shouldhavebeenapoet

There aren't too many of us. I've been looking into PhD programs both in Nursing and other related fields since I'm interested in policy and administrative research. I'm looking in Canada, the US and the UK. The good thing about the UK is that you have to finish in three years. I'm not sure I want to spend ten years working on my PhD. What type of programs are you looking at? Sarah:balloons:

Thanks for the replies! I did my direct entry MSc(A) in Nursing at McGill and really like the flexibility that we have with it in terms of the types of positions that my classmates got coming out. I'm still trying to decide where my true niche will be though. Sarah

Where did lalaxton and SarahRNBScN do your NP training? How did you like the programs and did they prepare you for the type of work you are doing now?

I have some experience in non-nursing addictions research before I did my Masters in Nursing and then for my Masters I ran a qualitative study of nurses, but that's not much. What does a monitor do compared to a site coordinator? Thanks for the info!

I can understand that you aren't interested in going back to school at this point in your life. I also agree that making $80,000 would be really nice. I am thinking of getting out of hospital nursing and have thought about pharmaceutical companies, but I don't want to be a sales rep or anything related to sales. What was your friend doing who was earning the big bucks? How do you plan to get your foot in the door? Sarah

I sent most of my papers for application to the NMC about a month ago and I'm just waiting for my school to do their part. I'm worried because at some point they said that they would send me a letter each month to tell me what is still outstanding. I received one of those letters but none in a few months. Do you think its possible my file has been closed? has anyone tried sending a letter to extend their application period beyond the six months?

I read on the ONP website that charging for these placements is not an approved practice and the NMC is seeking to stop it. You should report this institution to them for their information in case they are not already aware.

I understand why an individual would not want to spend money going back to school only to be in a lower paying position when you come out. But why is education valued so little in nursing? I think that their should be higher educational standards in terms of who is hired into certain posts and it would bring up the public's opinions and respect for nursing in general. Experience is always more valuable than no experience but if we were more standardized in terms of which type of education is required for which job I think nursing as a profession would benefit in the long run. I think if nurses valued education for the sake of knowledge as well, and then aimed for a position that required their combination of education and past experience instead of just the position where they could make the most money maybe there would be more nurses satisfied with their careers.

I think that the qualifications that you need to be a research nurse depend on the type of research you are doing. For example I know of some clincial research jobs involving measurement of physical parameters and blood taking where only basic nursing training is required and the job might be working for a doctor. On the other hand, academic level nursing research jobs where you are studying nursing practice or administration would usually require a Masters or PhD, I think. I graduated with a direct entry Masters degree over a year ago, and have been a floor nurse in Oncology and more recently in pediatrics. I'm interested in getting into research in the future when I find the right job! There are lots of opportunities out there. Did you read the nursing research forum... I'm just about to.