710 Posts
Don't let fear about the possibility of having to change schools be a huge factor in making your choice. There are a couple of people in my nursing class (ADN program) who got their Bachelor's degrees in something health related and then realized that in order to get a mediocre paying job, they'd need a Master's. Money shouldn't be the guiding factor either but if you want to be a person who likes to work directly with the public and have skills and knowledge that can take you in about any direction, BSN would be the way to go. All these "what ifs" are crowding your judgment. You may decide at age 40 that being a bedside nurse s.u.c.k.s and go back for your Masters and go into teaching or changing public policy. A BSN will give you way more options.
Pneumothorax, BSN, RN
1,180 Posts
i would go with the BSN, you dont have to do bedside nursing right off the bat. you can get your RN license if you choose (or dep. on the job requirement) and go on to work in say, a WIC clinic, which focuses on the health and nutrition of low income women and babies. or even in the hospital work in the dietary department, knowing which foods patients will need to promote wound healing etc.
Mental health, there are probably loads of opportunites that are outpatient that you could get into. Oh, like a substance abuse facility... theres inpatient programs, detox, outpatients,...they need help with mental health and nutrition.
think outside the box a little bit. My suggestion is to talk to your academic advisor or, even better possibly speak to someone in the nursing dept at your school and explain to them what you just posted... they would know which way to direct you :)