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  1. This is a discussion on Advice please in Quality Improvement, part of Nursing Specialties ... This is the best forum that I could find to present my delima. I am currently a LPN and a RHIA...

    by Apr 15, '11
    This is the best forum that I could find to present my delima. I am currently a LPN and a RHIA student (graduate May 7). I have 7 years of working in nursing and 2 years of working in HIM. I am becoming interested in UM, QI, HIPAA, Privacy and Security. I live in a rural area and from what I have seen hospitals want RNs for UM and QI. I am supposed to start a career mobility program in August. However, I had the opportunity to visit with a person who is over privacy and security for a very large health system in north Texas. He suggested going for a Masters in Health Care Admin with certifications in privacy from AHIMA. I looked into it and found a local school that offers most of these classes online. I am torn, I don't know if I should go ahead with RN school (only 1 year) or start working on a HCA degree. My fear is that I will earn the RN and not really use it i.e. bedside nursing, or any kind of hands on nursing but on the other hand having a RN license would mean that I could practice if I wanted to. If I go the masters degree route I feel like I am closing the door on nursing forever and that saddens me.

    I am open to everyone's thoughts.

    Thank you.
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    by RHIA, RN Apr 15, '11 8:38 am
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  2. 5 Comments so far...

  3. Apr 15, '11 by
    I would go with the RN license first, then pursue the other degree while working in the area you can get employment in at that point.
  4. May 1, '11 by
    I agree- you should go for the RN degree first and then continue working on the master's. The RN will give you a strong edge over others when looking for jobs in this area. The master's degree will also help, but I feel the RN is more important at this point.
  5. May 2, '11 by
    Makes sense. Thank you.
  6. May 2, '11 by
    Do you have a bachelor's in another field already? Or does the HCA masters program take you without a bachelor's degree? I agree with previous posters, I'd do the RN and then do the masters.
  7. May 2, '11 by
    I will finish my bachelor this week.

    I think I will end up going for RN.

    Thank you all.