dmwolfe

thank you so much! I appreciate your constructive input and directing me toward a resource.

I am currently a second career RN (was a history major at an Ivy, went into PR and marketing for 8 years, which sucked my soul away, then I did a direct entry masters at Hopkins because I have always loved health/wellness and helping people) and have been working inpatient pediatrics at Hopkins for two years. While I LOVE working with families and children, I really dislike that there is very little autonomy in my role (e.g. input is not considered by medical team even when they end up pursuing the route suggested anyway), I'm not using my critical thinking skills as much as I thought I would, and it just seems like the hospital is heaping more and more on nursing without pay/career advancement. I was considering becoming a PNP-PC, but I'm not sure I love medicine enough to invest the time into an NP degree. The one thing I have discovered through nursing is that I love the social aspect of nursing and want want to help families in a broader scope than direct care - we see so many families come through that are hampered by custody rulings, abuse victims who are returned to the abuser (even with ample evidence) and then end up dead. TLDR: Does anyone have experience with parlaying their RN experience into a law degree? I think this would allow me to have a broader impact on families/healthcare, more autonomy and would play to my love for research, organization, and writing. Also, if it's of any help, I'm 34, so regardless of whether I go back to school for law or NP, I'll be 37 ish when I finish up, but age is just a number :) Thx in advance!

Thanks for the advice! To all reading the thread (and hopefully offering me much needed advice), a point of clarification on option #2-the direct entry MSN program would allow me to sit for the NCLEX after 15 months, so I would technically have my RN licensure and then go on to complete my MSN. Just wanted to note that in case it was confusing or changed anyone's advice

Hi- I am in the process of completing my pre requisites to go back to nursing school-I have one more to complete before being eligible to apply. For background, I have a non-nursing BA from Princeton and have been working in PR/marketing for the past 5 years) and I've just been chipping away at pre-requs while working fulltime. I'm also volunteering at the local VA hospital. Anyway I recently moved to Seattle (and made my significant other move there as well), so I would like to stay in the Seattle area. I am planning on applying to Seattle University's direct-entry MSN program and the University of Washington ABSN program. I plan on applying to both programs, but in the event that I get into both, which option makes the most sense? 1) Do the ABSN program, work for as an RN for 2-3 years then go back to for the FNP masters, which will take more time 2) Do the direct entry MSN program, work at an RN level job for 2-3 years and then try to transition into an FNP role. In either case, I really want to work as an RN one, because I want the practical nursing experience and two because I've heard that it is easier to get an NP job with practical nursing experience. Would appreciate anyone's opinion, personal anecdotes, etc. Thanks!