[imenid37]

I want to go back for my MSN. My specialty is perinatal. I have been a nurse for 16 years, the last 13 in ob. I love ob and know I want to stay within this specialty. I have been working nights for the last 13 years and one day I'd like to teach ob in college/nursing school or work as a unit educator in an ob unit. My job pays for $2500/yr. for education. I am pretty strapped for money.Currently, I am looking into three programs.

(1) A web based distance learning program for perinatal clin. spec. 36 credits, no gre required, one 3-4 day on campus visit to a city approx 2000 miles away, $700/credit, NLN accredited.
(2) A web based distance learning program for MSN in rural health nursing w/a nurse educator option. This program is 30 credits, requires gre, no on campus time, amazing price approx $180/credit, ccne accredited.
(3) Local college MSN nursing education, no gre required, 42 credits, $300/credit, NLN accredited.

I'd like someone else's thoughts/ponderings/opinions. I don't know what I should do. I want to get a start on school in the spring or the fall at the latest. I am scared to death of the gre, even though I did very well in my BSN and ADN programs which were all the way back in 1990 and 1987. I have certifications in mother-baby nursing, EFM, ACLS, NRP, and ALSO, but that gre has me spooked. Also if someone else knows of any other programs in perinatal nursing or education close to my area (York/ Harrisburg PA or Baltimore area). I want to take only one class a time, because I work FT and have 3 kids, so it seems financial aid from the colleges is hard to come by. Thanks in advance for your help.

[valene]

amazing,
i have been rn for 16 yrs, 14 in Ob and am certified in inpt ob. i also want to pursue education both at a school of nursing and perinatal ed in my department. I think you should pursue option #1, i am tempted to pursue that option as well if I knew what school offers perinatal online! please let me know. if you want to email me, val@svol.net

[imenid37]

Hi Valene!
The first option is St. Louis University. I am sooo very much longing for the opportunity to take advantage of this. Money is really holding me back, because it's exactly what I want. Just go to slu.edu to find out more. My job only pays $2500/year for education and it's really hard to get any kind of financial aid for a program when you are taking only one class at a time. I know in order to do well, that's all I could handle right now. Best of luck to you!

[indie]

My response is general, but based on years as an educator and non credentialed clinical specialist.

The MSN will be more useful in a general sense to help meet your goals. While clin. specs. are valued by some major hospitals/units they just do not have the transferable usefulness of MSN.

Check out the ads. for jobs in your specialty within a 200 mile radius of where you think you will be living. What are they asking for. If you were laid off tomorrow (sorry, but think worst case scenario and life just gets less scary) - where or what would you be looking at for a nsg. position? What would you need to get that job over someone else's application.

Nurse educator is a little overated - can you link with someone in the local school and shadow for a day, or offer to be a preceptor for a final semester student in return for some dialog with the educators? Getting a foot in the door may be as important as getting the academic qualification.

Also your BoN may be a good place to ask questions about what is needed to be an educator. Or ask these questions in the school. Most DONs will give a few minutes interview time to a would-be educator.

Some years ago the NLN went thru a rough patch and accreditation by them became less important. I do not know the current situation, but this may affect your decision.

Incidentally, I did my MS thru Cal. State Uni, Dominguez Hills distance program (before Internet!) and was very satisified with my education and it's cost. No one has ever asked me about the method of education so I do not believe distance learning is an issue here. I took five years and it cost $6000 (in 1989-94) taking one class at a time with a full time job.

Sorry it's so general, but I do believe you need to check out specifics of your situation before committing to a program. I do wish you well and a little luck too, but sounds as if you make your own.