in retail stores, like Wal-Mart, have more patient interaction, usually fairly brief. They also spend copious amounts of time getting insurance approvals and dealing with chicanery (lying, stealing) and argumentative patients. They stand all day. No "homework". The pay can be excellent, $100K+, and the stress is manageable.

I'm less familiar with psych nurses, but I would guess much lower pay prospects, many reports and patient logs, frequent and intense interactions with patients, families and doctors. Less respect, more stress, high levels of activity.

I'm not trying to convey that one is better than the other. What is important is that you understand just what exactly you'll be doing on a daily basis in the prospective field, and whether that sounds like a match for you. Then, you can make your decision.

Good luck!
Well it really depends on you. I'd go psychiatric nurse personally. I love the mental health field, and I love being able to really get in there and help people. You help people as a pharmacist but, I don't about you, but I have rarely interacted with a pharmacist, only the tech's. Even when I have a question, the techs will usually go ask, or go look it up.