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I'm sorry, I must have been thinking of some other online university. Not all are accredited. So did you make the plunge?

Walden is NOT accredited. Check this site first if you want to double check potential schools: http://www.aacn.nche.edu/CCNE/reports/rptAccreditedPrograms_New.asp?sort=institution#E

I was wondering if you ever decided to enroll in American Sentinel. I too, am trying to attain my degree in Nursing Informatics. Choosing an online program is proving difficult.

Your friend work for an HCA? I hope you find something soon :)

Is it still hot concerning government work? I'm currently a VA nurse with 6+ yrs. tenure that I don't want to lose.

why, thank you. i actually started a forum a couple of days ago based on the same subject. i'm having a tough time finding a different career path too. i'm willing to do the msn route; i just want to get the heck away from bedside care. i've had enough. other prob is that i'm a va nurse & want to stay within the system. that limits options sometimes. if you have any ideas, i'm all ears. so far, i'm considering informatics.

Can you direct me to that forum? New to site :)

Your 2nd paragraph made me smile. We recently had a new grad transfer from PCU to the Cath Lab. She had quite enough too. That's a good avenue for her, but I wish to leave bedside nursing/working in a hospital. I love working with U.S. veterans, & being a veteran myself, I never want to change from that demographic. The only reason I took the job I have now is because I thought this is where I belonged. Your post sounds like the advice my wife is giving me. Although she's not in nursing, she's very attuned to my predicament. There are other things to do that don't require a higher degree; I just have to find something that I like. Thanks for those company names. I'll have to keep that list in mind for the future. Thank you. The NP programs I've encountered have been a kick in the pants. I HAVE to do everything possible online d/t a potential move to another state next year. That alone limits the options. The remaining programs have not been well received by former & current students. Ugghhh! AMEN!!! "No flexibility" is the phrase I originally was looking for in my OP. Sometimes you have to look @ getting a more advanced degree from a different angle. It's akin to buying a $30,000 hybrid car; it may get 60mpg & save you @ the pump, but how long before it starts to pay for itself? Thank you for the offer of being able to vent. I have a difficult time with that concept because I don't have a lot of support systems. Talking to coworkers that are just as unhappy as I am is not productive. I might have to take you up on that offer. BTW, what did you mean by "not everyone can be RNs?" Yes, I have thought of that. I am an avid believer in preventative health care. I currently work in the VA system, which I don't wish to leave. It seems I might have to stretch into the private sector to broaden my choices. It's unfortunate that public health nursing is being cut back. I personally feel that people need to stop blaming the state of affairs as it is right now & look @ themselves as well. We as Americans are not taking care of ourselves & that is a major problem. The work I do now feels like I'm applying a band-aid to a foot-long laceration; it's futile sometimes. But enough of that rant :nuke: Kudos to you about making a life change. The reason I feel like 32 is so old is because I can count on two hands how many jobs I've had since I was 16. I'm frightened to start over again. It would be nice to do some consulting work though; I enjoy being autonomous.

This was actually in response to someone's thread, so pretend like I'm talking to that person (if that makes sense). I deleted my reply because I felt like I was enabling. If it makes you feel any better, you're not alone. You took the words right out of my mouth when I read your post, so thank you very much. I've been doing RN work since May 11, 2009 in a PCU setting. Can't say that I've enjoyed it much. In fact, I hate it most of the time. However, I began to count my blessings. I work with some great people that I wish could go to the next place I work. Helping Pts out is always a plus too. Sounds like you're also burned out; for that matter, sounds like we're both burned out actually. Allow me to add something that's really been bothering me about the whole nursing profession. Please, let me know if you feel the same way. I feel like we were trapped the minute we signed up for classes. If the current plan is to get a higher degree, as in a Master's, what are the options? Pretty much, there are three: NP, nurse educator, & nurse manager. Ok, if you don't want the responsibilities an NP has, that's out. Not to mention that you have to get a PhD after 2015 (forget that). That leaves nurse educator & manager. Wow, manager; enough said. I didn't go to college to become a teacher when it took me nearly twelve years to finally decide to become an RN. No offense to the educators out there. In defense of higher learning, there are other options; I have seen pediatrics & informatics. Looked on USAJOBS & can't say that informatics is in high demand. In this crumbling economy, it would be ill advised to leave a health care profession. So what are our options here?

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