Fastest Route Possible?

[504girl]

Hey Everyone - I'm in search of some information that I've had trouble finding online. I have a Bachelors degree in Psychology, a Masters degree in Medical Sciences and 3 of 4 years in medical school (failed my step 1 board exam by 1 point. Don't ask.) I'm 36 with a toddler and staring a divorce in the face so I need a career ASAP to afford my $200k med school debt. No - going back to med school is not an option - unfortunately the policies and politics make me undesirable. I need a career and my parents are nurses who think this is my best route without having to uproot my child and leave my support system.

What is the fastest route to being an NP that would allow me to stay in the New Orleans area? LSU NO has a BSN to RN program but its 2 years. OLOL has an ASN accelerated track that is 10 months but then I'd likely have to do an RN TO BSN program then get a Masters etc. I just want my current degrees to count for SOMETHING!??!?! Anyone have any ideas how to get a career going without spending more time redoing classes I've already done? TIA

[loveanesthesia]

An accelerated RN program is challenging. If you're not a good test taker you could fail and have more debt. Nursing school isn't necessarily easier than medical school. How about medical sales? You can make a high income and use the degrees you have. Nursing school is risky for you.

[Bluebolt]

You've posted this in the student nurse anesthetist forum, which happens to the longest, most difficult and most expensive degree in advanced practice nursing. I'm guessing from your talk of NPs that perhaps you meant to post in the Nurse Practitioner student forum?

If you have a bachelors/masters already you could look into some programs like at UAB where you do a one year accelerated BSN and then 2 years of a master NP degree totaling 3 years to go from nothing to being an NP. This is a very very difficult path though and no gaurantee you'd make it through. It also wouldn't be cheap.

Have you looked into being a drug rep? I bet your prexisting education would be sufficient and the pay is decent I've been told. I knew a drug rep who was premed but decided medicine wasn't for her about a year into the program.

[renardeau, BSN, RN]

Along the lines of fellow posters, try drug reps or other medical tech/supply companies, e.g. Abiomed, Medtronic, Covidien, etc. They appreciate people with clinical experience/health backgrounds. The ones I know make far more than NPs actually and there are a lot of job perks, albeit some come with a catch (like some traveling required, but often you can stay generally local). Best of luck.

[cardiacrrt]

before this gets moved to the NP forum. I think if you want to look at other options the military might be best for you, they will cover your debt and make you an officer, go reserves so you wont have to leave your base, then you can go back to school and take things from there. nursing has its pros and cons and maybe you can even apply to the military medical program, trust me in the military there is a waiver for everything. I will be happy to give you more information if you would like to shoot me an email, [email protected]

[Oldmahubbard]

There are some "direct admit" programs for people who do not have a nursing license but have a Master's in another field and want to become NP's. Many are mostly online. I couldn't give any specifics about the programs, but all are quite expensive. Adding another 100k (or more) to your student loan burden, then when you graduate you will be very lucky to make 150k. And most NP's don't make that much.

So the news there is not good. Very frustrating for you. I know of some foreign medical school grads who can't get into a residency, and can't practice medicine. Wondering if they can work as NP's. Sadly for them, no.

I would look into some of the other options. You had the brains to get into medical school and then you ran into a glitch. So you have some significant strengths.