To Get A Masters or NOT

what about teaching? a big part of the nursing shortage is because there is a shortage of good nursing instructors.

To back up the teaching angle - my state (Illinois) is willing to foot the bill for MSNs in Nursing Education. You might want to check with yours about what they'll pay for.

I have also been debating; you could teach; get your concentration in psych and prescribe and counsel; or go the NP track. i am not quite sure what i want to do when i grow up so i am not advancing my degree right now.

Teaching, school nursing, telephone triage, case management are all options....

What about getting your Legal Nurse Consultant certificate? I'm sure your extensive experience would be put to great use!

Does anyone know what I can do with a MSN in community health/MPH dual degree? What about the job outlook? Is any of those degrees in demand? I wouldn't like to spend so much money getting a Masters and can't find a decent job afterwards that's worth the money I spent in school (from my own pocket- no aid)...

Hi I'm new to this so here goes....
I fought hard to get my Associates to become an RN(Single mom, 4 boys under age 7 to care for)...Graduated in '94 with 3.75 GPA. Worked for 5 years hospital nursing then WHAM! Hit with DX of MS. No one in nursing wanted me...
Very depressing! Found out with more education, less physical work. Received BS in Nursing in '05. Currently working on Master's degree(Gerontological Nurse Practitioner). I will graduate(God willing) in Dec. 09. Many preceptors have told me don't bother, you walk too slow, never make NP!! Current GPA is 3.367. Do I give up now? I'm smart, told I don't have productivity. I still walk without assistance, just tired!(insurance won't pay for anti-fatigue meds anymore.....another story). Should I give up? Is there a place for me in nursing? And does anyone know of a good reference to use to help write medical notes?
thank you for reading.......

Dear Super Nurse,

You have come so far!! Believe me I know what its like to be chronically ill and nurse. But never give up!! With an NP you have more flexibility so set your own hours, work in different areas such as case management, clinics, telephone triage, write, research, the opportunities are numerous!! Esp. with a debilitating disease you will have far increased your earning potential and opened a variety of doors to jobs that may be less physically taxing, but will still allow you to make numerous and meaningful contributions to nursing. I am sitting here contemplating the very same thing whether to go back to school or not for an MSN. I loved nursing and due to chronic illness have at times felt like nursing kind of throws you away when you can no longer work the bedside. But I do what my aunt always tells me and that is to pray and take it one day at a time!!!! She always says that God only gives us strength for today and that the Bible says not to borrow tommorrows trouble, that each day has sufficent trouble/challenges for that day. And God promises not to put more on us than we can bear and to provide for our daily needs!! When I was in my associate degree of nursing program I too had an instructor and a dean tell me and my father that I wouldn't graduate, approx six months before graduation. But God gave me the strength and I went on to graduate and to become the first licensed RN out of my class. I had wanted to do a dual MSN/MBA program and struggled in which way to go in nursing. I know that I love community and public health nursing, patient education and case management. I also love geriatrics and medically fragile population. I believe at this time I am going to keep it simple and folllow my own advice and just pursue a generalized MSN for now for you can always add on certifications and post-graduate certificates to specialize later. Currently I work per diem as a hospice float nurse/relief case manager. Remember God will not bring you this far to fail, and Proverbs says that in all work there is profit but mere talk only leads to poverty. May God continue to bless you and keep you!!

P.S. Dear SuperNurse,

See if your doctor will give you free samples of your anti-fatigue medicine, that's what my doctor did. If you are talking about Provigil, yes its very expensive. Also, if you get financial aid take out a small loan to cover the monthly costs of that particular med or see if the doctor can switch you to a cheaper med. Also appeal your decision to your insurance company. Esp. explain situation in writing. Many insurance companies will reverse decisions with appeal. Esp. if you have a nurse case manager managing your chronic disease, many are patient advocates and will fight to get you what you need. Also make sure there are no other underlying diseases complicating what you have. I just got diagnosed with diabetes type 2 and since I have been on medication my constant fatigue and brain fog, loss of appetite, general unfeeling well has improved alot!! My doctor was wise enough to do a glucose tolerance test after many years of doctors telling me I was boderline! I also recently found out I have a food allergy to shellfish which causes severe GI distress and bloating, as well as another gross adverse effect which will remain nameless here, as well diverticulosis which is aggravated by this. Also drink plenty of fluids and make sure you do not have chronic constipation which can be a problem for MS sufferers. Dehydration and an unclean bowel can be a significant cause or add to fatigue and a general feeling of unwellness, not to mention UTI's which can also be a chronic problem for people with MS. Just a few things to think about!

Thank you so very much for your encouagement and wonderful words! I needed that. Consider yourself hugged!!!!