Nursing Specialties Post RPN Program (NP, Educator, Researcher...)

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  1. What should I go for?

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Hello, everyone.

First time poster here, so I apologize if I posted in the wrong category (there are so many!).

I am currently a second semester RPN student at Mohawk College. After graduating, I am planning on pursuing the RPN to RN program while working. This semester, I had the privilege of being exposed to the hospital setting, and I have not had the greatest experience so far. I don't mind the fast-paced environment or the heavy workload, but I have discovered several interests for further speciality: education, administration, family, and holistic care.

Based off those interests, here is a list of nursing specialties I'd be interested in from most to least interested:

1. Nurse Practitioner (PHC, working with family doctor);

2. Nurse Educator;

3. Nurse Researcher; and

4. Nurse Administrator.

I am very interested in education and becoming a NP; there are so many possibilities with those two interests that I feel would be very rewarding, and they are things that I am very passionate about. I am currently tutoring some fellow nursing students in pathophysiology and pharmacology (one of our classes this semester) and achieved a 92% on the first test and 94% on the midterm. I don't mind being in school for a long time or anything like that, that is not a problem for me. I actually like school and learning (I'm one of those!) and I find great joy in teaching others.

I am just wondering what the best possible path for me is. I want a specialty that will allow me to use my interest in education, holism, and also my immense compassion for helping people.

If you have any advice or useful information for me based off the information I provided, please comment and let me know. If known, include any education and experience requirements, and also an honest review of the profession if that is what you are practicing! I'd love to hear a nurse's perspective.

Thank you kindly!

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Specializes in Public Health.
Hello, everyone.

First time poster here, so I apologize if I posted in the wrong category (there are so many!).

I am currently a second semester RPN student at Mohawk College. After graduating, I am planning on pursuing the RPN to RN program while working. This semester, I had the privilege of being exposed to the hospital setting, and I have not had the greatest experience so far. I don't mind the fast-paced environment or the heavy workload, but I have discovered several interests for further speciality: education, administration, family, and holistic care.

Based off those interests, here is a list of nursing specialties I'd be interested in from most to least interested:

1. Nurse Practitioner (PHC, working with family doctor);

2. Nurse Educator;

3. Nurse Researcher; and

4. Nurse Administrator.

I am very interested in education and becoming a NP; there are so many possibilities with those two interests that I feel would be very rewarding, and they are things that I am very passionate about. I am currently tutoring some fellow nursing students in pathophysiology and pharmacology (one of our classes this semester) and achieved a 92% on the first test and 94% on the midterm. I don't mind being in school for a long time or anything like that, that is not a problem for me. I actually like school and learning (I'm one of those!) and I find great joy in teaching others.

I am just wondering what the best possible path for me is. I want a specialty that will allow me to use my interest in education, holism, and also my immense compassion for helping people.

If you have any advice or useful information for me based off the information I provided, please comment and let me know. If known, include any education and experience requirements, and also an honest review of the profession if that is what you are practicing! I'd love to hear a nurse's perspective.

Thank you kindly!

I believe (and correct me if I'm wrong), that in order to apply to an NP program, you need the equivalent of 2 full-time years of work as an RN.

Some of the other areas you might be able to work in as an RN with your BScN, but many positions will require or favour an MScN or other graduate level studies.

I am in my final year of the RPN-BScN through CoMac and want to get into nursing education as a career, therefor have looked into it extensively. There are many MScN programs that have a focus on education, including Western and Ryerson. Most of these masters programs don't require work hours, only the NP stream.

I don't know a great deal about the other options you are interested in, sorry!

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I believe (and correct me if I'm wrong), that in order to apply to an NP program, you need the equivalent of 2 full-time years of work as an RN.

Some of the other areas you might be able to work in as an RN with your BScN, but many positions will require or favour an MScN or other graduate level studies.

I am in my final year of the RPN-BScN through CoMac and want to get into nursing education as a career, therefor have looked into it extensively. There are many MScN programs that have a focus on education, including Western and Ryerson. Most of these masters programs don't require work hours, only the NP stream.

I don't know a great deal about the other options you are interested in, sorry!

Hey, thank you for your reply! :) I really appreciate it. And thank you for your input.

It's nice to hear from someone who is also interested in education. Could you tell me some of the information you have found in your extensive research? I've been doing some myself but I can't really much that pertains to me right now; not sure exactly how to get to the education specialty from where I am.

Also, how are you liking the bridging from RPN to BScN? How is the workload? Is it all very different from the RPN prorgan? I feel like I have a million questions about the bridging, since it's my next step. Tell me about your experience so far, I'd love to hear all about it!! Also, advice ans tips are always welcome!

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Suggest you spend time looking at the nursing job market, look up the history of nursing job market surplus/shortage cycles, the current surplus cycle will likely be in effect after you graduate. You should plan to be competitive after graduation by doing something like volunteering or working in healthcare right now.

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Specializes in Public Health.
Hey, thank you for your reply! :) I really appreciate it. And thank you for your input.

It's nice to hear from someone who is also interested in education. Could you tell me some of the information you have found in your extensive research? I've been doing some myself but I can't really much that pertains to me right now; not sure exactly how to get to the education specialty from where I am.

Also, how are you liking the bridging from RPN to BScN? How is the workload? Is it all very different from the RPN prorgan? I feel like I have a million questions about the bridging, since it's my next step. Tell me about your experience so far, I'd love to hear all about it!! Also, advice ans tips are always welcome!

I've (obsessively) read just about everything possible on any MScN program within a1.5 hour drive from me, so that includes quite a bit, such as London, Hamilton and the GTA. So that took a while. The program I have found to be most appealing is Western's MScN. The program has three different streams, one of which is leadership in nursing education. If you go on the website you can find everything including admissions information, the application, the courses you take, timeframes, etc. I've also spoken with two professors who are both working on their PhDs from Western and have really enjoyed the school of nursing there.

Master of Science in Nursing (MScN) - Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing - Western University

The bridging program has been good. Although it is certainly manageable, I will definitely admit that I entered the program seriously underestimating how much different (and more difficult) it would be. It's been good though and I've enjoyed it.

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Specializes in geriatrics.

You'll require experience and a Masters degree for the majority of these roles now.

I am a nurse educator. The requirements include a minimum of 5-7 years of nursing experience in a specialty area, Masters degree preferred, additional certification in your specialty area, and knowledge of adult learning principles.

I looked at the education stream, but I chose a MPH (Master of Public Health) instead. My interests are broad and I'll benefit more from this degree than others. I'm currently working on my MPH.

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