ExploringNurse

Save money and go to kishwaukee college for nursing. Obtain BSN on tuiton reimbursement from employers. I graduated from kish, and the reputation and nclex pass rates speak for themselves vs niu. Since you're young I will share some advice-go to more affordable, more reputable. Obtain bsn while working. Just my two cents. By the way, I am an niu employee previously and rn to bsn student at niu, so I solid input.

Honestly I found my rn to bsn more tedious and annoying like a mosquito, but not difficult nor time consuming. I'm about two years out after graduating with my ADN and I used to and still do pick up frequently. That's by my choice to pay down credit cards. If you put in your time, and already went from part time to full time, you have done your part. I want to get to a point to where I can work my 4 eight hour shifts and be fine financially. I put in my time and want to be left alone after that. Life is about working to live, not living to work.

Sauce, although mostly true, I'm hardly lazy. That's all I am going to give your response as you know nothing about me. I was looking for opinions and I got yours. Insurance companies pay less on readmissions. One way to prevent readmissions is education. To truly educate a patient takes time. Time your boss doesn't like you to spend. I get the business model perfectly fine I came from the business world.

All definitely great information, and I appreciate it immensely. Trauma, I live in IL too, but plan on moving out in next 3 to 4 years. What is the consensus model? I read about it here and there but can never find a good explanation in lame terms. Also, LACE? how do they two terms affect the practice e of an NP? I am not against the NP route, but do not want to be stuck in an urgent care clinic where all that matters is numbers. I get numbers being important, but most make it trump quality care. I would do agnp, because hours, holidays and weekends are important to me as well. I am also worried about the NP market to come. When I went to search for CNS programs near me, I found 2 or 3. When I searched NP programs, I found 10 to 15. Maryjean, great post, and it is true for most positions that bean counters deem worthless.

I am currently a bedside nurse, interested in an advanced degree to start next year. I know the common routes, and np and np schools are popping up everywhere, accepting everyone. Education, academically, does not pay enough for my lifestyle with kids and traveling. Nurse practitioner is losing its appeal to me with the way the health system is in America. The ag CNS degree excited me over two years ago, and it still does, but it's fate is up in the air because of the emergence of tons of NPs. What are people's opinions on where the CNS degree will be in 10 years? All opinions welcome.

Following this thread for good answers. I have been thinking the same thing. I don't mind academic education based msn degrees. But I would rather be in a clinical setting.

Definitely not and I like the open ended questions. What you listed as in clinical things, mngmt things, and educational things sounds perfect, and what I would be aiming for. The problem I see with CNS roles is the fact they are steadily phasing out. Money is not a huge priority but I'd like enough to pay down student loans and go on some family vacations. What MSN path points down that road?

I'm not that naive to think that. I see it every day at work. I'm referring to a higher up job such as unit director, director of quality care, etc. Those kinds of jobs.

I agree with that but I want a job where I work what I work and don't get called by the hospital every 3 hours to pick up cause they're short staffed. I don't want to remain prn. I want a single job and fulfill my time and spend the rest with family. It may sound selfish but the way of America is to work to death and I don't wanna be a part of that.

I posted in this forum because I wanted the opinions of the ones who live it day to day. I have been debating on my MSN specialty for some time now. I really enjoy leadership and management, because I feel like I am a leader and great at resolving issues. I really also love patient bedside care and dealing with all different kinds of patients, which leads me to nurse practitioner. Money is not the biggest factor, but it helps. I want to live comfortably, and go on vacations with my family and pay down student loan debt. Most nurse practitioners that I've seen or talked to make between 80 and 100k a year, and directors I have talked to make over 120k a year. I'm torn between the two. Can a nurse practitioner fall into a management role? As well as can a management position that is a serious one that makes good money fall into a bedside patient role? The directors I have and talk to are so disconnected from bedside care because of meetings, responsibilities, other administrative duties, etc. I really don't want to be bedside as an RN forever, as it wears me then and puts a lot of unneeded stress on me and family. I am looking into clinical roles that are not bedside, and I think an MSN would help with that too. Let's get some opinions! Administration, do you guys get sick of pushing outcomes and reimbursement to an already overworked and tired, short staffed crew? Does the job involve more? I mean , I know it does entail the day to day but I don't want to be an email and paper pusher all day with no connection to patients, so what administration job mixes the two?