Which Master's Program Would Be Right For Me?

[happy2learn]

Hello!

I am a pre-nursing student who likes to plan early, lol.

My dream is to eventually work in Oncology and/or Hematology. I also like being in high pressure situations, it is where I work best.

I have no clue which Master's I will need to pursue. I've heard CNS, because I could be a Critical Care Nurse Specialist, and I do like the idea of being a Nurse Educator when I get old and tired. lol. But I've also heard FNP is more flexible. I had thought about the ACNP, but I would have to choose between adults and children, and I really don't want to be that limited. I have no idea which way to go. I want to prepare for the path I need in advance, and I also know there is an Oncology certificate I can earn online after I get my Master's. I saw a local company that was hiring an NP and they needed prescriptive privileges.

What route is best for me?

[Moogie]

The role of a CNS might differ from one institution to the next. When you start your entry-level nursing program, maybe you can try to shadow a CNS at one of your clinical sites as an assignment or just as something for your own information.

I don't think Elkpark was trying to be mean to you in suggesting that you get through your entry-level program first. It's great to think ahead and to have goals, but just realize that when you get into the clinical setting as a student and, later, when you are working as a nurse, you may find that your interests and goals change. Unfortunately, many grad students don't have much experience on the floor and, when they go to school, they find themselves locked into a track that might not necessarily be right for them. One can always go back for an additional certification past the master's (and I presume, the DNP) but that can be a hassle.

If you are thinking about becoming, say, an oncology/hematology CNS, you WILL need experience on an oncology floor before you start graduate school. As a CNS, you are considered to be a nurse leader and you will definitely have more credibility and a higher level of expertise if you work for at least a couple of years at the bedside in the specialty you desire before you go back to school. I am not saying that to make you "pay your dues". Not at all. You will have a much easier time formulating clinical questions for nursing research and you will be able to find research that is clinically relevant to your interests if you have a good foundation in oncology or hematology before you start an educational program to become an advanced practice nurse. I have seen many graduate students struggle with clinical questions because they don't have enough current clinical experience to be able to focus on patient-care issues.

Also---while you are in your entry-level program, work as hard as you can because, while grades don't matter in terms of passing the NCLEX or getting a job, they DO matter when you are applying to graduate school. Get the best GPA you can and pay a LOT of attention to your theory, research, and statistics courses because you WILL be using them when you get to grad school. I will be honest with you---if you sit through your theory, research, and stats courses and find them "boring" or "irrelevant" you will have a tougher time in graduate school because grad school focuses heavily on theory and research. If you become a CNS, you may end up being involved in research projects at your institution or you might find yourself creating educational programs around mid-range and low-range nursing theories. So when you hit those classes as an undergrad, learn to love them and strive to learn everything you can as it will help you in the future.

Again, it's great that you have goals and plans for the future---but just start preparing yourself now so that you can maximize your chances of success when you get to graduate school and so that you can be the best candidate possible for future education and a job. A grad nursing program is like an undergraduate program on steroids, so do what you can now to best prepare yourself for the future.

Wishing you the best in your future endeavors!