I'm in a direct-entry MSN program full time, and I'm looking at nearly 100K in loans, a fact that occaisionally freaks me out. I was wondering if anyone else out there is in a similar situation.
Not that I regret my decision, or even that the debt bothers me that much. I know I can find a way to pay it all off--I'm used to having little money as I've worked in academic research for 10 years.
Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
I guess I should explain why I'm going for an MSN, since many of you think I'm nuts to do so
Well, first off, you're right about me being nuts :lol_hitti
It's clearly not a good choice for many nurses, but it's a good one for me for me because:
1. I'd like to try teaching nursing, which you can only do with a graduate degree. A previous foray into high school teaching was a disaster, but college teaching I've done and like.
2. If I didn't go into nursing, my second choice was a counselor. With a graduate degree, I could be a nurse-psychotherapist.
3. I'm a researcher, and I think I'd like to do nursing research, which also requires a graduate degree. It's likely a result of having done molecular biology research for 10 years, you're always thinking "How does this really work?" and "Can we do this better?"
4. It has fewer prerequisites and less competitive admissions than the regular and accelerated BSN programs I looked into. Sounds like a dumb reason, but at 35 I don't want years of night school and repeated rejections. I'm gettin' too old for that:wink2:
It's a lot of money, I know--but I'm not so much looking for a safe a lucrative career but a challenge and a calling. Even if I have to pitch a tent in a national forest to save on rent, I'll do it. :)
*** I certainly do not think you are nuts to pursue an MSN. I am planning on getting one myself. I only questioned why you chose such an expensive rout when there are so many other, far less expensive options out there. I work with nurses who owe many thousands in student loans. One girl I work with pays $900/month in student loan payments and she is not on an accelerated payment plan but can look forward to making those payments for years to come. It is a huge strain on her and her husband and they have had to put off many things in life they would like to do like buy a house ect. Based on my personal observations I think such payments can be a factor in burn out. All this hard work and all that money to pay back.
I think your goals are admirable and I wish you the best of luck. You are going to need some hands on floor nursing experience to be a teacher. If I had the same goals as you I would have spent the two years an ADN or one year of an Accelerated BSN then done a direct RN to MSN program and chosen to work for a hospital that would help with some of the expense. Whole thing could be done for around $25K and you would be working full time for the MSN part.
I also didn't really like your suggestion that because you are in a direct entry MSN program you will be better qualified as an RN than people who go to different programs.
Specializes in Med surg, cardiac, case management.
[ If I had the same goals as you I would have spent the two years an ADN or one year of an Accelerated BSN then done a direct RN to MSN program and chosen to work for a hospital that would help with some of the expense. Whole thing could be done for around $25K and you would be working full time for the MSN part.
My brother-in-law is doing something very similar---he's doing LPN to RN to BSN and then mabye MSN. It's a good path if you have a lot of other financial responsibilities, like a mortgage, children, etc,. However, I don't have anything like that, so it's easier for me to take the shorter but more expensive course. I'd really prefer to focus on classes and not have to do the work/study thing; I do better if I can focus on one thing at a time. Plus (not to pass the buck or anything) a nursing educator whom I've known for years suggested this was the best path for me.
[i also didn't really like your suggestion that because you are in a direct entry MSN program you will be better qualified as an RN than people who go to different programs.
:uhoh3:Whoa, there. I certainly didn't mean to imply that having a graduate degree means that one will be a better RN! Different educational backgrounds determine different career courses. They don't determine who is the better nurse IMHO.
PMFB-RN, RN
5,351 Posts
*** I certainly do not think you are nuts to pursue an MSN. I am planning on getting one myself. I only questioned why you chose such an expensive rout when there are so many other, far less expensive options out there. I work with nurses who owe many thousands in student loans. One girl I work with pays $900/month in student loan payments and she is not on an accelerated payment plan but can look forward to making those payments for years to come. It is a huge strain on her and her husband and they have had to put off many things in life they would like to do like buy a house ect. Based on my personal observations I think such payments can be a factor in burn out. All this hard work and all that money to pay back.
I think your goals are admirable and I wish you the best of luck. You are going to need some hands on floor nursing experience to be a teacher. If I had the same goals as you I would have spent the two years an ADN or one year of an Accelerated BSN then done a direct RN to MSN program and chosen to work for a hospital that would help with some of the expense. Whole thing could be done for around $25K and you would be working full time for the MSN part.
I also didn't really like your suggestion that because you are in a direct entry MSN program you will be better qualified as an RN than people who go to different programs.