RTay64

Thank you all.

It won't allow me to PM you because it says I'm new to the site. Do you know which parts of the country have social workers earning more than nurses? Is it because social work pays more or nursing pays less (or both)? Do you plan to keep your LCSW license current after getting your RN? The reason I ask is that I know a woman who has her LMFT and ARNP and she keeps only the nursing license current even though if she kept the LMFT billiable she could bill as either one. Sorry if these are too personal. I know you said to PM you... And for anyone (just because I'm curious): what do Nurse Practitioners do/have different than MSNs who are RNs? Also for anyone: as an MSW I have the authority to diagnose, assess, and treat mental illnesses (I actually do it all the time). Would that authority somehow go away if I went for the RN? That seems confusing for me. I know the roles would be different, but the actual ability itself would still be the same, right? I ask that last question because I wonder in what context I would be hired...

The reason I said RN is because I didn't realize that MSN was a possibility. Are the salaries vastly different from an RN with a BSN and an MSN? From a theoretical standpoint, it looks like I could possibly go the ADN, BSN, or MSN route, though each would come with different obstacles...

Just out of curiosity, you guys (or gals) are nurses, right? Based on the response I got at work, I thought I'd encounter resistance here, too, but I'm glad I haven't.

Those are good questions. Honestly (you're going to think I'm not very bright) I didn't realize today that the ADN was even an option. For some reason, I thought the ADN led only to the LPN. I'm really glad I asked these questions now.

I'm in Kentucky. This is the closest I've been able to find: Direct Entry MSN (Masters in Nursing) Programs (any of the ones in Cincinnati)

Thank you for this. I don't know if I'd be able to move to Maryland, but this is helpful anyway because before today I didn't realize this was even an option...

Thank you again. You're really helpful! I just searched online a bit (today is my day off, can you tell?) and I think there are no direct-to-MSN programs in my state. The closest one would be in Cincinnati. I have a lot to think about...

Thank you for this feedback. It is really helpful. Right now, a career switch is just in the "in my head" planning stages so I am going to ask some questions which might sound stupid. I thought that direct-to-MSN programs were open only to people who already have a background in nursing? I have my Masters, but not in Nursing. Can you please explain all the abbreviations to me? What is "UR?" What is 0.6 FTE? What is PCT?

I have a Masters in a lower-paying field (Social Work) and am considering enrolling in a community college to get pre-reqs such as chemistry and biology for an eventual RN program. I love working with people (currently I work in a psychiatric setting), and this would be a way for me to earn more money. I'm wondering if anybody on earth has ever taken this path before. I currently work with nurses (two RNs and two ARNPs) and they have all told me that I'm stupid for wanting to "go backward" and get a BA-level license when I already have a Masters-level license (in a non-nursing field). My primary goal is to earn more money, while still working in my current setting. My family situation has recently changed and I need to earn about $60,000 per year at least and I am currently not doing that. How would you advise me? Have any of you had a Masters (or higher) in another field and then switched to nursing?