Adult Health-Acute Care; CNS or NP?

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I want to go back for my MSN. I have a BS degree in another area. I definately want to work in Acute health but am having trouble deciding if I should be a CNS or NP. IS the NP job arena getting over satturated? Are the salaries the same? Job prospects? I graduated and have worked temp jobs ever since. I want the security of having a job.

Please give me your view.

Thanks.

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Where I live a CNS earns slightly less than an NP. Generally an NP performs the direct patient care role the majority of the time with education, research, consulting, and advocate to a lesser degree. A CNS performs roles in direct patient care, staff education, research, consultant and advocate somewhat equally. This may be different in other areas of the country. Lately I've seen an increase in job advertisements for CNS's. But, I see quite a few NP positions offered as well. I don't think you can go wrong with an Adult Health - Acute care focus.

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Where I live a CNS earns slightly less than an NP. Generally an NP performs the direct patient care role the majority of the time with education, research, consulting, and advocate to a lesser degree. A CNS performs roles in direct patient care, staff education, research, consultant and advocate somewhat equally. This may be different in other areas of the country. Lately I've seen an increase in job advertisements for CNS's. But, I see quite a few NP positions offered as well. I don't think you can go wrong with an Adult Health - Acute care focus.

Thank you for your view. Are there any websites that you can tell me about that speak more of what the roles are? Being an NP also interests me but I heard the field is getting saturated. I am in Human Resources now and have been laid off for over a year due to the field being over saturated. I don't want to have to experience not having a job again. :o

Also, I would be going into a entry level master's degree program. How does this effect me? I would have no practical nursing exp. coming out of school. Would I have to work in a hospital on the floor?

Thanks.

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There are NP programs that accept applicants with a BS in another area. Check the Nurse Practitioner forum on this site, as I do not know much about these programs and there may be others posting on that forum who are more knowledgable than I am about accelerated NP programs and experience. I do not know of any programs for a MSN with a CNS speciality that are offered without experience as an RN. But that doesnt mean there aren't any out there.

A few web sites you can check out are:

American Academy of Nurse practitioners http://www.aanp.org

National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists http://www.nacns.org

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