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Hi guys, Thanks for your emails. I think I will have to think about it some more and visit the various schools and departments. I understand Vickynurse's concerns though which is something I've tried to ask around when I contact schools. There are schools, Northeastern for one, who emphasize that even though you may start with one specialty interest, they encourage you to rotate at various floors to get a more well-rounded approach to finally picking a masters specialty. I'm leaning towards that kind of philosophy. I hope others will come and share their own thoughts. I'm looking forward to hearing more about other's experiences in choosing their career specialties. Also, will anyone comment on "ranking" of masters-entry programs? Is there really validity to choosing "the best" nursing schools? Or should we not worry about school name/reputation? Will finding jobs be easier for those who came from well-known big schools like columbia, yale, upenn, johns hopkins, georgetown, etc? Or will the costs of tuition be the real issue? Thanks again!

Hi Everyone, I've enjoyed this forum and hope that I can get help from all of you regarding starting a career in nursing. I am 29, Bachelors in Bio/Phil from a good university, taken graduate level classes in medical sciences and public health and have worked since graduation college as a research assistant, clinical research coordinator and always in academia/hospitals- all in the Boston area. And since Jan., have decided that I want to pursue nursing. My question is really a ploy to get a general survey of what other students, nurses think about Direct Entry programs. Which ones do you think are good or bad. Specifically, I am looking into Columbia, Georgetown, Northeastern U. and I think I want to work in the field of acute care or anesthesia. Now, I know this opens a whole new can of worms: the idea of a direct entry into NP programs let alone anesthesia, which I understand. This is why I sometimes think the best way for me to train to gain the skills is perhaps through a BSN and then work for a few years and then apply into masters programs- whether that be in acute care or anesthesia. I just don't know what pitfalls I may run into. I want to get a good idea of what realistic opportunities there are and what difficulties I have to overcome. I certainly want to be a well-prepared advanced care nurse so I don't want to by-pass any necessary training. Some nurses I've talked to tell me that I should respect the field and pay my dues, which is to work on the floor for a few years like most RN's before getting the masters degrees. I also have heard others with opposing views who tell me that if I know what I want to do and have seen what the nursing field looks like, then I should go and do the direct entry and be focused. I'd like help sorting through all of this. Also, if there is anyone out there that have gone through direct entry programs such as those I've mentioned above, I'm really keen on getting your input as far as admissions. What grades, gres and experiences you've had and where you got into. And also financial aid: are there scholarships or is everything loaned out. Thanks in advance. Please any little bit of input will help- I'd love to hear from everyone- former direct entry students, current students, RN's, CRNA's, ACNP's, everyone! PS. Let me know if this is better posted elsewhere!