Employment Opportunities

[Dauntless]

Hi. I'm a male attorney with eighteen years experience, my undergrad was in physics and math, and I'm just now applying to nursing schools. I'm primarily interested in BSN programs.

Are there any resources, templates, etc for writing essays for admissions applications? How about for successfully completing interviews?

I'm a little concerned that there may be a "rush to nursing" just as there was a "rush to law", causing an oversaturation in the field? Does anyone think this may actually be the case?

From an employment perspective, would it be better to go on from a BSN to get an MSN or would it be better to try and get a master's in PA Studies? Actually, my plan for getting a BSN revolves mostly around the clinical patient contact hours required by many PA programs.

Thanks.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

There hs been a "rush to nursing" for the past 5 years or more, and jobs are very difficult to find for new grads. Even experienced nurses are having an increasingly difficult time finding employment, been laid off, or have found worsening conditions, ratios in their workplaces.

Contrary to popular opinion, there has no been a shortage of nurses for at least 5 years. Research on this website clearly demonstrates that.

[Stephalump]

There has already been a rush to nursing, and the field is, indeed, saturated. Many new grads are struggling to obtain positions and are remaining unemployed for a year plus.

If I were you, if your goal is to be a mid-level provider and potentially opening up your own practice is not concern, I would seriously consider PA school. While many school's do require patient contact hours,t he reality is that most people who secure RN jobs immediately after graduation worked in a hospital or other health care facility during nursing school. The only difference seems be when you want to get those hours in - before PA school or during nursing school?

If I could do it all over again, I'd do PA school in a heartbeat. In fact, I still might after nursing school.

[Dauntless]

Well, nursing school just seems like the best way to fulfill that requirement. The PA schools don't seem to like volunteer hours that much, and I couldn't reasonably collect 1000 hours of contact by being a volunteer anytime soon.

The PA schools say that they'll accept contact hours from EMTs and so forth, but it seems like those fields take nearly as much or in some case, exactly as much, as nursing, so nursing seems to be a good way to get the hours.

Now, I'm not very experienced here. Is this a mad plan? Should I do something different if I want to be a PA? Could I make a reasonable living if I went on to get an MSN? Would my legal training be of any benefit (actually, most of my legal experience is in domestic relations and criminal, although I've had a little personal injury and mental health law experience)?

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

There is a great deal of competition for nursing school. You might find yourself on a waiting list for a long time, just to be admitted.

It also makes no sense, why a PA program would require hours worked as a nurse. The nursing model and the medical model of care are vastly different.

Are the hours you need are as an employed nurse or school hours? Given the years of school, possible wait on waiting lists, then significant delay in employment ( and given that you do not plan to be in nursing longterm, even fewer employers will want to hire you), it seems to be an extensive delay.

[Stephalump]

Really? I became a CNA in 6 weeks. My husband became an EMT-B in one semester. My best friend (in PA school) became a medical assistant in 2 semesters. I'm not sure how long it would take to become a phlebotomist, but it can't be long. PCAs and Patient Transporters don't necessarily require any training at all. Cheaper, easier, better job market (depending upon where you live, of course), and half the time investment, at least. if you have no desire to be a nurse, I'm not sure why you would choose to throw your money and time down the toilet.

As far as salary, it really depends on job description. I know some poorly paid educators. NPs make about the same as PAs. I have a friend who made the move to informatics who makes more than the average NP. It really depends on the direction you go.

[♑ Capricorn ♑]

I'd say its probably no different than trying to get into Law school or Med school, its just as competitive. Your school should give you all the information you need to apply to the school. Ask them alot of questions. Nursing is becoming saturated. New graduate nurses are having a tough time finding jobs too. PA school and nursing = two different things. The general opinion is a BSN is either required or preferred for employment and advancement in the profession. But, that does not mean that one will not find work with an ADN or Diploma-RN.

Why nursing, now?

[NICUmiiki, DNP, NP]

Just to add to Stephalump.. The phlebotomy program at my school take about 12 weeks.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

It's interesting that you should choose to make a career transition after nearly 2 decades in law. Kudos for having the courage to do so.

Just a thought - I work for a very large organization & most of our corporate Risk managers are RN/JDs, in fact, our director of Risk Management is an RN, DDS, JD (go figure). Two of our corporate attorneys are also RN/JDs. I don't know whether you had considered this area, but it would seem to be a good fit for you. Risk management deals with patient-oriented issues, and these are frequently very "messy" with multiple relatives involved. Corporate legal deals mostly with contracts and administrative issues.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

sorry, accidental dup

[cjcsoon2bnp, MSN, RN, NP]

To the OP, you mention that your interested in either a MSN or PA program. I'm wondering if with your JD and all the academic hours that requires if you could go directly into an accelerated MSN program. Just out of curiousity, what was your undergrad degree in that you earned before your JD? I think that if you got into an accelerated MSN program it would accomplish a few of the goals that you mention. In an accelerated MSN program you will earn your BSN during the program and when you graduate with your MSN you will be able to be a NP or CNS in the speciality of your choice. If you are really interested in PA school then you should pursue it but I wouldn't suggest getting your BSN just to become a PA because as other users have said the nursing model and medical model to advanced practice are very different.

!Chris

[PacoUSA, BSN, RN]

I am an attorney and just earned my BSN last month. I plan to someday incorporate my legal training in my new career, but for now I want to invest several years just working as a nurse and gaining that experience.

In about 2 weeks I will start a new job as a graduate nurse and I live in the metro NYC area. Yes, the market is saturated with new grads but I just want to be an example that it is difficult but not impossible to get a job. Remember the networking skills you learned to get a job in law? Use them, they apply in nursing too.