Considering the jump to nursing..some questions..

[rock hopper]

Hey guys,

I have gone back and forth between nursing (eventually NP) and DO for awhile now. I'm a 26 y/o M living in the south. I currently work in the ER as a scribe, and I really love it. It's an exciting atmosphere and of course a bit stressful at times.

I have a few questions for those who have been through the ropes..The first is..since I'm seriously considering nursing (been in school 6 years, bachelor's degree..almost enough credits for a 2nd degree in biology..tired of undergrad), what would you say the pros are of being a nurse/NP vs. being a doctor? Of course the salary is lower for the former, but is the stress level lower and schedule a bit more manageable as well? Whatever career I make a move for, I want to make sure I will have at least SOME time to spend with my family. My dad came home only 3-4 times a year when I was a kid and it sucked.

Also, are there any considerable options for paying back loans? I am considering a 2nd bachelors in nursing (if financial aid doesn't run out), and i've heard different state run programs will agree to pay an allotted amount (ie $25k a year) of your loans for working in an underserved area. Currently I already have $60k in undergrad loans..so I am hesitant to apply to any school if i don't know i'll have an assured way to pay it back after graduation..

Last question..I promise. Do any of you know of any fairly cheap accelerated BSN programs? I know there are threads on this but i figured i'd ask anyway. I am trying to get away from Mississippi for awhile and strongly considering UCCS in Colorado.

Any help much appreciated

[RegularNurse]

Just from a time perspective I would become an NP. However, if you go to medical school, you are guaranteed to become a physician; going to nursing school doesn't guarantee the opportunity to become an NP.

A few questions you need to ask yourself before starting nursing school:

Do you want to be a staff nurse? If not, don't even bother because you will be a staff nurse for at least two years before finishing NP school.

Do you want to be the boss? In hospitals, NPs are almost never the boss. If you want to be top dog, med school is your best bet.

Do you want options? Once you become a nurse, you might decide you like nursing, education, or administration better than practicing medicine as an NP. Nursing gives you easily transferable career options; medicine does not.

Debt? Think hard on this one. You are about to enter a grind. Pick the opportunity that best meets your long term goals. Doctors make significantly more money than NPs outside of family practice.

[rock hopper]

Thanks for the reply.

I know that I will probably work a few years at least as a staff nurse before NP school. I am really counting on state run rural clinician programs to help me pay off debts..that is one of my top issues I will face. Like I said, I already have $60k worth of debt and i'd like to pay off my ABSN/NP degrees with rural medicine loan repayment programs. Without those programs, i'd probably be looking at $160-175k worth of debt to pay off...which is comparable to medical school. My cousin is a nurse in hawaii only a few years removed from school and made close to 95k her first year out there. I know most nurses don't make a killing..but It's definitely an attractive option to be able to travel and pay off loans at least while i'm younger.

As far as "being the boss", I'm not one of those people who "has" to be in charge of things and I don't mind taking orders. In the ER i've worked in for 6 months--the NP's seem to have a lot of autonomy, which I like. They do consult with the doctors on X-Rays, meds and other things from time to time but it's mostly the doctor and 1 or 2 NP's seeing patients separately. I personally want to work in a rural location at an urgent care or ER but I will take what I can get.

I really like the options I would have in nursing vs. being a physician, like you mentioned.

[203bravo, MSN, APRN]

In Mississippi there is a program that anyone who has been accepted and is working toward their BSN or higher degree can get loan money from the state. For the BSN level that amount is 2000$ per semester for a total of 8000$ total. Not sure how much the totals are for NP.

For each year of service that you provide to the state they will forgive 1 year of the funding.. thus for a 2 year BSN program if you work in the state for 1 year 1/2 is forgiven and work for 2 years then 100% of the money is forgiven.

May be worth considering. I used this program and I was a 2nd degree student as well.. but I went to a traditional 4 semester program not an ABSN program.

Best of luck.

[windsurfer8, BSN, RN]

Just be careful "planning" on someone else to pay back your loans. You already owe 60K? There are not really any "cheap" BSN programs that I know of. over 100K in loans you are probably looking at 1,000 a month in payments for YEARS. And I mean you owe 60K..which is pre interest...after interest it is probably closer to 90K. I wouldn't even be thinking about NP now. Focus on nursing school and getting your finances organized.

[rock hopper]

Yeah, it's already scary how much I owe. Through the national health services corps they offer (up to) 50k in loan repayment for a 2 year commitment to work in an underserved area. During that two year period I could also pay back the 60k i owe ( i mean if I live off ramen and live with my brother in Hilo). I see rural loan repayment or a hospital that would agree to pay for my education as really my only option.

[windsurfer8, BSN, RN]

You may want to look at a community college for an ADN. There you could at least get your RN and start working and the cost would be much less. Make sure you really look at numbers and what you will actually be paying back. Good luck man.