Hi ladies and gents!
I am a new grad on a surgical/tele/stepdown unit. It's been about 2 months since I've been working as an RN, been working on this unit before as a PCT/UC, so I already knew months ago what I was getting myself into.
Anywho, to the point. I got my ADN, loved nursing school. They painted a pretty picture for us, nothing like what I have to deal with on a daily basis. My favorite part about school was going through pathophysiological processes and pharm. Anytime I tried to further understand these concepts I was told "you're in nursing school, not med school". I feel like I got into nursing because of my equal love for patient care and for science.
But right now, I feel like I am just dealing with patient satisfaction scores and trying to meet impossible outcomes. I genuinely love my patients, my coworkers, and what nursing is supposed to be about, but I am disillusioned and constantly fear for my license. I am not the only one. All my coworkers feel the same way. Unfortunately, I know this is the case not just in my hospital. Furthermore, I just wished to be more involved in the medical/surgical decisions of patient's care.
So this brings me to where I am at now. I was debating months ago if nursing was for me. But now I know. I have several plan B's and C's, but they all require a bachelor's degree, which I don't have (I'm 22 and my ADN was my first degree). I always loved biology and want to enroll for my Bachelor's in Bio in order to meet the requirements for the Master's P.A. program in the same school.
My concern is that I have to work full-time. I live with my elderly family, and I am the primary bread-winner. Paying for school, however, is not an issue at all. I've got that solved, thank God. I am debating if taking two to three courses is doable while working as an RN. Courses such as orgo, stats, physics. And later on, biochem, genetics, etc.
I could also on the other hand complete my RN-BSN online and complete as many biology classes as possible and minor in bio. I would have a bachelor's in nursing and still have a strong application by having various biology courses. This route would be a lot faster, as I could complete my BSN online in about a year, and extra bio classes would take me just 2 or 3 semesters. But the thought of taking more nursing classes really drives me up a wall!!
Anywho, my other plan if I do not get into the PA program is to go the CRNA route. I could transfer to ICU in about a year and a half while taking classes.
I would love anyone's advice and thoughts. I have 2 years until I complete my contract with my hospital, and I plan on keeping that contract, as I do not want to burn any bridges. Plus, my school uses my hospital for clinical rotations for all its healthcare programs and I would be an idiot to look bad infront of HR right now, lol.
THANKS! and sorry for the rambling )
