Advice needed!

[afv16]

Hello there!:)

My name is Ana and I am currently a Junior at Rutgers University w/ a major in Public Health. Though I'm almost done with college I am currently working on my pre-requisites for nursing. My main goal is to become a nurse(BSN/RN still debating) and hopefully find a job at a hospital where I can expand my social network and affiliate myself with other nurses and doctors who would like to promote Public Health awareness in South America.

My main issue right now is that though I have an idea how to begin this nursing pathway, I am quite scared of making a decision that I might regret(let's face it-money & time is at stake).

Tomorrow, if God permits, I have an appointment with the head nurse of a hospital in Edison, NJ. My main goal is to basically have a better insight of nursing. But I'm honestly confused because I would love to work in a Pediatric Unit but with all of the threads I've read regarding an RN/BSN degree I don't know right now, with my GPA and my experiences(EMS 5+ years, American Red Cross Volunteer....) if it is worth becoming at least an RN with today's economy.

So to sum it all up...LOL!....

Rutgers student-Publich Health major

Debating RN or BSN'

Goal: First off finish Public Health. Become a Nurse. Work in Hospital(Pediatric Unit highly preferred). Promote Public Health awareness in South America.

Is this too much? Is this doable. ...any thoughts....honest comments ONLY. Thanks :)

[klone, MSN, RN]

Since you're already almost done with one bachelor's degree, my recommendation is to do an Accelerated BSN program - they generally only take a year or two. They're pretty rigorous, but at the end you will have a BSN in less time than it would take you to get an Associate's degree in nursing.

ONce you have some nursing experience under your belt, there are MANY medical missions all over the world, but tons in South America. You can go for as short as a week, or as long as a month or two. Just google "Medical missions" or check out Doctors Without Borders.

Another option is joining the Peace Corps once you have your RN.

[afv16]

@klone,

Hey, thanks so much!

I met today with the Director of Admissions for the program I'm interested and she basically told me the same thing you just did. However, because I'm also taking the financial expenses into consideration I'm thinking about becoming an RN and shoot for a Master's in Nursing.

Really excited!! Now it's just a matter of studying for the entrance exam( HESI for one school and TEAS for the other)