I am a 45 yr old male looking at nursing as a second career.
I have been accepted to Columbia University for their ETP/Direct Entry MSN program, specifically, the FNP track
Tuition at this school is roughly 1200.00 PER credit hour so I would come out of this program approximately 100 thousand dollars in debt and would be an FNP making perhaps what 80K per year.
I have also been accepted to my local community college ADN program. This program is highly respected and the cost is trivial relative to Columbia.
At the same time, I have applied for an Earn as you learn program through a local non-profit hospital that is extremely highly respected. This program would pay all my tuition and books plus give me a stipend of 175.00 per week while I attendted the same ADN program referenced above. I feel that I have an excellent chance of being accepted into this program as well. The down side or the upside depending upon how one looks at it as that I would be bound to this hospital for three years after completeing the program.
Any advice on which way I shoul go? I am so confused!!!!
In clinical, I heard all the same scuttle about new NPs etc without a shred of nursing experience. You would be wise to avoid this. I think there was such a huge influx of people (NP, CNRA, etc) who entered the workforce "cart before the horse" and it kind of stunned everybody. Facilities are starting to rethink these people and you sure will have to prove how you can contribute.
Well put and as someone who has precepted and worked with several of the new CNLs who don't have any nursing experience I can tell you it isn't a great situation on either side of the equation. To start a career in nursing I would much rather work with a new graduate ADN or LPN with a decent amount of common sense any day.
Jules A, MSN
8,864 Posts
Well put and as someone who has precepted and worked with several of the new CNLs who don't have any nursing experience I can tell you it isn't a great situation on either side of the equation. To start a career in nursing I would much rather work with a new graduate ADN or LPN with a decent amount of common sense any day.