Graceland200

I felt compelled by your question because I faced the decision you are trying to make. I chose to get the BSN but I regret my decision (I'm still in school for that). Out of 45 people in the class that graduated 2 months ago, only 5-7 have nursing jobs. This is a dismal outcome, won't you agree? In my area MD/VA/DC there are jobs for NPs but they are not easy to come by. The previous poster mentioned that she chose to work b4 her NP for that same reason. Do you really want to work 2-5 years as an RN before the NP? The PA is a much faster route even with the required HC experience. Can you get a job as a CNA and get the experience while you are taking classes (I'm assuming that you are not currently employed but you didn't mention if you are or not). OT is a well paid profession and almost completely stress free-you can work part time, full time and there is strong demand where I live. I would probably find it boring but the money and hours are great and if you went the OT route you could always apply to PA school after b/c you would have healthcare experience. Just my 2 cents-but I would not want to spend 60K on a second bachelors and 30K on a masters and then find out I can't even get a job. Since you already have a psych BS, you could also get another route and get the ADN while you are working as a CNA and then apply to PA school or decide to either practice as an rn and apply to BSN/NP school I would also recommend that you start volunteering at a hospital-thy the ER...it usually has PAs on duty and RNs. Try a nursing home for the OT observation.

What about occupational therapy...it requires the same pre-reqs as nursing, has lots of jobs and is a masters.

Problem is that you will be going with traffic in the evening. That does not help at all.

I'm in my 1st yr of nursing school and would choose medicine instead. I think if you have the "doctor" bug you won't be happy with the NP. Don't get me wrong, it's a great profession but you are still young, go for the MD/DO-it sounds like the most direct route for what you want to do.

Hi, I wanted to mention that Vanderbilt U. accepts those w/o experience into primary care programs (peds/family)

Great idea! if I they don't respond I'll pay em a visit.

Thank you, gracelola- Maybe third time is the charm:) I really appreciate it!!!!!!!!! GL

gracelola, Caould you please give me the address you emailed? Thank you, GL

Hi All, I've requested the application for CNA licensure from the MBON several times (thru email). I have heard nothing. Can someone forward me the application or tell me what I need to do to get it? Thank you!!!!!!!!!! GL Nursing student

Jamie, You are not yet ready to apply....so why not re-evaluate in a year? There are other fields that you could go into except nursing that won't put you behind a desk (AKA...occupational therapy). This profession requires pretty much the same pre-reqs. Don't worry about it now...re-evaluate when you really need to make the decision. GL Nursing student

Hi Taketwoasprin, Thanks for the reply. I appreaciate your perspective-I'm signed up for WHC for adult health clinical. Can you tell me if you've had to do validations same as we did the 1st semester in 304? Also-what about the context of health delivery class? I'm taking it at shady grove-do you know if attendance in the class on a weekly basis is compulsory? It just seems like a really silly class. Can you advise how that class was graded? Thank you, GL

Hi misssrblake, Let us know what you decide! I wanted to throw in some perspective. I finished my first semester of nursing school at UMB and don't have any complaints. Nursing is mostly a competence based profession not really a "status" based profession so I feel that it is hard to justify Hopkins tuition costs. I'm in the BSN program and I felt the pace was just right, I was able to work about 20 hours a week. I feel that with the CNL it would not be possible to work but the class load would still be managble (w/o working outside). I know that UMB recently received some mucho money for sholarships and has been handing them out to both BSN and CNL to cover about half of tuition which makes UMB even a better choice. Not biased-just saying that in this world money talks.

Hey Scrub, You know what else you can do? You can share an access code with a friend or classmate to mynursinglab.com One of my classmates used my code b/c she didn't want to buy her own. You're not supposed to do that technically but oh well...something you might want to consider. GL

Hi Bsnbear- Here is what I did and it worked well N304-Intro to nursing practice You will need the textbook and the mynursinglab CD as well as the suggested medcalc book. You will definitely use all of these throughout the semester. If you can get these used-even better. Health asessment You will need the health asessment book and the lab manual you will definitely use both extensively Pharma I bought both Lehne and Porth text books and have used both to a certain extent. I would recommend that you buy the previous edition b/c the info does not really change and you really use the books as reference if you don't understand concepts in slides, etc. Again-I would not buy these new but rather previous version or used. You will not need any of the suggested books for this class b/c you will never use them. I hope that helps...let me know if you need any add'l info. GL

Hurricane, I agree, nothing like the CC. You can be very social and make friends quickly or if you prefer study on your own and do just as well it all depends on your style. It is what you make of it. You will probably become friends with people from your labs.