NursingLink

I have a BA in Psychology and have always wanted to be a nurse.  Now I'm getting the idea that if I want to become a nurse, specifically a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, that I would have to start all over as a undergraduate student--I don't have any more financial aid.  Maybe it would be easier to become a Psychiatrist?  I have also considered becoming a PA but can't find an online college for that.  ( I have two small children and am trying to stick to as much on-line as I can, I do live in Milwaukee and there are a lot of teaching colleges so it wouldn't be that hard to get to some classes.  I just need help!

Get the straight dope quickly, g: ask a counselor for the NP program about requirements. I suspect you'll only need an RN credential before a university will consider accepting you into its master's program for psychiatric nurse practitioner.
Almost certainly, an RN program will accept many credits from your BA work.
Also, check with Wisconsin's Board of Nursing about its RN credential. Wisconsin may offer bachelor's prospects some breaks for undertaking its RN credential.
Finally, you may qualify for financial aid from various resources. I suspect a financial-aid counselor can give you ideas about where to look. Some hospitals even offer to pay tuition for RN students who agree to work at the hospital for a prescribed time.