can you be a "big boy" with a nursing degree?

[rearviewmirror, BSN, RN]

I think this is a topic that many of you guys can answer better than some other parts of forum because as entrepreneurs, you meet other business minded people and surround yourselves with success-oriented people, people who are the "big boys", the movers and shakers, people with influence and decision makers in a company rather than a staff level employee.

I'd be honest, I don't want to be a staff level forever (the bottom of totem pole), I hated the bedside so I left. I always liked the business world, and I am building my stones into it. I want to develop into a figure that makes and influences company decisions, moves and makes money, the mover and shaker instead of working at the bedside until I retire. Of course I want to make more money, afford better things, live with class but I also know that good things come with both hard work and time.

So from what you have seen so far, can someone with a nursing degree become this "big boy"? I know that I will eventually go for my MBA (or NP), but my first plan is to transition into case management to get to the corporate side. What have you seen so far?

PS: I want to be realistic at the same time, I don't plan on being a CEO or something like that.

[BostonFNP, APRN]

If you want to be the "big boy" in a corporate sense, don't go for your NP.

I left the business world at the exec level to go into nursing, and now as an NP I am a partner in a practice, I run my own work-life for the most part, I make a decent amount of money, and I am largely independent. Mostly, I am happy in my life now, which I wasn't before.

If you want to be a big fish, you are better of with your MBA and work on becoming a director or dean at a major academic medical institution. and publish.

[rearviewmirror, BSN, RN]

Thank you Boston, I wonder why you have given up the high chairs within the corporate world and chose nursing then np instead. Apparently you are pretty up there in the health care world but any specific reason you left business world and start at the bottom of totem pole as a staff nurse (at that time)?

[llg, PhD, RN]

The president and CEO of my hospital system is a man -- and a nurse. He has is MSN in Nursing Administration and also a Master's Degree in Health Administration. (He is also very tall -- so he is "big" in many senses of the word.)

[BostonFNP, APRN]

Thank you Boston, I wonder why you have given up the high chairs within the corporate world and chose nursing then np instead. Apparently you are pretty up there in the health care world but any specific reason you left business world and start at the bottom of totem pole as a staff nurse (at that time)?

The short story is impact. The things I like about corporate work was making impactful, independent critical decisions in a fast paced environment. When I was younger the corporate world was able to offer me that with a decent salary to buy the toys I wanted. As I got older, the toys became less meaningful and I began to struggle with the "impact" of what I was doing: who was I really benefiting? Basically I worked hard to make my boss and myself a little extra money. Changing careers gave me all the same things combined with making a meaningful impact in people's lives.

[rearviewmirror, BSN, RN]

The short story is impact. The things I like about corporate work was making impactful, independent critical decisions in a fast paced environment. When I was younger the corporate world was able to offer me that with a decent salary to buy the toys I wanted. As I got older, the toys became less meaningful and I began to struggle with the "impact" of what I was doing: who was I really benefiting? Basically I worked hard to make my boss and myself a little extra money. Changing careers gave me all the same things combined with making a meaningful impact in people's lives.

thank you for your answer! I am a young folk, therefore I might find values in different things, but working few years at the bedside robbed my hope for humanity instead of building it, so I can't relate too well, but as a practitioner, the impact you make to your patients must be significant. Thank you for sharing. maybe when I get older, I could have change of mind...

[Adele_Michal7, ASN, RN]

Big boy lol

[livtek]

Don't go for any degree but start StartUP company and learn this way everything about business. And most information for Entrepreneurs are free online, bookstore or library.

Just start with an idea.....