Another thing to consider, which you might have already, is podiatry, but I think that puts you right back into a pathway that adds years on to your journey. The time aspect is something that obviously must be concerning you, leading you to focus on where you can trim time, which is completely understandable (another case where the DNP would be less than optimal). But your pathway might actually take you close to 4 years unless you do some significant arranging and compromise regarding geography, program cost, and start dates. But I think it can be done.
I don’t know much about accelerated or direct entry NP programs, but I think your overall idea of becoming a PHMNP is a good one. The role that you will be afforded by being a psyche Np can be close to what would enjoy as a physician in terms of respect, at least in places where you are engaged in independent practice, and where psyche resources are more rare (most places right now are lacking). That puts you in the position of being a problem solver for other providers, and that makes a difference. When physicians know that you have a waiting list 2 or 3 months out for someone to get in to see you for a psyche consult, they tend to treat you with due respect vs what often happens with PAs and NPs in other realms... in essence, you stand a much better chance as a PMHNP of not being taken for granted. One of my professors made a comment once in class referring to what the FNP students had to do in their track that we don’t, and said something to the effect of “being a specialist comes with perks”, and it’s true. One of the perks in my region of the country is wages for PHMNps are significantly higher than NPs that aren’t PHMNPs. Schedules are better, and employers are in the position of competing over potential hires. It’s to the point where everyone in the region pretty much knows who the newly graduating PHMNPs in the pipeline are (because they are so rare), and word gets out how many are doing their clinicals and where. I’m not in a low population area either, so that tells you a lot about the need, the supply, and the market factors. It’s not unheard of to have offers at every location you do clinical at.
The reason for the favorable market for PHMNPs is because the desire to work with folks that are mentally ill doesn’t come naturally. Even though most medical providers see patients with mental illness (frequently), they still think they don’t, and are biased against mental health patients. They tend to be incredibly frustrating, but this manifests mostly for you if you don’t know how to get into the right mindset. Make sure this is what you’d like to do for your career. But even if you realize it’s not your flavor of work, you can usually change track in school and get onboard with something else before you are fully committed.
You definitely are taking the long way to settle in to a provider role, but I can appreciate you wanting to stick it out. I would proceed as fast as I could and spend very little time as an RN if you can help it.
