New Nursing Student Help

[chrisciwi]

Hey Everyone, I have been looking through the forms on the website and couldn't find the answer to a few questions, so I figured I would just come out and ask.

I am a brand new nursing student, haven't even started yet, but have been around nursing and health care all of my life, I am a CNA. I have 18 nurses in my family and I will be the first male, and the 19th.

So my question is this:

1) I have been offered a decent scholarship from the college I am attending, they offer a 5 year BSN and Masters. For the masters they offer Family Practitioner, community health clinical nurse specialist, and Choice of Clinical Focus, in :- Cardiology Nursing- Critical Care Nursing- Emergency Nursing (ER)- Forensic Nursing- Geriatric Nursing- Nursing Informatics- Occupational Health Nursing- Pediatric Nursing Perioperative (OR)- Nursing Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing- Women's Health Nursing- Transplantation- Trauma Nursing

I am very determind to become a CRNA because everyone in my family that is a nurse, wasn't able to go to school for financial reasons at the time of there schooling except one (I had the great opportunity to shadow her for 2 weeks this summer and I knew it was exactly what I wanted to get into, and I know a lot of people are more into it for money, but I am not one of them, I plan on going to Indian reservations and to third world countries as a volunteer after my student loans are paid off). Which of those degrees do you suggest me getting in the masters? I am thinking either ER nursing, or Trauma. I also plan on minoring in health care management and possibly turn it into another bachelors degree.

I also plan on working after I recieve my bachelors degree in a hospital's ICU or ER depending on where I can be placed, while still in school. I would like to do that so I can get some experience under my belt and to furfil most schools eligibilty requirments for the CRNA program, and not to mention pay as much of my loans off.

My second question would be more of some advice, how should I go about getting into CRNA school? I know its extremely competitve and very demanding once I get in. Where should I get a job in ER or ICU (both are accepted to most colleges and I have shadowed my Aunts in both areas and love them both) Are there any classes you would reccomend me taking even if its not required for my degree? Any other suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you very much everyone!

[LouieZ]

CNS degrees are being somewhat fazed out. So, out of your choices you should do the FNP focusing on critical care. To anwser your second question, work in an ICU. This will build your critical skills, and build some great referrals from some ICU Docs, etc.....