NP Or Educator?

[anewsns]

I'm just looking for a sounding board here.

Im curious which masters degree I should go for. Right now I'm a neuro step down nurse at a big teaching hospital. I plan to stay there for school, but I plan to move away from bedside later. Im good at what I do and am proud, yet the pace, physical running around is a lot.

I have many good qualities which can work well in any field. I would still like some patient interaction.

My gifts are both working independently and as a team, strong reasoning and critical thinking skills, teaching, morale boosting, learning , asking questions, finding resources and some others.

im detail oriented in some ways, but I am more skilled at the big picture. Time management has never been my strong suit, it's something i constantly work at. I am told that I'm good at thinking things through. Im more of a thinker than a doer. I like thinking about patient situations and coming up with solutions. I'm informative rather than directive. I'm more passive than assertive naturally but I work at that as well.

I light up when teaching anything to anyone, whether it's students, other nurses , patients , or family members. I like a steady pace and work well under some pressure, but don't like it to be extremely hectic or intense. (Depending on the situation like I don't mind say a crashing patient with clingy family member and a few other things on mg plate but don't like heavy patient load with a million things going on as much. Can deal but not my favorite.)I enjoy pharm and phys. I prefer an audience of 1-10 people for teaching, but could get used to the classroom. I don't like paperwork but accept it as necessary. I'm laid back, because i trust myself to get the job done well with integrity. I dont prefer intense or type A individuals (other nurses , families ).i am good at talking to providers. Being task focused is ok, but a bit out of my comfort zone. I like money, but of course peace of mind is even better.

Which masters / Career tracks would be good for me?

[AJJKRN]

Hard to say, I know a few NP's that also teach but it was way cheaper and faster for me to get my MSN in leadership and to keep my options open for a post-masters NP later on if I decide to do it.

Financially what makes sense for you?

[anewsns]

Staying at my current job gets my loans paid off and almost free education at a good school.

There are not too many financial concerns. If I get more money as an NP maybe could also focus more on my creative pursuits, which is one appeal with that one. Of course moving away from bedside sooner would be nice, but thinking long term could be better to do a straight track. Also gotta finish my BSN first .8 more classes.

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

May places are requiring DNP for teaching, but there are also a lot of opportunities for online teaching. I chose to get my MSN in Informatics instead of Education. I can always get a post-masters certificate. I already have a Masters in Teaching, which doesn't really count too much in nursing. I just didn't want to limit myself to education. I may get my DNP so I can teach at the University level. BUT-I am also interested in diabetes education. I need to look into what I would have to do to be an NP with a CDE to do that. I swear there are too many choices!!!! I wouldn't mind clinical ed: working with nurses and EPIC as well as diabetes. I have 2 kids with Type 1 and am constantly amazed at the lack of knowledge about T1.

I finish MSN in about a month. Waiting for the perfect job. I love what I am doing now, so not a huge rush.

[Julius Seizure]

Hard to say, I know a few NP's that also teach but it was way cheaper and faster for me to get my MSN in leadership and to keep my options open for a post-masters NP later on if I decide to do it.

Financially what makes sense for you?

Do you mind sharing how fast and cheap it was? Where did you get your degree?

[AJJKRN]

Do you mind sharing how fast and cheap it was? Where did you get your degree?

Done in a total of 14 months which was just over two six month terms so about....less than $10000. Western Governers University:-)

[WVFNP, MSN, APRN]

"I light up when teaching anything to anyone"

Sounds like your answer. Lectures, coupled with clinical instruction, would allow you to stay somewhat hands on.

Being a nurse practitioner is definitely more hands on, and you are still dealing with families, etc. Just from reading your post, it seems education may be more suited for you, but my opinion is based on your above post and without any knowledge of you as a person, so it may be worthless ;-). Good Luck.

[anewsns]

May places are requiring DNP for teaching, but there are also a lot of opportunities for online teaching. I chose to get my MSN in Informatics instead of Education. I can always get a post-masters certificate. I already have a Masters in Teaching, which doesn't really count too much in nursing. I just didn't want to limit myself to education. I may get my DNP so I can teach at the University level. BUT-I am also interested in diabetes education. I need to look into what I would have to do to be an NP with a CDE to do that. I swear there are too many choices!!!! I wouldn't mind clinical ed: working with nurses and EPIC as well as diabetes. I have 2 kids with Type 1 and am constantly amazed at the lack of knowledge about T1.

I finish MSN in about a month. Waiting for the perfect job. I love what I am doing now, so not a huge rush.

It's not a bad predicament to have really ! Too many choices. I think the combination route sounds possible for me but first would be one step at a time. Part of me also considers informatics as i am also good with the technology aspect and that pulls me out of patient care all together which part of me says would be really nice.. and i can still teach in that field. Part of me thinks I'm thinking of informatics for the wrong reasons (money, getting away from bedside). So if i went that route I'd prob try some at the bachelors level first to see if it's really something I enjoy. (Sounds like I'm contradicting myself with wanting patient interaction or not, it's a dilemma too)

[anewsns]

"I light up when teaching anything to anyone"

Sounds like your answer. Lectures, coupled with clinical instruction, would allow you to stay somewhat hands on.

Being a nurse practitioner is definitely more hands on, and you are still dealing with families, etc. Just from reading your post, it seems education may be more suited for you, but my opinion is based on your above post and without any knowledge of you as a person, so it may be worthless ;-). Good Luck.

That's true. The "lighting up " part is definitely a big giveaway. Also "I'm good at " something means i also enjoy it. I know i can teach in any capacity. I actjally love working with families. My favorite thing is like when I'm doing routine care and then start chatting with the patient and families about their lives then suddenly before you know it im sitting there doing this big teaching fest with them about the plan and what's been happening and what to expect. (and the part when i walk out of the room and hear the patient say "she's the best !") However like with NP route I don't mind like basic hands on (assessment, etc.) but am not big on like invasive skillsy stuff like doing a Pap smear or stitches or chest tube insertion that kind of thing.) but would enjoy the motivational/ health promotion / teaching aspect. Soo.. maybe like education and then can continue with other stuff later if i wanted to?

Teaching first, chances are high that i will love it, and post masters certificate later, the education background would always be under my belt after that. That also puts me at a nice midground to turn the dial of patient interaction up or down.