Degrees

Trauma Columnist · Sep 21, 2006

Marie said it well. If you wish to pursue further positions in the ER or OR, you will need either a BSN or MSN or MBA (a trend I'm seeing in my area).

hogan4736, BSN, RN · Sep 21, 2006

trauma,

pls clarify...

do you mean further than staff nurse?

Trauma Columnist · Sep 21, 2006

I mean like moving into management, education, moving out of floor nursing. I did 10 years of floor nursing in a level one trauma center and decided that it was very hard work: on your feet the entire 12.5 hours, no breaks, literally running constantly. And...I realized I was going to have to do this for many, many more years unless I went back to school.

Having an MSN (or other advanced degrees) gives you more options as you get older. I miss the ER terribly but left there to pursue advanced nursing opportunities and haven't regretted it.

Hope this explains it - ??

widi96 · Sep 21, 2006

I work in a level 2 trauma center and the basic rule there is you must have a BSN to be hired as a Grad Nurse, this is not required if you have an ADN and a couple of years experience elsewhere.

Trauma Columnist · Sep 21, 2006

Widi - do you not have much of a nursing shortage? In central IL - if you are a warm body with a pulse and RN behind your name (degree type doesn't matter) you got a job!

widi96 · Sep 21, 2006

There seems to be a shortage of floor nurses and LTC nurses - but in the ER - No way. It is very competitive. Last December we had 9 applicants for one position and had to turn away four of the nurses who had been techs in the ER for over a year. As for those who graduate in December - they've already been told there are NO er positions available.

Trauma Columnist · Sep 21, 2006

Wow! I worked at our level one trauma center and we consistently had 10-12 folks (new grads and other new employees) in orientation at any one time. They took most everyone. May I ask what region of the US you are in?

widi96 · Sep 21, 2006

It's a 28 bed level 2 trauma center in the Kansas City suburb of Liberty.

Trauma Columnist · Sep 22, 2006

I know where that is - my mother lives in KC, MO.

I live in the Midwest too - near Peoria, IL (center of the state). Amazing what a difference a few miles makes, isn't it?

tridil2000, MSN, RN · Sep 22, 2006

you will be an rn with an ms. however, you can never sit for the np exam or crna exam. you will compete for management positions with rns with mbas or msns in health care management.

if you have a ms, you should consider going into a bsn program. your degree credits will count and you'll just have to do the nursing components. if you go for an associates, you'll just be doing the nursing components there too.

trainer2070 · Sep 22, 2006

Thanks all for the comments. They have a BSN program for those who already have a BS degree in another field. I'm going to look into it, Id rather have the 2nd BS degree and not an AAS degree which is the other option here.