Graduate Studies after Nursing

Guttercat, ASN, RN · Mar 3, 2012

Wasnt too sure where to post this, since the graduate section here seemed specific to nursing practice. Have any of you went on to your masters/doctorate in something more research based after being in nursing? I'm considering doing a PhD in a microbiology field.
I love nursing, dont get me wrong. Getting to work up close and personal with patients is a perk in this job, but also I think it'd be nice to contribute to the advancement of a lot of the science that we learned in school and practice at work.

Agreed.

There is an APN forum, and sub-forums for CRNA but not a dedicated forum that I can find here for RN's looking to branch outside of "nursing" but within the medical/research or health care political/science fields.

breakfastfood · Mar 3, 2012

Yeah I think that I'm going to have to try graduate studies forums on another website, unfortunatly there are not really many forum websites for graduate reseachers. Maybe its because they're all too busy doing research haha.

SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS · Mar 3, 2012

I'm kind of disappointed with the graduate forum here too.

What about a research-focused graduate degree in nursing? Some schools have a BSN-to-PhD.

Good Morning, Gil · Mar 3, 2012

You definitely could do something other than nursing, research wise, if you decided; that may take more pre-reqs, etc, though, not sure. But, you can use your nursing degree to do research....for example, you can get your MSN in clinical research trials (Drexel offers it online, and then you have a practicum in an area close to your home (so you don't have to live in philly), and you can then pursue a phd or DNP. I've considered that program for the future, but I'm nowhere near going back to school again, will be a bunch of years, just fun to look sometimes :). Looks like a good, solid program. But, if you want a non-nursing advanced degree, then that's not helpful. Just thought I'd point out that there are a few programs designed for nurses.

missladyrn · Jul 23, 2012

Wasnt too sure where to post this, since the graduate section here seemed specific to nursing practice. Have any of you went on to your masters/doctorate in something more research based after being in nursing? I'm considering doing a PhD in a microbiology field.I love nursing, dont get me wrong. Getting to work up close and personal with patients is a perk in this job, but also I think it'd be nice to contribute to the advancement of a lot of the science that we learned in school and practice at work.

I am very curious about other options for graduate study. Really feel that I need to move in a direction that is not going to be bedside or direct patient care. I have always been interested in science and research. I loved microbiogy. Anyone have any input on graduate studies that help get away from direct patient care? I don't think education is my thing. Management is not. I am very interested in labwork or research.

SHGR, MSN, RN, CNS · Jul 23, 2012

There is also nursing informatics, which is new and exciting and not direct patient care. There is a subforum here under "specialties", not in the graduate section, but it's interesting to poke around and see what they are doing.

The regulars there might have some interesting info on graduate work in that field.