AE MSN at UT Austin Summer 2012

orchidgal26 · Feb 1, 2012

Yeah..I basically read that there will be a boom of nursing opportunites and open jobs around 2025! This sounds about right if there are nurses in their 50's that are still hanging onto their jobs right now. Give it 10 more years and when they hit retirement age, THAT's when jobs will open up..'sigh. It's just quite depressing right now. Also, our RN licenses basically allows us to ONLY practice in Texas SO I'm guessing that it would make it harder for us to go around the country if we needed to.

LizHope · Feb 1, 2012

Whoops, I messed up that link. American Association of Colleges of Nursing | Nursing Shortage

LizHope · Feb 1, 2012

Wouldn't it be easy to get licensed in other states once we finish the program? I sure hope so :/, after all, how do travel nurses do it?

LizHope · Feb 1, 2012

Lol we need an actual nurse on this forum. Also, orchidgal, I just keel thinking that if we get our foot in the door now, in about ten years with all the positions opening up we'd have enough experience to get a really good position. ( I hope..)

orchidgal26 · Feb 1, 2012

yeah..that's what concerns me too. TEN YEARS??? goodness! well I've been reading the other forums about nursing shortages and the response isn't all that positive. There are people that just graduate with their BSN/MSN and have a hard time finding jobs. It could take up to 1-2 years and if you find something earlier, it's not exactly your ideal job. I'll guess we'll have to see what happens. I guess I'm just freaking out because it's so expensive. It's about 12k a year times 3 years which is 36k + this summer which I'm guessing will make it a little over 40k. And that is just tuition alone. For me, I will have to take our more loans for living and eating and health insurance and car insurance and gas...which I don't even want to think about how much that will cost me...oh boy.....

LizHope · Feb 1, 2012

Crap. So what do you think you're gonna do? I have doubts too..

orchidgal26 · Feb 1, 2012

I think for now, what I will do is to continue and apply for financial aid. I hope I will be able to pull off some grant or scholarship money although I heard from the director that the scholarship that they offer isn't very much. We shall see. I just want to be smart about this whole thing and keep my options open you know? oh btw, I was told that they ranked me #7 in the psych NP program and if it does get open, they offer the spots to candidates according to rank. SO, I guess if I really want it still, 3 out of the 4 will have to change their minds right? I think that is highly unlike though

LizHope · Feb 1, 2012

I think it's unlikely you know, if you feel like there might be a smarter move for the position you're in, there's no shame in that.

LizHope · Feb 1, 2012

Ps I know ten years is a long time but I'm thinking worse case scenario here!

princerox · Feb 1, 2012

Folks, there's always private practice once you get your NP. Lots of opportunities. Don't narrow your focus to being employed by others...think entrepreneurially.

LizHope · Feb 1, 2012

Right, I want to be a NP eventually but I'll have to work at least 2 years full time before I can apply for the certification so it will be a while. That's slightly discouraging but hopefully I'll enjoy regular nursing. I just wish the ae program had more np specialties and room for applicants.

acblds5 · Feb 2, 2012

I have no doubts. They need nurses with advanced degrees, and nurses are getting more and more responsibilities in the workplace. What I read on that link (thanks, Lizhope) was only encouraging. The turnover rate does not scare me, because I think that's one of the advantages to nursing. There are so many different areas, one could change to learn new things relatively easily. For those who no longer like nursing and want to switch careers, go for it! There will be plenty of us there to take your place. Where I work now, everyone already knows I'm leaving end of May. I can't wait to start something new! The money, yes, is scary. However, we are encouraged to begin working part-time after the first year so that we can gain experience. By then we may have some contacts. Remember, everything we do from May on --is like a job interview.