How to choose which direction to take????

Firstly, in my personal opinion, I think you are probably full of wisdom that you're not aware of so I wouldn't dismiss the idea of being an educator. You've been in healthcare for a long time. You don't need a MEd for that either (but having a master's is necessary). Nursing professors are badly needed, I know that for sure.

I think making a list of what is a priority to you would help. Money? Clinical stuff? Being in an office setting and doing strategy-type things? Being an NP is different than being an RN so keep that in mind. 

I personally don't know what a healthcare administrator does but I know that other companies need healthcare administrators, not just hospitals. 

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Unless primary care is your love or you want to do concierge medicine, I would advise against FNP. I have met probably like 10+ FNPs in 2 years that are getting their post-FNP psych-certification. Just met another student in clinic today doing the same in another state. Most FNP feel underprepared and it is the largest specialty for NPs. Primary care is among the lowest compensated "specialty."

I wouldn't do an ED because you are limited to just teaching. Can't you teach with any master's or doctoral degree? Teaching grad nursing seems like a pretty kush job. If you go to a private school, you will make more as a teacher I believe. Most teachers are part time & do clinic work primarily. My DNP program is hybrid; we have class 1 time ever 2 weeks. Most of the time in years 2 and 3 is spent in clinic. Most of my teachers have PhD which is always an option if you want to do research or teach. For example, if you do a DNP, you can teach at the doctoral level and do patient care as well. 

If you are interested in teaching maybe you could try teaching CNA's part time. See if an academic setting is appealing. 

On 10/16/2020 at 6:54 PM, Red Shirt 6 said:

If you are interested in teaching maybe you could try teaching CNA's part time. See if an academic setting is appealing. 

I would love to try it out with CNA's, in my state you have to have a year of LTC experience to teach CNA's. I have never worked full time for a Nursing Home. I do not know if that could be cumulative (private duty as a CNA for agency, staffing agency sent for jobs as LVN, I did try to work as an RN PRN for LTC just to get that one year but it got taxing. I was working my full time job and then going to the nursing home. Pulling 14 hour days during the week and weekends. I didn't make it a year. Covid hit and my work needed me all the time. M-F 8-5 job turned into well we all know what Covid did. on call 24 hours a day 7 days a week. So I had to give up the NSG home job. Somehow I have to  get that year under my belt. 

Where do you live that you only make $45K a year? I would hope FNP make more than that there. Being a FNP you have a lot more autonomy and if money is not your soul driver you could do a lot of good.