[SingDanceRunLife]

Hi,

I'm a high school junior, and I'm interested in going into the medical field. There's a bit of a problem though...I'm interested in 3 things. Being a nurse, being a general practitioner, and doing research. I can't really tell you which of those I want the most because they all sound good to me. Nursing and research are my top two though. So, I have some questions:

1. Obviously, next year I'm going to have to apply for college, so I'm going to have to decide whether or not I want to go into nursing before then because it will affect where I apply. Anything I can do to help make that decision?

2. If I do decide that I want to go into nursing, should I take the nursing program at the local tech school next year? It's a half day program during the school week that prepares you to be a CNA, and from that you have the option of automatically getting into the nursing program at the local community college.

3. What type of degree should I go for, Associates or Bachelors, or both? I've been thinking that it would make sense to do the Associates, work some, and then decide whether or not I wanted to continue my education and get a Bachelors. Opinions?

4. Related to #3, if I'm just going got an Associates, how much of a difference, if any, would it make in terms of my career if I went to a 2 year community college rather than a 4 year college that offered the same degree?

That's all I've got for now.

Thanks in advance!

[Tweety]

If you do decide to go into nursing, the CNA program would be a good start, because it will expose you to the profession, and give you some hands-on experience with patients.

Go for the bachelor's degree if you can. One day you might use that degree to get into nursing research. We base what we do in our profession based on nursing researchers, but you need a BSN or higher to research.

The two-year community college, probably is going to take you three years to finish because there are pre-reqs to get into nursing school. That degree will allow you to become an RN, work at entry level positions, the same as the BSN would. So at the beginning there isn't much difference in how you're going to work, or how much money you're going to make. BSN nurses after they get experience enjoy a wider variety of job opportunties away from the bedside, so it's something being so young you're probably going to want to do.

You can do like I did and get the associates degree, and attend an Associates to Bachelor's program and finish that way. Many facliities offer tuition reimbursement to help do this.

Lots of things to think about. Lots of options.

Good luck to you in all that you do. If something isn't clear, please feel free to ask. We're here to help you.

[gt4everpn]

Hello, its good to see HS students here! I'm two years outta HS myself, anyway, the CNA start would be a great way to get a taste of the field, I myself want to do research and nursing and I want to be a clinical Nurse specialist in the future, clinical nurse specialists are advance practice nurses, here's some more info-http://www.ga.unc.edu/NCCN/recruitme.../roles/cns.htm
Overall goin for the bachelors degree is smarter since you are young and have time to go through four years of school, in todays world an associates degree doesnt mean much!! My greatest advice is to do research on all of the schools you are looking at, check out price, etc... and talk to the kids on campus, Much luck to you!!!

[SingDanceRunLife]

Thanks for the replies.

The two-year community college, probably is going to take you three years to finish because there are pre-reqs to get into nursing school. That degree will allow you to become an RN, work at entry level positions, the same as the BSN would. So at the beginning there isn't much difference in how you're going to work, or how much money you're going to make. BSN nurses after they get experience enjoy a wider variety of job opportunties away from the bedside, so it's something being so young you're probably going to want to do.

I've actually looked up the pre-reqs for the program, and they are minimal. Chem 101 and Bio 101 or Bio 104 (general bio), and Math 095 (basic algebra) if needed. I doubt that I'll need to take Math 095, I'm in Algebra 2 this year, and I could easily take Bio 104 during the summer, or, if I take AP Bio at school next year, that might get me the credit needed, I'm not sure. Other than that, you need to have completed the NYS Regents Math A and Math B (I'm taking the math B in June), and at least an 80% on the Bio and Chem Regents tests (I have that for Bio, but although I took Chem, I didn't take the Regents, so that might prove to be a problem).

You can do like I did and get the associates degree, and attend an Associates to Bachelor's program and finish that way. Many facliities offer tuition reimbursement to help do this.

That's true. That's part of the reason I think going to he CC and getting an Associates to start makes more sense than going for a Bachelor's from the start. I'd like to be able to finance my education better, especially since nursing schools are quite expensive.

gt4everpn - I see that you're from NY (as am I, obviously). What nursing school did you go to?

Oh yeah, and another question:

I've heard that there are both RN-to-BSN and RN-to-MSN programs, and I eventually want to go into something more advanced, like clinical nurse specialist, public health nursing, or pediatrics. Which type of program would I do after getting an Associates? How long do these take to complete?

[Tweety]

Originally Posted by SingDanceRunLife

Thanks for the replies.



I've actually looked up the pre-reqs for the program, and they are minimal. Chem 101 and Bio 101 or Bio 104 (general bio), and Math 095 (basic algebra) if needed. I doubt that I'll need to take Math 095, I'm in Algebra 2 this year, and I could easily take Bio 104 during the summer, or, if I take AP Bio at school next year, that might get me the credit needed, I'm not sure. Other than that, you need to have completed the NYS Regents Math A and Math B (I'm taking the math B in June), and at least an 80% on the Bio and Chem Regents tests (I have that for Bio, but although I took Chem, I didn't take the Regents, so that might prove to be a problem).



That's true. That's part of the reason I think going to he CC and getting an Associates to start makes more sense than going for a Bachelor's from the start. I'd like to be able to finance my education better, especially since nursing schools are quite expensive.

gt4everpn - I see that you're from NY (as am I, obviously). What nursing school did you go to?

Oh yeah, and another question:

I've heard that there are both RN-to-BSN and RN-to-MSN programs, and I eventually want to go into something more advanced, like clinical nurse specialist, public health nursing, or pediatrics. Which type of program would I do after getting an Associates? How long do these take to complete?

That's good some schools have a lot of pre-reqs like A&P, Microbiology, etc. My program took my high school chemistry, algerbra, and biology as well and no pre-reqs. Many schools now that have waiting lists make you take A&P, Microbiology, and the Englishes as pre-reqs. These are college level courses that can't be taken on a high school level.

You can work in pediatrics with an associates degree. Public Health Nursing usually requires a BSN, although there are positions you can get with an associates degree in their clinics. Clinical Nurse Specialists are always Mastered prepared.

RN to BSN programs take from 18 to 24 months. They are usually part-time programs since most people are working nurses, but sometimes you can double up and finish quicker, but that's hard to do and work as a nurse full time. Many have more basic co-req courses like extra humanities, sciences (I had to take college level Chemistry when I went BSN), and statistics, so they might vary from school to school. Another 2 years or so for the Masters, again going part time. The good thing about RN to MSN is that you can go straight to the Masters level courses without repeating them, courses like Pathophysiology can be taken at a Masters level rather than BSN level.

It's so confusing because there are so many options out there. Good luck and please ask any further questions you might have.

[SingDanceRunLife]

Yeah. The pre-reqs really aren't bad at all for the community college. But, the program there is pretty good, and, they've got deals with a bunch of 4 year colleges with BSN or MSN programs, so continuing education from there is easy.

Oh, and just as a note: A&P can be a high school level course. There's a program offered through the local tech school that is for senior who want to go into the medical field, and one of the courses taken through that is A&P, honors level. I actually really want to do that program. I've wanted to since freshman year, but, it's pretty competitive and hard to get into, and that's actually where the nursing program comes in. If I don't get into the first program, the nursing program would be my second choice (it's really similar, but there are some things that aren't as good with it, like not getting the same credits, and having to cram them in at school).

Good to know about working in pediatrics with an Associates. I think that would be really great.

With the RN-to-BSN or RN-to-MSN, which would I want to look into? Would it make more sense to do the BSN, and then decide if I wanted to do the MSN, or would I want to go for the MSN from the start?

[Tweety]

Just wanted to make sure you understood that A&P was college credit level. We have the same types of programs here where high schoolers actually go to college campuses to take classes for college credit.....for free. There's even a chosen few that go to LPN school for their first six months while still in high school.

Anyway, depending on what your long term goals are is whether you're going to want to get the MSN, and which MSN you're going to get. If your real sure your goal is MSN, then go ADN to MSN because it's quicker and cheaper. There are a few tracks that you can take such as leadership/administration, education (nursing instructors are in high demand and need a masters to teach), nurse practioner (something you might consider since you expressed interest in being a medical practioner), palliative care, psych., anesthesia (the nurse that makes the big bucks) etc.

No need to decide just get. Get your feet wet in nursing and see what you like. You're going to surely change your mind many times over as you enter the program and start work.

As an entry level RN, the associates degree will get you any kind of RN position in general med-surg, L&D, pediatricts, intensive care, wherever an RN can work having an associates won't hold you back.

[SingDanceRunLife]

Hmm...The program doesn't say anything about A&P being college level or anything. It says honors.

Whatever. It really doesn't matter.

Long term goals? Probably public health nursing, or clinical nurse specialist.

[morte]

have you ever taken the Interest Inventory Test?....this might steer you to or away from nursing...to or away from medicine.....they are two entirely different vocations......much more independence of action/practice in medicine.....check with you guidance dept, if they cant/dont offer, can be done thru a pschologist...good luck

[Tweety]

Originally Posted by SingDanceRunLife

Hmm...The program doesn't say anything about A&P being college level or anything. It says honors.

Whatever. It really doesn't matter.

Long term goals? Probably public health nursing, or clinical nurse specialist.

It really doesn't matter. If it transfers to college credit that's great. If not, then you're a step ahead. This is the make-or-break class for a lot of students. A&P is the backbone of all that is to follow, so study this carefully. In my opinion nursing school doesn't get harder than this.

There's MSNs in Public Health, as well as CNS. CNS of course can be a specialist in several areas of focus