MSN Dropout?

[tamale29, MSN, RN, NP]

Hello all!

I have been an ICU nurse for about 3.5 years and am exactly half way done with my Masters for FNP. Thing is.... I don't know I want to be an FNP! Ha, bad time to realize this, eh?

I'm the first to admit that I have a short attention span and the past year and a half of school have be pretty burnt out. The constant clinical search and school work have me in a haze and I feel like I'm more so doing the motions than actually learning anything. Online school may have been a poor choice, but its a lesson learned perhaps a bit too late into the program. If FNP was my ultimate dream than I could put my head down and power through, but honestly its more of what seemed like the logical next step than my ultimate life goal.

I've only ever done ICU and I'd love to see what else is out there as an RN. Travel nurse, or maybe even switch field and check out OB, OR, or maybe outpatient. But that nagging "ive put so much time and money into FNP" is always at the back of my head. Has anyone ever left their masters program and not regretted the waste of time/money? I don't know what to do. I'm just burnt out with school when the endgame isn't neccisarily super enticing. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't mind being an NP, but I also might not mind it if I wasn't

Edit: All I really want in the long run is to pay off my loans and get a job where I could really do some good. Nurses without boarders, peace corp, etc. I know an FNP is more enticing than an RN

[llg, PhD, RN]

I've known several people who started out in NP programs who switched to other focus areas when they realized they really didn't want to be an NP. Most of those people switched to Nursing Education majors and became Staff Development Specialists. I also know some who graduated with the NP who never worked as an NP. They became things like Pain Management Specialists, or Skin Care Specialists, etc. in hospitals.

I think a lot of people go to NP school because that's the "only way up" in nursing that they know. Their faculty members talk the role up with their students, etc. and people just get it in their heads that NP is the way to go. For some people it is the way to go. For others, it is not.

There are lots of different career pathways within nursing -- and I always advise people to take the time to find the one that is right for you before you make a big investment such as graduate school. Maybe you just need a break (for a semester or two) to look around. Maybe you will decide to finish the NP program ... maybe be an NP ... maybe take the MSN degree and do something else with it ... maybe focus on something else in your MSN program ... maybe find a whole other path entirely.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

I prefer to think of it as "double-starting" or "taking a hiatus" rather than dropping out - LOL. I did it... started grad school & life interfered for a couple of years before I was able to begin again - in a different program. Unfortunately, my GRE had 'elapsed' in the interim so I had to take it AGAIN - sheesh... but I digress.

It worked out very well for me. Relevant credits transferred without problems & I ended up loving my new MSN program, even Thesis. I'm still in regular contact with people who were in my cohort. Full disclosure... everything was 'in person'; no distance options.

So - take your time on making a decision. The only consequences are having to repeat the )(*&^!^%$@& GRE.... bitter? maybe a little.

[tamale29, MSN, RN, NP]

So I took a year off, traveled (if anyone has ever wanted to travel nurse, I cannot recommend it enough) and I am happy to announce I am going back to finsh starting in January. It was exactly what I needed! I did trade programs, and will be finishing in Womens Health.