Education Advice appreciated

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Specializes in OR, Trauma, OH, Vasc., Ortho, Gen.

I quit my job as a Fire fighter to become an ARNP. With that in mind I will finish nursing school this December and I am now looking at the next educational step. I have two options that I can see, since i already have a BS in another field. There are two RN->MSN family nurse practitioner programs near me that I can apply to. The acceptance rate for both is favorable for qualified candidates. (which I will be) My goal is to become an Ortho NP with First assist privileges. I have been offered RN jobs in TWO OR's in my city and in an L&D unit. All would grant me the ability to take the Cert exam to get my First assist after two years working, which I will do while going to grad schools.

onto my dilema, I can get my BSN in VERY short order(3 months) this would allow me to apply to more traditional DNP programs. Is it worth my time to do this or would the MSN ARNP programs be the better option to pursue?

Thanks for your time.

Garrett

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

Honestly, if you already have the job offers and are bachelor-perpared, hold off and do the RN->MSN program.

Also ask around the local ortho offices and your state BON, you may not need your RNFA certification to work as an NP in the OR.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I would just do the fastest option which seems to be the RN to MSN program.

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Specializes in Outpatient Psychiatry.

You'll get the most economy from the RN-MSN program. The BSN will be wasted money and time. Start the master's and don't look back. The DNP won't help anything. If you desire to tinker with policy and administrative theory at a later date you can do that.

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Specializes in OR, Trauma, OH, Vasc., Ortho, Gen.

7 vs 8 semesters and same start time frame for both being fall of 2016 starting graduate coursework. Ant reason to think that the locall orthos would prefer a DNP vs MSN?

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Specializes in ICU.

Also ask around the local ortho offices and your state BON, you may not need your RNFA certification to work as an NP in the OR.

As of January 2016- NPs are required to have the RNFA cert. (I assume this just means ones not already working as a first assist.)

Here is the AORN link for info: https://www.aorn.org/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=26698

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Specializes in OR, Trauma, OH, Vasc., Ortho, Gen.
As of January 2016- NPs are required to have the RNFA cert. (I assume this just means ones not already working as a first assist.) Here is the AORN link for info: https://www.aorn.org/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=26698
This was my understanding as well. If you don't have the RNFA cert you can first assist but you or your doc can not bill insurance/medicaid/medicare for you first assisting.
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