CommonUnity

Is there any hope? If not, would I be able to be hired with my BS or do you have to have a MSN now days? Also, what if I have been published? My husband is a professor and we're working on a project right now that I will be 2nd author on. IF it is published! Would this, perhaps, give me a chance of being hired even with an AS degree? Thank you so much for sharing. I'm really trying to find my way here and I appreciate it very much.

Hello there, I received my associates degree in 2001 and since then I have, for unexpected reasons, had to move around and then in 2005 I left nursing when my 2nd child was born. I had no idea that I would never be able to go back into nursing, even at entry level Med-Surg. Anyway, I have been trying to figure out a way to dig myself out of this hole, which is painful and scary. Our family had expected to have that 2nd income again in a few years. Since I never exactly loved being a floor nurse, and had always planned on going back to specialize in something, such as being a research nurse (I love research and I am married to a professor who does research all the time--I love helping with this) I thought that I would go back and get my MSN so that I could teach at a college level. So, I have a couple questions that I would be so grateful to get some feedback on. #1) For starters, if I get at least my BSN then can I once again be considered a 'new grad' and be hired on as such? I ask because I feel that I would absolutely need that if I were to re-enter the floor. I would need the time with a mentor again. For starters I would be in a new area. I used to be a labor and delivery nurse but I would like to start out doing something that will open more doors for me in regards to future employment. #2) I had planned on attending a school that offers a RN to MSN program with nurse education being a specialty. Long story short I came across a job posting from this EXACT University in which they were looking for a professor of nursing for a tenure track position. They required a PhD in a related field and a masters in nursing. HUMmmmm I thought. So I called up the dean herself and asked her, Would I be hire-able with a Masters in Nurse Education at her University? I appreciate her honesty in telling me that no, I would never be hired at a 4 year University with only a masters. She told me that if I really wanted to teach then I needed to plan on getting my PhD. So, what good is a Masters in Nurse Education? At what level CAN I teach? At a respectable junior college? I mean, a very respectable one-like the one I graduated from. Or, in a LPN program at a vocational school? At a high school??? Or is it good for nothing. #3) I know that as educators you see many of your students be hired. You are up to date on hiring practices. I would love any advice as to how I can best re-enter nursing. Right now, after hearing this news about the Rn to MSN program I am planning on just entering the RN to BSN program and then trying to get a job as a floor nurse as a NEW GRAD! So I will get additional training (I am very type A and need to feel 110% that I know my stuff). Then I thought I could try to enter a RN to PhD program, part time while I am working. Do you think I will be able to be hired as basically a new grad with no prior work experience? I was planning on just listing my first job out of school on my CV and omitting the rest since as I stated, it looks a bit like swiss cheese due to unexpected family health issues and my husbands career. I thank you GREATLY for reading this and in advance for any insight and advice you may offer. I am, to be frank, freaking out here. I have no idea how to start over and I am terrified and lost--so whatever you can offer will, I assure you, help a fellow human being greatly. Blessings, CommonUnity