mecha-sorah

Hi everyone, Im also interested in applying for the PhD in the next application cycle. My research interest is in cardiac- particularly how rural populations can getting manage their heart failure, as well as self care and depression in heart failure/ MI patients. I currently work on a general medicine floor with occasional heart failure patients- mainly patients with an CHF exacerbation or new diagnosis of HF. We get a lot of patients from rural communities. How important is relevant clinical experience (i.e. working on a cardiac floor) important in becoming a successful PhD student AND future post-doc tenure track faculty? Or can we find other ways to get that kind of experience etc.?

I have worked about 1.5 years on a general medicine floor and looking at applying to step down floors particularly in cardiac this upcoming spring (April, etc.). I want to know what I can do to prepare myself for this job and learning curve, how to make myself attractive to employers, and what to expect for a learning curve from a general medicine to step down.

Hi. Im interested in the PhD route. I have two published articles while in undergrad, one of which I am the first author. I'm looking to apply either this year or next year. Im interested in health disparities, rural populations, cardiac disease and depression. My publications are not related to my research interest. Schools I'm interested in include UNC, UCLA, UCSF, Columbia, Upenn, Yale. I got into the MPH program at a number 2 ranked according to US News. Im debating if I should do this route and then go straight into the PhD (to make my app stronger) or if I should just go directly to PhD. THe MPH will be payed by my employer 100 percent but that will require me to be part time work -24 hours 12 hr shifts and M-F classes Also how strict are they on GRE? I took mine five years ago and it was 65 percent. Thoughts anyone?

May I ask, what do you think about the MPH degree?

possibly. LOL I also have to consider whether I will like the NP role you know? Don't want to be in a job that I don't like. I realized that Im more of a nursing theory person then a patient care person. I have always been interested in the "why" behind things. Im considering shadowing one of the NPs at the place I volunteer at. During my undergrad years, I thought that if I wasn't going for a PhD, then I would do Clinical Nurse Specialist as its more research related and quality improvement, etc. but now, its not easy to get a CNS job. I also figured that Im interested in public health and was thinking of possibly going for public health nursing or primary care. The other concern is whether to do AGPCNP or FNP. Granted, FNP is the most flexible but I'm not as passionate about working with children and pregnant women if that makes sense? Im more interested in working with adults with chronic conditions.

I guess another concern is about NP jobs? I got into Vanderbilt for AGACNP with only med-surg experience. Back then I didn't know what to do so I applied to acute care. But, its very hard to be hired as an acute care NP without at least step down floor experience if that makes sense. It is also online and I am more of a in class person. I also applied to UNC AGPCNP program but haven't heard back. Prob wont get in because i thought my application was BS. I have been hearing that it is very hard now for NPs to get jobs, esp. with this "oversaturation" that I keep hearing about. I also would like to go for an FNP residency if I choose the NP route so that I have more time to develop my skills. I mean, I would like to use my NP degree after I get it if that makes sense. My dream school would be UCSF so that I can go back home and then UNC because of tuition reimbursement as I enjoy debt free education, with the third being UCLA where I went for undergrad in nursing. I started volunteering at a health care clinic that serves uninsured individuals who are below the poverty line and signed up to volunteer with remote area medical and plan to volunteer with them at least once a month. It is also quite difficult to get into an NP program I heard, esp. the good ones like UCSF, UCLA, Upenn, UNC, Emory, Yale, Columbia, etc. etc. etc. As where we graduated from can help us get a job (or at least it helped me for undergrad). Im not sure if I can get in next year. That was why I said that it might take me two more years: 1. so that I can prepare my application and gain more experiences to prepare for a job after I graduate, 2. to learn Spanish with my tuition reimbursement as that will help with my application and for my job, 3. To help me with maturity needed to become a provider. I also heard of some dual NP-PhD programs like Upenn, Yale, University of Rochester just to name a few.

I guess the concern for me is like age. I probably won't feel ready to pursue my FNP until 2 more years as a bedside RN so I will be 27 when I go for an FNP, 29 when I graduate. Working for a few more years before pursuing a PhD so maybe I will start the PhD at around 31, graduate at 35, postdoc for two years will be 37- hopefully becoming tenure at the age of 43... HOW AM I GOING TO SAVE FOR RETIREMENT? And the older we are, the harder it is for us to pursue more education because of having a family, etc. I know that many nurses pursue their PhD later in life but some professors I am speaking with say that nursing is changing- how now younger people fresh out of school are going straight for their PhDs. Granted, we won't know how it turns out as there are both benefits and consequences are having experience prior to going for a PhD. Benefits include having real world knowledge which will def. help with research. Consequences may be that we would make less of an impact given that the older someone is, the sooner that person may retire.

Currently, I have a BSN from a top school (no, it is not upenn) and worked for a year and a half on a general medicine med surg floor. I am at the age of 25, turning 26 this year. I was thinking about getting my MPH at UNC first (already applied to that school) due to tuition reimbursement (going to school for free basically) and then debating whether I should go and become an NP first or go straight to the PhD. I have always loved research and originally wanted to go straight into research after working for a few years as an RN. My interest is underserved populations and how we can better improve primary care for them, etc. etc. I use to dread the NP role because I was so set on research. Lately, I have been interested in the NP role as I would also like to serve those in rural areas, provide health education and primary prevention as well as provide them with care. I particularly interested in working with underserved populations, those who are homeless, etc. I think that being an FNP would allow me to achieve those goals. However, I am more of a population focused person. I'm not a super one on one person and I discovered that as a bedside nurse. Things about me: I am single and no kids. If i get married and have kids, I might be prioritizing my kids and my household. If I do a PhD and get married, I might consider being a stay home mom so that I can be with my children and help them grow etc. May I ask for opinions on whether I should go do my NP first and then go back for a PhD if I decide to or should I just go straight to PhD. There is also the option of doing a PhD and then later, if I decide to- go for an FNP.

Thanks for the response. I found out that I wanted to do research when I was in undergrad. My mind works with systems and populations instead of helping people one by one and discovered my passion for public health. After working at a hospital for a year, I learned that I don't really see myself as a hospital nurse long term. I aspire to work with underserved populations in the community- maybe along the lines of primary care, homeless shelters? My research interest is on how people with mental health disorders can better manage their cardiovascular health- focusing on health equity, social determinants of health. My original plan was to go straight from BSN to a PhD after a few years of clinical experience but was later told that I should become either an FNP or AGPCNP so that I can have a better understanding of the issues in the primary care setting but never really considered the NP route. (I never really shadowed an NP but while working in the hospital- I learned that Im not a super hands on patient care person) There are benefits to working as an NP as I would have a better understanding of the problems patients and providers face in the primary care setting. I started volunteering as an intake nurse in a non-profit community clinic serving uninsured individuals knowing that it is a good idea to get experience in a field that I want to research on. However, its not so much like in the trenches as some of the volunteer NPs experience in the clinic. I was also considering academia in an R1 university and going tenure track and heard that they prefer ppl with MSN and PhD vs someone with a BSN straight to PhD. Do you have any thoughts on whether it is best to pursue an NP first, work a few more years to gain competence or just going straight to a PhD after this year? I applied to MPH programs this year to further increase my knowledge and exposure my population of interest and am also considering going for a masters in advanced public health nursing. I spoke to a professor in nursing and she said that as PhD prepared RNs, we will be teaching theory courses based on our research interests- so I guess for me, that will be public health?

I wanted to know people's thoughts on a dual NP/PhD program. I aspire to pursue a PhD in the near future focusing on mental health and cardiovascular disease. I currently have one year of med-surg experience as a nurse and i am age 25. I also started volunteering as a nurse in an outpatient non-profit clinic working with low-income populations recently. I am torn between which direction to take. I was recommend by someone to get an AGPCNP so that I can work more with this population and really see the problems that need to be resolved so that I can conduct better research and have enough clinical experience to draw from. Someone else also told me to go straight to PhD. I am concerned about how a lack of clinical experience in what I want to research on will effect me in the future but would also like to get my PhD as soon as possible (I know it will take a while) so that I can launch my research career. I was also considering a dual NP/PHD program that university of rochester, upenn, yale to name a few have. But, Im not sure how people in these dual programs use their NP degree while in the PhD program?

Would you also recommend MSN-PhD or DNP/PhD programs?

Hi Everyone, I am interested in pursing a PhD in Nursing focusing on cardiovascular disease/ public health/ prevention in the near future. Currently, I have around 1 year of nursing experience and by next year- I will have about two (meaning that if I apply that year for PhD entry the following year- I will be at three years). My experience currently is in general medicine but I have previous publications- including one first author as an undergrad. I want to know the general thought on how much experience of bedside nursing is recommended prior to pursing a PhD. I know that some people go straight from BSN to PhD and others decide to get extensive bedside experience first. There are both pros and cons of each of these approaches. I also know others who do one year of RN bedside experience and then work per-diem after that while in the PhD program. Is it also beneficial to do a MSN-PhD program or become an NP prior to going for PhD? My ultimate goal is to become a professor at an R1 research intensive university to do research. I have also spoken to some professors in nursing schools and they stated that one of the questions they ask the potential professor candidates is "What can you teach besides nursing research?". On the side note, I would also like to any experience in other higher acuity units such as step down and ICU. Thanks!

I have a question. Which is more related to a med-surg unit in a hospital? A Rehab nursing home or an SNF?

Hey laurellestars, have u had any luck finding a CNA job?

Thanks . Its really scary because the people said that I would most likely fail again if I don't make the necessary changes. I also found out that in able to return to the nursing program, i have to get interviewed to determine if i would be successful the second time around. If i don't pass the interview, i get to wait an additional year... -_________-