Continue on to BSN/graduate degree? Or just enjoy being a nurse?

[klone, MSN, RN]

Now that I'm a little over a year away from graduating with an ADN, I'm starting to look towards the future. I already know that once I graduate and am working, I will take the next year for some additional bookwork involved with becoming certified as a lactation consultant (for which I'll take the test the following year - July 2007). But after that, I'm not sure what I should do. At THIS point, while I'm still in the full student/school mode, I'm thinking I will definitely go back to get my BSN, and quite possibly an MSN. But I have a feeling that once I'm out in the workforce, earning a paycheck, and not having any other responsibilities once I leave work, I may not want to go back to the life of student.

I imagine that after next year, I will be so DONE with school and deadlines and reading and homework and all this crap. Am I really going to want to go BACK and do it for another 3-4 years, even on a part-time basis?

My "dream goal" would to become a CNM or nurse practitioner. But I have a feeling I may be satisfied with "just" being an RN and working in direct patient care, also. Which will make the decision all the harder.

Thoughts? Anyone else struggling with the issue as well?

[adelle]

I think the best thing to do is just wait until you graduate and have been working for some time. If the school bug comes back to bite you then go for it! Being out on the floor will surely steer you in way or the other. You're never going to know what you'll want in the future until you get there. You're already planning for after 2007! A lot of things can happen. I wish you the best of luck in finishing your ADN!

[Catys_With_Me]

I know what you mean. On one hand, I would so love to be done next year and back to living my life (I'm sure you know what I mean...). But... our school has had us do clinical rotations in the community where all of the nurses (at these sites) are required to be a BSN or MSN to hold their positions. It has really opened my eyes to all the awesome possibilities out there and it makes me want to get that BSN so that should I ever want to go down a different path, I'll be able to do so.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

How old are you?

When you get out on the floor ask yourself. Can I be doing this 20 years from now?

I'm an ADN nurse and very very happy being a nurse. In fact I've demoted myself from Charge Nurse RN III positions on two occasions to become an RN II floor nurse. But I also have to look at the future. I'm 45 and have proably 25 more years to work, as I'm broke now without much retirement savings. When I'm 60 years old do I still want to be doing this? I can't answer that because I just might want to be doing this. I've already been doing it for 15 years.

However, I'm working on my BSN for options in those years just in case I don't want to be doing this. Or in case an opportunity comes up that requires a BSN that I really want to take.

It's an individual decision. There's no dishonor in being a ADN floor nurse for your entire career. But go for your BSN early if there's an inclination you might be leaning that way. Take a few years off though to enjoy your life if you're tired of school and undecided. RN to BSN programs are all over the place and are easy to get into, many are online.

Good luck to you.