cmonlaf

I would take it! I do not think you would be shooting yourself in the foot at all. In the future if a prospective employer asks you why the change in workplace setting, just tell the truth and state that you needed something that worked better with school. Makes sense. You still have years of clinical experience regardless.

You're welcome! You could also look into prospective programs to see what their requirements are. Generally it is made very plain on their websites that MSN to DNP programs or post master's certificates are only for advanced practice MSNs. Good luck.

I have an MSN CNL and can't just get a post masters certificate because my MSN is entry level (I also had a non-nursing bacherlor's). Post masters certificate programs for NP generally require you to have a degree in advanced practice already (such as another concentration in NP or CNM, CNS). I am currently in a BSN to DNP program because of this. The programs that do consider other nursing masters weren't really much shorter, if a semester or one or two classes. A CNL masters is just not up to par with an APRN masters. Thankfully my CNL program was pretty short as it was accelerated and much cheaper than the program you are considering, otherwise I would have probably got my BSN. In short, definitely get your BSN, if anything simply due to the cost with almost no added benefit. The only way I can see it being beneficial is if the school you are looking for for the CNL would waive some of the classes if you decide to go there when you eventually get your DNP or post masters certificate. My school would only count two of these. Not worth it.

I work in a SNF currently as a nurse manager and I figured continuing to work there might be in my best interest if I want to look at working in LTC or rehab as an NP. Once I graduate I will have 8 years of working there. One of our NPs used to be a DON in SNF. I figure it couldn't hurt and that I should stay put while in school. Thanks!

Good question! I'd like to know too. I am am working towards my DNP. I work 32 hours a week still so I can pay for tuition out if pocket- I am in a 5 year program. Once I start clinicals I will probably have to take some loans out, but I am trying to delay this as long as possible. I got a small scholarship through my work that I'll apply for annually, and there's another one through my state that I am currently applying for. Schools also usually offer small scholarships. This is my second time in graduate school and both have had scholarships. My current school offers a few annually that are approx a grand each. I didn't apply to any because I was overloaded with schoolwork last fall, but other students applied and were rewarded some. Any little bit helps. I also agree with tightening your budget. This can help immensely. I had a baby right before my program started, which didn't help the matter, but we greatly reduced our food spending which can lead to considerable savings. We used to eat out at least 2-3 times a week, and now it is maybe 2-3 times a month. We also shop at a different grocery store with lower prices. I would say look at state schools or other schools that offer affordable tuition. I am attending a state university, and when it's all said and done it will be about 50k. If I lived in the state where my school is and attended full time instead of part time I think it would be about 35k, which is not bad for a BSN to DNP program. I spent 30k getting my RN and paid it off in about 2-3 years, so I am thinking taking about the same out for my NP will be manageable. I do get a discount for reciprocity. There are cheaper ones out there.

I'm actually attending school in WI and there are many rural areas over the border, so I will be checking there too. At this point I almost feel like I know more about WI NPs at this point because WI is focused on so much in or program. I am no where near Madison or Milwaukee so thankfully that is not a concern. I can see it being an issue in the bigger cities though. Thanks!

You get so close to patients and families when doing private-duty that I think it's only natural to feel a little guilt. It is not like the acute setting where you only take care of patients briefly the majority of the time. You have to do what is best for your career and happiness. There is not much growth potential in this setting.

I would do CNS. It is much more widely known. I went through a CNL program and many of the graduates didn't even get certified and worked as bedside RNs initially. Others went on to become CRNAs or NPs. A handful do work as CNLs but not many. There weren't many, if any, jobs when I looked, so I didn't get certified. I graduated in 2012 so there may be more now.

I would not lump the CNL with advanced practice nursing. Only CNPs, CNMs, CRNAs, and CNSs are advanced practice. I have an entry level MSN-CNL and I am currently in a BSN to DNP program, as there aren't many entry-level MSNs to DNP. Although I had graduate level courses, most were not at the level of advanced practice. I am not going to assume all CNL programs are entry-level, but I have seen a lot of them. It is definitely easier to go from one specialty of advanced practice to another. As far as getting the CNL then going for NP, that eould be a waste of time. If I knew originally that being an NP is what I wanted to do, I would have went a different route.

I handle the restorative at my SNF. I also do MDS for LTC. I do MDS three days a week, and within one of those days I do restorative. I would love to be able to devote one day to it; as of now I usually spend at the most 4 hours a week. I do not do any assessment sheets. I also only write a progress note and assess the programs for each resident quarterly around the time of their ARD. This is also when I update the care plans. I interview the NARs and use their restorative charting to see how the residents are doing in the programs. It sounds a lot less involved than what you are doing, but unfortunately the NARs don't always have time to do the restorative programs anyway. It's like fighting a losing battle with the NARs sometimes, but that's a whole different story. I don't often have restorative programs influence the RUG score because it's just not always done and/or charted. But we keep them anyway to benefit the residents' functionality.

As a new grad, I would think working night shift, at least initially, might be a good idea. I started on nights for 8 months before I went to days. Although I didn't so as much as day shift, I still had to use my critical thinking nursing skills and it helped me to ease into the profession. It was still a little rough for me when I switched to days, but not nearly as much as it would have been had I started on days as a new nurse.

I'm in a BSN-DNP program (I have a MSN but it is entry level.) The longest they want you take is 5 years and will only let you do 6 for unexpected life events etc. I'm curious why that would be the case in the school you attended also.

Thank you so much! This is very helpful. I am in a DNP program right now on a part-time basis, so it will be another few years before I have to worry about it. Even so, it will be good to prepare and network before then as I don't want to waste years in school. This Star Tribune article is encouraging. I hadn't seen it before. I have looked on Indeed and LinkedIn, but I have never heard of Ziprecruiter. I have seen openings in those, but I was not sure how competitive the jobs were. I will look into HPSA scores, and FQHCs. Once I start clinicals I will probably have a better idea of my options too. Thanks again for your post and positivity!

It's nice to know that some areas are better. I saw posts stating it's oversaturated in Chicago. Maybe just because it's so large? Which is my worry about the Twin Cities.

I am in school for NP and I asked around to NPs before I started about the market here because of course I researched into what others were saying here on allnurses about oversaturation etc in areas such as Tennessee and Florida, and even the Midwest. The NPs I've talked to don't seem to think it is a problem here in Minnesota. Can any other NPs in the area attest to that? I don't mind moving to a more rural area in MN or WI as long as it's not too far, which I know can help. I currently live near Minneapolis. I'm just worried that by the time I graduate, I will have a hard time finding a job. I will be an adult/gero primary care NP and will either be looking to work in a primary care clinic or SNF.