How many of you plan on going beyond BSN?

I agree. I have called this aspect of nursing education "high-nursiness fru-fru."

Ok, I'm slinking out of the men's forum now...

Outstanding viewpoint.

When I first started, I was sure I wanted to be an NP. I even looked at 2 different 3 year, short cut, FNP programs in the area. This is my second career, and I've had koolaid-swallowing, marketing droids make grand, unkeepable promises to me before. "It's recession proof! Think of the money you'll be making! You'll be a millionaire in 4 years, yadda yadda, blah blah yakkity blah..". I'd seen this movie before and it'd already ended bad once.

I decided to get my feet wet slowly - psyche tech first, work some, get pre-req's, go for a BSN...

Now that I've been a nurse a few years, I see what the NP's have to deal with and I'm not so sure I could do it yet. I'm in no hurry. The longer I work, it seems the more I have to learn... and the more I surprise myself with what I didn't even realize I was absorbing through osmosis. Ever get a nanosecond break in the action and ask yourself "Wow I just did that without even thinking. Where'd I learn that?!"

I want more years of that kind of experience before I take on the responsibility/liability of an NP. I wish more 3 year MEPN programs would be honest about the value of on-the-floor experience when talking with prospective students.

dig

I haven't even started my BSN program yet, Fall 2009. But I plan to explore the options of CRNA or PA. I am finishing up my Bachelors degree this May and had planned throughout my undergrad at going to PA school, but they don't accept many students straight from school(with just science degrees). Most want direct patient care experience, which is why I started working as a phlebotomist at a local hospital my sophomore year of college. Through my work I really saw how awesome it would be to work in the ICU as an RN. So that is what I am planning to do, until I decide on which graduate program I would like to follow. And if I don't want to go on to more school, I will enjoy working as an RN with all the various career opportunites and pathways.

I plan on the CRNA myself (now I see why it's so competitive) and after that I'll go for a degree in Poetry because hey, let's face it, who doesn't want to keep deferring those student loans? Of course I'll need the degree in Physics to figure out how to make the Earth spin slower so I can manage an extra 8 hours a day for sleep, and then there's the Accounting degree to figure how to go offshore with all my cash....what an open ended question ! Got me thinking on Spring break, thanks...

I plan to go right into a BSN program once I am done with the ADN and working as a nurse (current I.T. geek). I would eventually like to become a NP, but we shall see how it goes. I would not mind teaching also, so just more money to spend no matter what

Good luck with your endeavors.
Matt

Currently I'm planning on getting my BSN, and after about a year of work I plan on going to med-school. Possibly specializing in internal medicine.

After I get my RN BN next year I hope to eventually specialize in Oncology and eventually work on my Masters. If i have enough interest I may also pursue NP.

Is there a good place for me to get more info on being a CRNA? Cause aside from the generic job descriptions and tantalizing paycheck, I really dont have to go on.

http://allnurses.com/advanced-practice-nursing/ There is a ton of interesting and helpful info there.