Carolbknits

Do you know if this date varies by state? Is there a "governing body" for nursing that would show the information? Also how do you know the quality or qualifications of the on line schools? Thanks! love hugs and prayers Carol

Thank you both for the encouragement. Where are you in school (or on line for coursework)? Do you know if there is going to be a grandfather clause? Thank you. love hugs and prayers Carol

I would love to be on autopilot at this point but God has other plans! My 12 years of infertility hell delayed our family and disrupted my career path in nursing. SOOOOOOOOO with many years of working ahead for me, I figure this is my restart/re-energizing to my career. I am just trying to weigh out the time, money and energy. I know I have many years ahead to work and my husband is a worker too so retirement is a long way away! LOL. I am not sure what positions require or provide what type of time/energy/committment/flexibility etc. I am hoping to do some shadowing to get a better sense of what is required and what their day is like. Thanks for the input :-) love hugs and prayers Carol

I agree completely although next year they will both be in school full time (first grade and second grade), my oldest will be a freshman in college... I have LOTS of years to work YIKES:eek: and my baby will graduate high school when I turn 58! I'm looking realistically at the future and am finding that I love currently what I'm doing, cardiac home care, but the money for the hours is not something I can support 3 kids alone on if I had to. And it really isn't as flexible as I thought. They just increased the patient numbers (I'm per diem) and see the full timers getting buried. Most of them don't have a young family. I guess I feel that now is the time to go back to school when they are in school full time so I can support them later and pay for 2 more college tuitions once we swallow that large pill with my oldest! My husband has a very flexible job right now and works many days from home. He is encouraging it as well. Any thoughts? love hugs and prayers Carol

Thats sort of what I'm thinking too but feel rushed and uninformed (with the changes breathing down my back!):eek: I also don't know which area of specialty yet and am interested in finding out when you need to decide. Thanks again! love hugs and prayers Carol

Yes that is what I'm afraid of too...by the time my ducks are in a row, it might be too late :crying2: :-( I was already misfortunate once before when I went back for my BSN. I was looking for a bachelors to masters program and only 2 schools (both far and expensive) offered it...the year I graduated, UCONN offered it in 3 years! (same amount of time it took me for my second BSN in Nursing...) Thank you for the information! love hugs and prayers Carol

Sorry yes DO - yes my area has all of those options (of course getting in is another challenge). I live in CT, and went to UCONN for both of my undergrad degrees. They are offering everything except the Masters programs now :-( only for clinical nurse specialist, and they have a Med School nearby. So hopefully all of those things are an option for me... I'm just thinking out loud and trying to see what information/options people can enlighten me about. thank you for your time and help! Keep the thoughts rolling! love hugs and prayers Carol

Thanks Woknblues, I was hoping to not be in school again forever since I already have to BS degrees, and if the schooling is almost as long, I wonder if it just makes sense to be an OD or MD. My two youngest are adopted and hate to spend their entire childhoods in school :-( However, I do have a lot more years of working ahead of me~ I want to be able to provide a good life for them and someday hopefully provide free medical care to Africa (my second child is adopted from Ethiopia, my baby is from Korea). I guess I don't know what the differences are in school and practice for the PHD vs MD and APRN etc. I am hoping to shadow some people and get a "feel" for their positions. Thank you for your reply, any and all thoughts/comments are welcome. love hugs and prayers Carol

hi, i am currently soul searching with what direction to take my career. i am a registered nurse and have 2 baccalaureate degrees (nursing and physical education). i was thinking of going for my aprn, however now that it requires a phd, what is the differences in time, money, responsibility of getting an od or md? any suggestions? as for specialty, i'm possibly thinking of gi, however not really sure. my work history is in cardiac but don't feel "obligated" to stay in cardiac. as an aside, i have 3 children and am married (2 children are young and one is a senior in high school). i am wondering also the impact on us all and what kind of commitment it would require. any insight, suggestions, or comments? thanks! love hugs and prayers carol

Can't hurt to try if you liked it there!

jwagman I'm in the same boat, want to do something, just not sure WHAT! I'm doing home care now! I hear that new legislation is being passed also, that is requiring a PHD for APRN..at least here in CT it is so all the more I feel pressured to make a decision! Having any luck? I have thought of going to the career center at UCONN-where I graduated from to see what they have for information or to suggest. Unfortunately they already have gotten rid of most of their Masters Programs except Clinical Nurse specialist I think. Let me know how its going for you and I'll try to do the same. I don't have much time to concentrate on it right now though, I'm in the sandwich generation and taking care of a sick mom, have a senior in high school and 2 adopted cuties 5 and 7 y.o.! take care. love hugs and prayers Carol

I will keep you in prayers. I have come to realize that when our paths are derailed, God has better plans! I will pray for you and God's paths to become more clearly laid out for you. love hugs and prayers Carol

In CT we don't need to have CEU's but my licensed has never expired (I have only been out of practice for 3 years- Cardiac Rehab outpatient) but off the floors (out of ICU/CCU) for 11 years. I saw a position and was told I needed recent conscious sedation or GI experience so I don't know which direction I am going to go yet. Also where does one get just GI experience? Thanks love hugs and prayers Carol

Hi, What do you consider midlevel? I'm in a refresher course to go back to work but am waiting for the last clinical part. I am an experienced RN but out of the field 3 years and off the floors 11 years. Thanks love hugs and prayers Carol

hmmm guess that answers...but I guess I don't know if it answers my questions on whether to try to enter that field hahaha! Thanks love hugs and prayers Carol