Accelerated BSN program right for me?

[GoPens89]

I am in the process of feeling out if an accelerated BSN program is right for me. Here is my background:

BA in Psych w/ bio minor (GPA: 3.56), MPH w/ concentrations in epidemiology and emergency preparedness (GPA: 3.65). Took A&P I & II, Microbiology, and Genetics in college and got A's, and a B in patho. I've been working for 2.5 years at a health department.

I've been wanting to move to a position where I feel like I'm making a more concrete difference, and down the road would be interested in holding leadership positions and/or doing research. It seems like many such positions for health organizations want clinical experience, so I've started considering nursing as a path.

The challenge is appealing to me--learning the material, thinking critically to apply my knowledge, and the general hard work involved in the profession. However, I wouldn't want to be a bedside nurse forever (not that I think I wouldn't enjoy doing it), and would like to end up in a position where I can help steer an organization to better serve its patients.

Is it possible to say how much time I would spend as a bedside nurse before moving on to more managerial/administrative positions? What would my options for advancement look like? Any other thoughts that I may not have thought to ask about?

[Zyprexa_Ho]

Ultimately, it will come down to what is more important for you: time or money. As a second degree seeker myself, both were important, but money was the bigger one for me. Also, I chose an ASN program because it was cheap, gets me to work sooner, and I can do a bridge program online as I work.