LPN, BSN, MSN?

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I'm sure this has been asked and answered before, but I couldn't find a direct answer with the search. I just graduated with a bachelor's in liberal arts (degree completion program) and find myself at a career crossroads. I'm strongly considering nursing but would like some advice on which career path. A little background: I'm 39, married, kids 10 & 12, spouse doesn't work (rheumatoid arthritis). 3.2gpa. There is a local tech program that offers a 1 year LPN program ($5000) that I think I have a good shot at being admitted to. I could take science classes while working then do ADN at local community college ($7000). I could take science prerequisites and try for accelerated BSN ($27000 in state). Finally I could take science prerequisites and try for accelerated MSN program for NP ($100k?). My end goal is independent practice NP, regardless of where I start. Any thoughts are welcome, and constructive advice appreciated.

Greg

Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

PS: You won't be 'practicing medicine'.

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What is your primary motivation for entering the profession of nursing? You answered: Money

You also mentioned that you worked in manufacturing and that it has taken a toll on your body. Not a auspicious start to your career in health care, however I digress.

Okay here goes... I am going to lead you down the unemotional career path, strictly goal attainment, ahem...money.

I would suggest (and this is difficult for me to say as I was an LPN) you skip the LPN training and look into becoming a licensed Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). These programs exist in your area and my reason for suggesting going this route are for the following reasons. First, you will be spending a few hundred dollars, (rather than thousands) and just a couple months learning basic theoretical and practical working skills that leads to licensing and can possibly get you an entry position within long term care. You may find that you cannot tolerate the physical work (lifting, positioning bathing, toileting), long hours on your feet, smell of bodily waste, sight of blood, or sick people.

While you are working, get the prerequisites needed for the BSN program out of the way, because once you start the program, it will be a lot easier on you if you just have to focus on the nursing core classes and clinical. I will tell you the biggest Aha moment for nursing students is when that lament the realization that they have to study—differently—they have to think, process, and learn critical reasoning. No disrespect intended, but nursing is not liberal arts (although it is an art and a science). Depending on some hospitals/colleges, (I am from Northern Ohio) student nurses, usually at the end of their second year, can apply for nursing assistant positions. These are paying positions, it is competitive, but if you keep your nose clean, and continue to excel in your skills and knowledge, and take advantage of the experiences, and have an open attitude towards learning, you might be offered a position upon graduation and passing the NCLEX, woo hoo !

BSN-MSN bridge I do not recommend unless you have been an working RN (diploma or associate degree) for a few years. Ditto upon studying to be a NP.

So you're saying that although I have a degree, experience, and other qualifications that could land me a decent paying job to support my family (although not in a career I'm really interested in) that I forget that and attend classes to take a job that pays little more than minimum wage in order to see if I like cleaning bed pans (something I'm pretty sure NP don't do.) No.

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Accelerated BSN as 2nd degree program, 13 months. Sorry, must have looked at out of state, in state for me would be $18k.

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PS: You won't be 'practicing medicine'.

From findlaw.com

Since states are responsible for providing medical licenses, each state has a slightly different legal definition for the practice of medicine. In general, a person practices medicine when he or she tries to diagnose or cure an illness or injury, prescribes drugs, performs surgery, or claims he or she is a doctor.

Sounds like practicing medicine to me.

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
From findlaw.com

Since states are responsible for providing medical licenses, each state has a slightly different legal definition for the practice of medicine. In general, a person practices medicine when he or she tries to diagnose or cure an illness or injury, prescribes drugs, performs surgery, or claims he or she is a doctor.

Sounds like practicing medicine to me.

But you want to be a nurse...nurses don't prescribe drugs, performs surgery....

NPs are still taught under the nursing model.

Google role of RN, NP, and look up your states nursing practice acts for both for more clarification.

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From findlaw.com

Since states are responsible for providing medical licenses, each state has a slightly different legal definition for the practice of medicine. In general, a person practices medicine when he or she tries to diagnose or cure an illness or injury, prescribes drugs, performs surgery, or claims he or she is a doctor.

Sounds like practicing medicine to me.

When you're applying for nurse practitioner programs, be sure to tell them (and discuss in your application essay) that you're applying because you want to practice medicine ...

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Specializes in Primary Care.

It sounds like you'd be a better fit for a physicians assistant (PA) role. Nursing roles are entirely different from what it sounds like you're trying to achieve. Thats why I recommended starting as an LPN to test the waters, especially considering you have zero medical work history. Also, it sounds like you're the sole breadwinner of your family, and I'd hate for you to waste so much money on something just to decide it's not for you after all.

What's your BA in?

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Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
It sounds like you'd be a better fit for a physicians assistant (PA) role. Nursing roles are entirely different from what it sounds like you're trying to achieve. Thats why I recommended starting as an LPN to test the waters, especially considering you have zero medical work history. Also, it sounds like you're the sole breadwinner of your family, and I'd hate for you to waste so much money on something just to decide it's not for you after all.

What's your BA in?

It's in his OP-Liberal Arts.

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Specializes in Nursey stuff.
So you're saying that although I have a degree, experience, and other qualifications that could land me a decent paying job to support my family (although not in a career I'm really interested in) that I forget that and attend classes to take a job that pays little more than minimum wage in order to see if I like cleaning bed pans (something I'm pretty sure NP don't do.) No.

I was not suggesting that at all. I simply was referencing the fact that you have no healthcare background, and that perhaps you should go the path of a CNA to see if healthcare is the career for you before you invest so much money and time (a couple months training as CNA, 12 to 18 months as LPN) into a vocation that it appears you find so beneath you. You would also hit the ground running because you would have experience in taking vital signs, I/O, basic skin assessment, transferring, etc, which by the way you will have as graded competencies in the BSN skills lab. I also have found that many clinical students who have a background as a CNA or a LPN have more confident interaction with the patients, are autonomous with basic skills, and some (not all) have better time management.

But really Greg I read and then reread your post. I do not think nursing is for you—have you looked into being a Physician's Assistant (PA)? I was reading about PAs in Arkansas and they can make up to $89,000 to $107,000. PAs practice medicine, examine, diagnose, and treat patients. Plus if your authorized by your supervising physician , you can prescribe legend drugs and scheduled medication for patients! I can guarantee you, you won't do bedpans, although you might have to touch the patients to examine them, but of course you will wear gloves.

Oh and by the way, I have two bachelor degrees plus my masters, going to school for my DNP and I still clean bedpans (Gasp!). While I didn't go into nursing because I love the smell of c-diff in the morning, the truth is that the most important assessment skills can be learned from getting your hands dirty.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Sounds like practicing medicine to me.
Nurses and nurse practitioners practice under the nursing model of care provision. Physicians and PAs practice under the medical model.

No nurse of any kind practices medicine, not even nurse practitioners. Medicine is out of nursing's scope of practice. A nurse who practices medicine will end up with handcuffs on his/her wrists and charges filed by the local DA.

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Specializes in Family Practice, Mental Health.
From findlaw.com

Since states are responsible for providing medical licenses, each state has a slightly different legal definition for the practice of medicine. In general, a person practices medicine when he or she tries to diagnose or cure an illness or injury, prescribes drugs, performs surgery, or claims he or she is a doctor.

Sounds like practicing medicine to me.

I would suggest that you listen very carefully to the help that you've solicited on this board.

You've just told a nurse who has a Doctorate Degree in Nursing that she doesn't know what she is talking about.....

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The advice I was soliciting was not whether or not to pursue the NP but rather how. I thought perhaps there was someone out there that might have faced the same choices I am now, and could give me their opinion on the path they chose. I do not believe any job is beneath me, and if the only job available was cleaning bed pans, I would do it in order to provide what I could for my family. I keep reading "You have no healthcare experience". Isn't that what the direct entry MSN is designed for, people that don't have a degree in healthcare? Also, I wasn't saying NP are doctors, but I used the term "practice medicine" as a way of encompassing all that NP do. They diagnose, they prescribe medicine, and in some cases (example found on this message board, https://allnurses.com/advanced-practice-nursing/can-nps-perform-916977.html) perform minor, outpatient surgery. I have no desire to be a PA, as it is my goal to open my own office eventually, something (according to my research) PAs cannot do. If I've stepped on toes or ruffled feathers you have my apologies. But I'm not some 20 year old without real life experience. I'm a parent: I've caught vomit in my bare hands trying to save my couch, I've been **** on, peed on, and dealt calmly with medical emergencies involving my own kids.

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