Options to becoming a Nurse

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Hey, I'm going to start to apply for College's now, and I was wondering what are some of the different options you can take to become a Nurse, like once I'm accepted into a University can I go straight for a BSN or do I go for ADN and then go for the BSN, What are some of the usual request for a BSN or ADN program.... I am sooo lost. Anyway what are some of the options of becoming a nurse, like CRNA, NP, Management, and what are some of the downsides of becoming a new Nurse, by the way I am a male if that accounts for anything, Thanks

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well because of the saturation of nurses overall i think it would be more logical to go straight for the BSN, for this will increase your odds of actually getting a job. Most hospitals are choosing BSN over ADN because theres no longer a shortage of nurses. There are alot of specialties in nursing so you have a lot of options CRNA and NP programs are quite competitive so you will have to work as a RN for couple of years to be eligible for enrollment. i down really see any downside of being a nurse to be honest, and from my experience male nurses are highly respected, by the way i'm a male nursing student :) good luck with you decision.

Ackeem

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Yeah, I was considering the BSN program, but is there any *advantages* I could get that will help me to apply to a well known University for Nursing, like volunteer at a hospital etc.???

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Specializes in Rehab, Ortho-Spine, Med-Surg, & Psych.

Hello Dillpickle! You asked about the different options for becoming a nurse, so I'm going to start from the entry level.

Undergraduate Studies:

1) Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

2) Licensed Practical Nurse or Licensed Vocational Nurse (LPN or LVN)

3) Registered Nurse with an associate's degree in nursing (ASN or ADN)

4) Registered Nurse with a bachelor's degree in nursing (RN to BSN ... or ... BSN)

Graduate Studies:

1) Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). A master's in nursing degree provides you with the background, skills and advanced training to deliver high-quality nursing care in a specialized area, such as advanced clinical training or research. Nurses who graduate with an MSN are called advanced practice nurses (APNs). These nurses deliver health care services that were previously delivered by physicians, and they typically focus on one of four advanced practice areas:

  • Nurse Practitioner (NP)
  • Certified Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
  • Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
  • Nursing Informatics
  • Nursing Leadership

2) Doctoral nursing degrees are four to six year post-graduate programs that prepare nurses for top-tier careers in health administration, clinical research or advanced clinical practice. Doctoral nursing degree options include the following:

  • Doctor of Nursing (ND)
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
  • Doctor of Nursing Science (DNSc)
  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The goal of all doctoral nursing programs is to prepare nurses to be leaders, whether they pursue research, clinical advancement, policy change, or organizational transformation.

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Now, you also asked about advantages. Well, the higher the education, the higher your salary... BUT... you also get higher responsibilities. A BSN degree will pay you about a $1 more an hour to start with... so from a financial point of view it doesn't make much sense, but it does prepare you for advance nursing. It also open more doors when it comes to employment and to an extent, job security.

The only downside of becoming a new nurse is getting your foot on the door and land you first job. Everyone wants expereinced nurses, but there are places that are willing to train you in exchange of ...say... at least two years of service. Other places have these positions, but have met their quotas so you would not be able to apply for a lot of these institutions. The beauty is that you can branch out to many places to work as a nurse... hospitals, nursing homes, assited living facilities, palliative care facilites, home health care positions, colleges, schools, armed forces, doctor's offices, clinics, urgent care, outpatient facilities (wound care, same-day surgeries), etc.

Do not worry about your gender. Worry about being the best professional nurse you can be. Hope this helps! :up:

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