Grad school???

RhodyGirl, RN · Dec 28, 2009

Hi All, I am a junior nursing student and I'm basically trying to figure out what to do with my life after graduation. I would like to obtain my NP degree one day. My dilemma is that I don't know whether it is better to go right into a NP program or to first get some experience working as an RN before I pursue a career as a NP (i know that there are some schools that require experience, but there are also many that do no). I would really appreciate your input, especially from those out there working right now.

I think the most beneficial choice for you and for your patients would be to gain some nursing experience first. With the small amount of clinical exposure that we get as students, I just think that jumping right into an advanced degree would be difficult. Not saying it can't be done, but I really believe that RN experience is crucial to being a successful advanced practice nurse. Good luck!

llg, PhD, RN · Dec 28, 2009

Until you have actually been a nurse for a little while, it is almost impossible to make a truly informed decision about your future career path. A lot of students think they would like a certain specialty ... and then realize later that their assessment of themselves and their options did not match their actual job talents and preferences very well.

I don't think you have to work for a long time as a staff nurse before returning to school. However, I think a little experience will help you to do a better assessment of yourself as a nurse and choose a path that is well-suited for you as a nurse. It will give you a chance to become competent in your profession before trying to move into a leadership.

elkpark · Dec 28, 2009

Also, most people are not even aware of just how many different career paths and roles are available within nursing until they've been in the field for a while. Most graduate degrees in nursing lock you into a particular role and career path, and there's not the kind of flexibility there is as a generalist RN. It's very common to start out nursing school or your nursing career confident that you want to specialize in some particular area or role, only to find a few years later that you're much more interested in something entirely different (something you weren't even aware existed before you got into nursing). I would encourage you to spend some time (at least a couple years) working in nursing at the generalist level to familiarize yourself with more of the nursing "world" and see where your true interests lie after you have some "real life" experience before committing to a graduate program.

llg, PhD, RN · Dec 29, 2009

Also, most people are not even aware of just how many different career paths and roles are available within nursing until they've been in the field for a while. .

You are soooo right. I talk to a lot of students in my job and I am often surprised at how little they know about the different nursing career paths there are. So many of them only know of few:

1. NP

2. Manager

3. Teacher in a nursing school

4. CRNA

5. Midwife

That's all they know. There are so many more options than that ... and so many variations of each role.

elkpark · Dec 29, 2009

Exactly -- and it's a shame to not find out about something you really want to do until after you've put a lot of time, effort, and $$$ into preparing to do something else that you find out after the fact you don't find particularly satisfying or engaging (I've known a few people, at this point, who found themselves in that situation, and it's not a happy place to be -- now they're stuck with a graduate degree and career path they don't particularly want (and the student loans to pay for it!) and are trying to figure out what direction to go next (and what degree they'll need to get there) ...)

tfleuter, BSN, RN · Dec 29, 2009

The way I see it, after 4 years of pursuing a BSN, wouldn't it be nice to take a break from school for awhile and get out in the real world again? I've only been at it for 2 years and am tired of writing papers and studying for tests every week. I can't imagine how I will feel in 2 more years, lol!