Need to determine my path ...

[friendlylark]

Hello, I am at a crossroads and need to determine which way to go!

I am one year into my Master's program and the original plan was for MSN-FNP. I just finished a course in Population Health/Epidemiology and will be starting Pathophysiology next ...

I have taken a break in courses to reflect and determine my path.

I could, at this point, switch to the MSN-Leadership path, which interests me very much.

At work, I have been working on Lean projects and can see myself in a Director or Project Manager role in the hospital. I have a mentor who is helping me learn the ropes of implementing Process Improvement and I enjoy it. I could potentially move into Performance Excellence.

An FNP degree appeals to me for the pay raise and because I think I would enjoy the autonomy. I also enjoy pharmacology and would like the ability to prescribe.

These are two very different paths!!! And I could easily switch to MSN-Leadership in my MSN program.

So ... how do I know what to do? Could I get the FNP degree and be promotable towards a role in Performance Excellence? Which job will offer the most flexibility? Do I really want to work as an FNP? Setting up the clinical hours for FNP is going to be a huge huge task! How do I know the answers to this?

Thanks for any help in making a tough choice.

Anne Marie

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

You seem on the right path by taking a break. Some thoughts:

1. Shadow some MSN-leadership grads. See what they do and if you like it.

2. Same with FNP.

The big decision as I see it is clinical or non-clinical. I have an MSN in management and leadership and then realized oops the middle managers get eaten alive by being in the middle of the food chain. So, I went back for a post-MSN clinical focus.

Another option is MBA