Help with what study in graduate school

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Sep 2, 2006

Why don't you get some RN experience and then make decisions from there? If you go to work in an ICU or other acute care area, you'll be able to work with some of these different advanced practice nurses and make more informed choices. Good luck to you.

elkpark · Sep 2, 2006

I strongly encourage you to take some time and get some experience, and figure out what you really want to do before you go back to school. Any graduate degree will require a great deal of blood, sweat, tears, and $$$, so you may as well be sure you're getting the degree you really want.

Trauma Columnist · Sep 2, 2006

Hi and welcome. I agree with the above posters. Get some experience and then you will have a much better idea of what you want to do. You may go in a direction with a little experience.

llg, PhD, RN · Sep 2, 2006

I also agree with the posters above. If you don't know what field you would like to study, then it is too soon for you to go to graduate school. While some people are ready to start graduate school soon after completing their BSN's, others are not -- and that's OK.

I've seen too many people rush into a graduate program ... and graduate ... then realize that they don't really want the jobs that their graduate degree qualified them for. When I am interviewing candidates for leadership positions, I meet people who don't get the job because they don't have the right graduate degree.

Do yourself a favor and take the time to get to know yourself -- your talents and interests -- before you invest all that time, effort, and money in a graduate program. In the meantime, you'll be strengthening your nursing skills and that will be helpful once you actually start your graduate program.

Good luck,

llg

futurecrnatobe · Sep 9, 2006

I also agree with the posters above. If you don't know what field you would like to study, then it is too soon for you to go to graduate school. While some people are ready to start graduate school soon after completing their BSN's, others are not -- and that's OK.
I've seen too many people rush into a graduate program ... and graduate ... then realize that they don't really want the jobs that their graduate degree qualified them for. When I am interviewing candidates for leadership positions, I meet people who don't get the job because they don't have the right graduate degree.
Do yourself a favor and take the time to get to know yourself -- your talents and interests -- before you invest all that time, effort, and money in a graduate program. In the meantime, you'll be strengthening your nursing skills and that will be helpful once you actually start your graduate program.
Good luck,
llg

Thank you guys for your responses. I will try and wait a while before I decide which one will be approriate for me. Meanwhile, I will continue surveying my interests and gaining more knowledge from work experience and people like you.

However, I have another question. Which one of these two has reasonable future benefits e.g., good outcome to make a comfort life with my family, variety of areas to practice, not cumbersome to continue working when age catches up e.t.c. Please just give me clues if you have ideas. :nurse:

llg, PhD, RN · Sep 9, 2006

CRNA vs FNP? They are so vastly different ...

The CRNA will offer more pay, but will also probably offer you less flexibililty in choosing your job and employer. The FNP will probably offer you with a lot more job flexibility, but will probably pay you a lot less money.

It all depends on which you enjoy the most and what you value the most.

llg

futurecrnatobe · Sep 9, 2006

CRNA vs FNP? They are so vastly different ...
The CRNA will offer more pay, but will also probably offer you less flexibililty in choosing your job and employer. The FNP will probably offer you with a lot more job flexibility, but will probably pay you a lot less money.
It all depends on which you enjoy the most and what you value the most.
llg

Thank you so very much for the information.