Master's Level Career Advice

[TRAUMARN96]

Hi Everyone. I'm looking for some career advice. I have been a nurse for ten years, and I currently work in a busy Emergency Dept, which is fine for now, but I don't want to be doing this 10-20 years from now. I have my BSN and am contemplating my Masters. My problem is this.....I really don't want to be anybody's boss which rules out the administrative/management route, I have a huge fear of public speaking so Education may not be a wise choice, and I really don' know if I want to be an NP. I thought of my MBA, but I don't know what I'd do with that either.

Does anyone have any ideas that I'm just not thinking of. If I had a specific goal in mind it would be so much easier to chose the right route to take. I guess I'm looking for something a bit different. I just want to get the Master's Degree that I can do the most with. If anybody has any unusual job titles (as an NP or otherwise) please let me know. Thanks Everyone!!

[JaneyW]

There are ER NPs. Do you like the ER? If you like it and want to stay in that environment, it might be for you.

[rox4synch]

Hi,

One of my nursing peers/friends chose to get an MBA versus MSN, and she took a job as a product rep!! She's making big bucks, but she does spend alot of time "on the road" with various hospital "clients" within a certain geographic area (part of PA, NYC, and NJ). She pushes the product to the hospital, then educates/in-service's the nurses on how to use the product. So, at least she is still doing something within nursing.

[llg, PhD, RN]

Perhaps you should focus less on what you don't like to do and focus more on what you like to do. All career paths come with a few aspects that don't appeal to us. The trick is to find one that has rewards that outweigh the negatives.

So ... what do you like to do? Do you like to teach patients? Do you like to precept new nurses? If so, there are educational roles that don't require you to lecture in front of large audiences -- and you can learn the skills you need to teach small groups if necessary. For example, school of nursing clinical instructors don't lecture in front of large audiences. They supervise students in their clinical rotations and lead the small post-conferences. This type of instructor is where the greatest shortage of faculy lies.

How about research? Coordinating research projects is a career path. Or working for an attorney as a nursing expert in legal matters (though that might require testifying in court). What about nursing informatics?

There are lots of fields. I suggest you browse this website and you will find lots of possibilities.

But focus on what you like to begin with. Don't start the process by looking for reasons NOT to do something. Look at the reason TO do it.

Good luck,

llg