Help me before I turn into a career student

[zynnnie]

Hi all,

background story, I am a foreign trained lawyer yet to get my license in America but working on it . I don't think I will practice but it may look good on my Resume. I came for masters in HR but had a hospital encounter that changed my life forever. So I Switched to BSN and will graduate in Dec.

My both parents are College professors and a Bachelors degree is considered basic. I am not 4.0 candidate but I get by with minimal reading.

My big confusion is I don't know the career part to choose. I am 31 and all I can think about after my BSN is another schooling for masters or Doctorate. I don't know what to do. MSN or DNP. I see some people that have MSN ( Many mangers in my hospital have it) but are not nurse practitioners, I may want to have MSN until I get enough experience to write a certification exam for APRN. What do DNP do? I am honestly tired of school but mentally I cannot quit going to school until I get to the peak of my career. I don't have any child, husband and boyfriend have eluded me too so I think I have the space to knock it now before a man comes along and alters my path(As they always do.lol). I am from Africa and I want a career path that will help me help my people.

I don't like CRNA cos I cannot do OR but any other career advice and intervention will help me cos I am lost career wise. MSN, NP , DNP Or a recommendation to a therapist who can shock my brains into being contended with just BSN.

[caliotter3]

The best way to help your people may be to take that new BSN and get a job doing nursing in an area where your patient population is akin to your background. Solid nursing work experience will also help you in your aspirations to continue your education.

[beekee]

You don't need to figure it all out now. Many people go into nursing thinking "I'll never ______" and that's exactly what they end up doing. More common, I think, is the "I want to ______" and they end up hating that area.

Nursing is very broad and diverse, there are advanced degrees in leadership, administration, education, anesthesia, informatics, and a multitude of advanced practice specialties in the NP and CNS realm. I'm sure I missed some! Get your BSN and figure out what you like. Practicing as a nurse is nothing like what you see on TV or even do as a student in nursing school.

[NightNerd, MSN, RN]

Definitely practice at the bedside for a few years. This experience is CRUCIAL to making an informed decision about the next step in your career. Nursing is nice in that you can sort of try before you buy, in terms of specialty.

Once you're settled in a job, see if you can connect with an NP or two in areas that you find compelling. Interview them, shadow if possible. Look at the coursework for various programs you are considering and think about whether it will interest you long-term.

Also, once you are working as an RN, you may very well find that it is mentally stimulating enough to keep you occupied. This is hard work, physically and mentally, and it may be challenging enough that you no longer feel the need to get an advanced degree. Just give yourself a little time to take it all in. :)