Overwhelmed by all the choices

[tmcoleman]

Hello everyone,

I was hoping to pick the brains of all of the seasoned nurses on this website. I have been an LPN for 20 years. I will graduate from the RN program this December and will immediately start my BSN program the following month. I love being a nurse but the dilemma I am having is trying to decide the best career path for myself. I have been working in Home Health for the last 9 years and have extensive hospital as well as MD office experience. Most of my hospital experience was in the PCU and I am currently precepting in the ICU.

The problem is that I have so many interests that I am having trouble deciding which way to go. I am enjoying the ICU but I am 41 years old and not accustomed to the long hours, and the staff all seem very unhappy. In the world of HCAHPS I am just not sure I want to be back on the floor.

I have considered, Acute Care NP and CRNA but the ICU experience will be mandatory. I have considered Nursing Informatics, because I love technology but I worry about actually finding a job. Money is important but what is more important is enjoying my work and what I really want is to find a career in which I can affect change in the nursing profession for the better.

What are your suggestions? What career path is best for ultimately setting me up to make positive change in the nursing profession as well as assisting to make patient care better and more safe. Sorry for the long post and thanks for any responses in advance.

[Buyer beware, BSN]

OP:

There really aren't too many choices. There are just too many bad choices.

So what RN program? What BSN program?

What informatics program?

You don't identify the school you're attending and this concerns me as I believe based on your demographics that it may be one that's heavy on the sales pitch and light on substantive advisement.

I'll leave it there.

[tmcoleman]

Hi Buyer Beware,

Thanks for your response. I'm not sure why the schools I am attending are of a concern. I am attending fully accredited brick and mortar colleges for both my RN and BSN program, both are located in my area. As far as the Informatics degree, well, I have not even decided that I am going to pursue that so I do not have a definitive choice, however, I am looking to USA to work on my graduate studies tentatively. I am just curious for all of those out there in the various fields how to position myself to make a good living as well as make a positive mark on the profession as a whole.

Thanks again for your response and any advise is welcome.