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Discussion

ABSN or RN

Hi everyone. I have decided to pursue a career in nursing, but am unsure the route to go. First and foremost, I have no desire to be a RN, but wish to obtain my NP license for Mental Health and Women's Health. So, my goal is to obtain a RN to move onward towards the MSN or DNP route.

I currently have a BS in Business Management from NCSU and a MA in Human Services. I was working on a Counseling Masters when I realized that I wanted to pursue the medical side of mental health.

I am unsure as to the route I want to take. I have the option of applying to and attending a ADN program (am in Raleigh, so several I can apply to). Then going for an RN-MSN program. OR, I can do an ABSN at Duke or UNC and then go for my MSN or DNP.

I already have substantial debt, and am not sure if the cost of Duke or UNC are worth it in the end. An ADN program would be 2 years and at most $10,000. UNC is over $20,000 and Duke's is over $60,000. Any suggestions on best route to take and whether the ROI is worth it in the end to apply to Duke or UNC? Seems like worse case, I have toget my BSN after the ADN which may put me back a few years, but it would be much easier to pay out of pocket for an online BSN while working than pay for the cost of an ABSN with loans. I'm really confused as to what to do. I would love to go to Duke, but not sure it's worth the debt in the end.

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    You will have to work as an RN to become an NP. At a minimum maybe just for school to meet clinical requirements for a direct entry program but it is called NURSE practitioner for a reason.

    Also, mental health and women's health are very different and you can't do both unless you specifically get licensed as both a PMHNP and WHNP.

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    I've found several MSN programs that allow entry right after a RN is earned, some require some experience but most has only been 1 year. I'm not against working as RN obviously, just don't want that to be my career. I want to be a healthcare provider, not a nurse. However, I like the nursing model better than the medical model and this is why I chose the NP route over PA or Medical school. I like the more holistic approach where you treat the person and not the symptom.

    What I would really like to do is obtain a MSN in Women's Health then gain a post masters certificate in Mental Health and be both a PMHNP and MHNP. I primarily want to work in women's health, but also with the mental health factors that go along with it. I understand they are different, but they can also go hand in hand as well.

    My question is that I don't know the smartest route to take prior to graduate school. That's what I am debating and could really seek assistance with.

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    It depends on the school(s) that you're looking at for MSN. If they have no preference for taking BSN and will take you with no experience, then go ADN. If they want good hospital-type experience, get a BSN because ADN's have a harder time getting hired in hospitals. I've been told by many professors and NP's that you can tell the difference between an NP who got a few years experience, and one who didn't. I also plan on becoming an NP, but I won't apply until I have 2-3 years under my belt. You're going to have clinicals in the NP program, and you'll want to know what you're doing.

    No degree is worth $60,000 in this economy. No job is going to pay you extra because your degree came from a private school. If I were you, I wouldn't consider a private school (I went to a state school, got a $20,000 BSN. Couldn't be happier.)

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