Suzanne44

Where are you looking to go to school? I'm in Boston - Boston College has a great program.

Hi, I am still in the process of completing my prereqs, but I am strongly considering applying to the program. I went to the info session...but I am having a hard time finding out about clinicals....do they start the first year or second...what is the time committment per week..ect. Have you heard anything about it?

Great info - Thank you! :)

Wow, so many great responses - Thank you for your feedback! I do currently enjoy my job, like the schedule & pay. The problem is that I work for a small non-profit agency - we are state funded and had tremendous budget cuts this year. I have decided to change careers due the instability of my current field. I am currently the CEO of the company and although it's great now, I am not sure if I could do this type of work for the rest of my life. I have always been interested in the medical field, so it seems like a natural choice for me. I understand that starting out I will not be making what I am making now, but thought the average range for a new grad would be around 45k-50k...am I way off base here?? I have 2 friends that are new grads (traditional BSN program) that are making between 70k & 80k because of overtime. They are working in a major Boston Hospital...is that really unusual? Unfortunately, my husband is out of work on disability, and my elderly mother-in-law has moved in with us...so at this time I am the breadwinner of the family...this is why I need to continue to work. Thank you for your input regarding becoming a PA. I thought that you needed a BSN before getting your masters to become a PA or NP. I was told that you could get your masters in an evening, part-time program. Not true? My plan was to get my masters slowly while working as an RN. My plan at this point is to start with my prereq's and pull my gpa up. Bcgradnurse- I have a few questions about the direct-entry program- did you have a BSN first? I am assuming this program was at BC...right? Also can you tell me more about the National Health service? Disneybear - So you are going to graduate with an associates and then go straight to an online masters program? What program are you thinking about? Thank you for all of your input!!!!

hello, i need advice regarding nursing programs. i received a bs in psych about 10 years ago. i have a great job, but would like to make a career change to nursing. i have given it a lot of thought and i really feel that the nursing profession would is a good match for me. i would like to eventually become a physicians assistant, although at this point it seems like i am hitting major roadblocks everywhere i turn. i have been researching schools & attending info sessions, but i am having a lot of difficulty finding a program that would work for me. i currently work m-f, 9-5, while making $65,000 per year. unfortunately, i need to keep working while going to school, so the accelerated programs just won't work for me. i have looked at the programs at simmons, regis & umass boston. they all require full-time, day time study. at this point in my life, i need a program that mostly meets in the evening and that can be done on a part-time basis. another important factor - i got my bachelors degree 10 years ago, slacked off a bit - my gpa was 2.5. i have grown significantly since then and am much more committed to school than i was then. also, i have to complete some prereq's - micro, a&p i &ii. it was suggested that i look at mass bay cc, pursue an associates degree, then take the online rn to bsn program at umass boston. this would take a total of 4.5 years. i would like to finish sooner than that, but it seems like this is the only option open to me at this time. i also would prefer not to graduate with 90k in loans, so i am looking for something affordable. does anyone have feedback on this plan? am i wasting time? is anyone in a similar position? any suggestions for schools/programs? also, does anyone have any information on what an rn with an associate's degree would typically make? what types of settings you can work in? i really can't afford to make less than i am currently making, due to the mortgage, family, ect....but from my research, it seems like most rn's w/o a bsn make around $22/hour...right? i am so confused at this point...and i am getting pretty discouraged. i really want to make this dream a reality. any assistance would be greatly appreciated!