Career move advice

[shenry]

Hello to everyone,

I am new to this so bear with me..... I was wondering if anyone might have some advice for me. I currently have a B.A. in biology and have decided to work in geriatric nursing (from my own experience as a nursing aid). I was accepted into a combined program to get an RN and a masters in geriatric advanced care (not a nurse practioner degree). I was also accepted into a Bachelors program in nursing (2 years). Other details aside, I am trying to decide what advantage the masters will give me in the nursing home community, and given the system that exists, where I will end up with a masters. I have a good idea of what an RN does in this field. My gut tells me I would like to work on the floor more and so I am concerned that the masters will take me away from the floor and into more upper management positions....

Any information on this would be helpful! Thanks a lot!

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Stephanie Henry

e-mail: [email protected]

[DIDI]

All Education is useful no matter where you work in Geriatrics, lord knows long term care needs changes. A friend of mine has her masters and works as a adviser to nursing homes in trouble with state surveys or medicare. She works in central midwest states. She started with a large corp., then went to work for herself, her masters degree makes her much more marketable. Good-luck in what you choose/

[DIDI]

okey so I'm not awake, the correct address is http://www.ptct.com/

[Nancy1]

Hi Stephanie,

I am a BSN in LTC. As such I have moved from staff nurse to nurse manager (5 months after graduation) to ADON (5 years after graduation). I chose this path because I knew I would not be able to manage staff nursing because of my DJD. I have been asked by many nurse when am I getting my master's. I have to say, "When I feel that I need the degree to do the job I want, I will go back for it. But for now I am able to meet my goals without one."

I have to admit I was 44 when I got my BSN. I am 50 now. I plan on being a DON in LTC in the future, hopefully with the organization I am currently with because we are expanding.

My best advice to you is to talk to others who are doing the job you currently want, and look to the future to where you want to go. What degree will you need to do that job?

I hope this helps. NA

[NurseRachet]

Hello - you didn't say how old you are, but I think that has a bearing on what you do after you get ? degree, and the return you get from the money you are going to invest in when you go for your masters. I have worked in all areas of nursing, but mostly in management for 18 years. I have my masters of science as a clinical specialist. As a master prepared nurse, it cost me about $15,000 for one year of private college. Some institutions will pay more for master prepared nurses, some do not. But, in the long haul, you can teach at the college level, you can teach in the hospital setting, you can in upper management or a DON, you can be a drug sales rep, you can branch off into other fields (computer's, clinical documentation - big field opening up for nurses), etc. The possibilities are endless. Many nurses frown on being in management, but I love it. It gives me great exposure to new nurses and new practices/ideas. I love mentoring them, especially when they are starting out in a charge nurse role. I love being in the position of making positive changes from the "top" and seeing patient practice evolve - sometimes from bad to good, and visa versa. Sometimes when you are just starting out, we are unable to see the "long haul" and where we will be 5 - 10 - 15 years down the road. If you are a new nurse, I would recommend that you certainly get some clinical years under your belt prior to going into management. The nurses will have a greater level of respect for them and you will gain insite into what they are doing on the front line. Good luck in whatever you do - welcome to nursing, it is great!