brentdeshazo

Hello all, This is my first post and I am hoping to get advice from those on the same track as I and even those who have completed it, so pretty much anyone! I can be somewhat long-winded so I will do my best to keep it simple. My ultimate goal (as a hopeful first career of the many I will have over my lifetime) is to be an FNP within an ER. I have done my share of research and have felt that the Family route was best as far as NP goes for my desire to work within a ER - but please feel free to correct me or give me other advice! Here's a little about me: My name is Brent, I am a 23 year old BS Biology Major (3.045 GPA) with a Minor in Chemistry at CSU Long Beach and will be graduating this coming fall. I am currently employed as a Veterinary Technician and have experience both within a hospital (8 Months under 1 DVM) and then 2 years experience on mobile vaccination clinics working under multiple DVMs. I also work within a research laboratory on my campus under a graduate student and hopefully this summer I will be taking on research of my own on top of the previous research mentioned under the professor in whose lab I currently work. This summer I am enrolled in an EMT class and will hopefully be making the transition from Vet Tech to EMT by mid August. Post graduation I plan to go full-time as an EMT as well as study for/take the GRE to prepare for any graduate school requirements. From my research I have discerned that I have two plausible routes to reach my goal both having their pro's and con's (some of which I will list): 1. Post undergraduate I complete an ABSN program and then move on to an MSN program allowing me to exit an FNP -Lots of schools to chose from (therefore greater chances of me getting in) but the expenses are the issue. I am unsure if I would be able to defer my loans from ABSN until after MSN because if I am unable to I am worried that I will get comfortably stuck working as an RN to pay of the loans and will not go back to school. 2. Post undergraduate I enter an ELMSN program which would allow me to exit the same way. -much fewer schools offering this program not to mention much more competitive based upon cohort sizes but would allow me to take out a single loan that I would complete at my goal. Although the latter may seem best I am unsure if I am able to exit as a true FNP from that route? Also there is the issue that if I do not get in (when applying Summer 2014) then I will be waiting another full year to apply again in 2015. I am perfectly comfortable waiting and continuing my work as an EMT (or possibly even Paramedic at that time dependent on how things are going) but I want to make the most educated, beneficial and mature choice I can. Phew, that was a lot. So since you the reader have my life story (practically) I would really appreciate any help and or advice on the possible paths I have said above or even new ones! I am always open to change. My goal is to become an NP within the ER and I will do what is necessary to achieve that! Thanks for sticking with me, hope to hear back soon! Brent