Apple2020

@ghillbert , thank you for your response and honesty. I have heard a similar response from many of the RNs I work with at the hospital. It seems the medical model route (either PA or MD) seems to be the most ideal for the trauma world. Definitely food for thought as I begin looking at preparation for grad school and pre-requisites! Thanks again for your response ?

Greetings, This is my first post on here and I thank the community here for their knowledgeable contributions as I frequently read the articles and discussions. So I am currently a BSN student with one semester to go to finish my program. Over the past year I have worked in a hospital as a float tech and found a liking to the ED, particularly the Trauma bays. The staff at my hospital is phenomenal and nurses, NPs, and MDs alike have all taken the time to teach me and get me involved in helping them during trauma cases and severe medical emergencies within my limited role and scope allows. Regardless, I have always had intentions of going on to become a Provider and now emergency and trauma appear to be the strong specialty that I gravitate towards. As far as theory goes, the nursing approach is by far what I love more and educationally I would be setup to be far more prepared for an NP program just be virtue of the fact that I am getting a traditional BSN. So my question is this, will I be missing out as an NP working in emergency / trauma? Will I be viewed as less than and be less adequate to provide trauma and emergency care? Choosing between NP and MD is quite difficult and they both have some attractive qualities. Thanks for any input as far as this goes. ? - T

oldandintheway, haha absolutely! My dad attended MTSU as an engineering major and said that when Austin Peay would come to play sports against MTSU, the MTSU students had a chant that went "If you can't go to college, go to peay" (pronouncing it just as you said) and would repeat it haha I'm sure he will give me a hard time for attending school there!

teapiglets, Thanks so much for your kind comment! I am glad to hear you think I am considering this wisely :) It's always great to hear advice from people with experience! I have only been in a hospital a few times in my life (thankfully, never have had to be a patient myself, and have only been to a clinic a few times when I was younger) but I have always admired healthcare professionals since I was very young! Thanks so much! Hopefully you're right and I will be :) Merry Christmas and a happy new year!

elkpark, thanks for your input! Yes, that's very true! Honestly, I think Ill be happy wherever I go to college, as long as the education is a quality one. But I'd love to move to Florida one day, maybe when I'm older. Thanks again for your input!

Heathermaizey, I'm glad to hear that you think Austin Peay is an excellent college! I know I want to be a mid-level provider so I will at least get an MSN but I was thinking of getting a DNP while I'm still younger and have less responsibilities. And yes! That's absolutely what I was thinking of doing, just being patient, enjoying my first 4 years in TN, and then eventually going to grad school in Florida. :) Absolutely, good luck on moving down south! Florida is a beautiful state and I'd love to work in my own personal paradise! Thanks for your input!

twozer0, thanks for your input! After hearing from everyone hear, and then some family and friends, I think my decision is going to be a state school and end up coming out debt free :) as far as my intentions, I strongly desire to be a Nurse Practitioner and hopefully specialize for work in the ER, ICU, or surgical. Later in my life, if I prove to be a confident and knowledgeable worker, I'd like to be a head nurse at a hospital. This is why I was thinking of going ahead and getting a DNP after working for a while, at least while I'm younger and don't have as many responsibilities.

Thanks so much for your input! And yes, I don't want to become another statistic of a student who over-payed for an education. I am leaning towards going to a state school with no debt

meanmaryjean, I would have to agree with you, this has been my thinking as the logistics of paying this off would be very difficult, plus if I had saved $40,000 I could have bought my dream car of an Aston Martin DB7 and still have another $20,000 haha (or, as you said, take quite a few vacations to my favorite state!) Thanks for your input! :)

RNinIN, Absolutely, thats what I've been thinking about, the way I see it, $40,000 could more than buy my dream car or a down payment on a house, so I'm really leaning towards going to a state school instead. Thanks for your input! :)

Greetings, I posted a thread regarding the cost of school and everyone on here has been so helpful! I have a question regarding a guaranteed seat program I have been accepted to. I am a high school senior who plans to earn a BSN and then a DNP. I have been accepted to all the colleges I have applied at and now the harder part of determining how much to spend on my education has come in to play as a role in my decision. I have been accepted to Palm Beach Atlantic, a university in southern Florida that has a wonderful program and their NCLEX pass rate is around 96% and some years even %100! I also applied to and was accepted to their guaranteed seat program, so as long as I have satisfactory grades, I will continue in the program without having to take the TEAS, apply for upper lever, etc. I visited the school and absolutely loved it and really the only thing that may be a factor for me not attending the university would be its cost. The degree will (with calculated loan rates) cost me approximately $40,000 (after scholarships, savings, work during the summer and school year). This appears to be a lot of money I really don't want to spend especially because I want to get a DNP. BUT is having a guaranteed seat worth the cost? My other top school is Austin Peay State University, the nursing program appears to be good, the NCLEX pass rate is good (I don't recall the numbers at the moment), and my cousin attends and she has enjoyed her time there. It is a state school and I will have to be a pre-nursing student first. If I go to APSU, I will, with scholarships, savings, and work, be able to attend the college debt free. SO, is going to a private school on the beach in Florida and having a guaranteed seat worth $40,000? Or should I attend a state school, with the risk of being wait-listed, etc. and not have any debt? I keep hearing about it being hard to get into nursing programs but I feel I am a strong student (3.95 high school GPA and a 26 ACT score) so I am confident that with good work I will do good in college wherever I go but I don't want to put my career on hold just to save money. If you guys could give me your input I would appreciate it. Thanks! :)

CSU1987, thanks for your input! :)

ThatBigGuy, Thanks for your input!:) those are all very good points to think about. I had no idea that I could earn that much as a pizza guy, pretty cool! haha but yeah I think the answers I've gotten have certainly made me consider going to a cheaper state schoolf or my first 4 years

Honey Clover, CNA, thanks for your input! :) I am definitely considering going to a state school for my first 4 years especially since I could go for little to no money. I certainly don't want to work too much in school as I would rather focus on studying. Do you consider having a guaranteed seat in a nursing program worth any value? My only fear with going to a state school is that after the first two years, I have to take an exam (HESI or TEAS depending on the school?) and I may have to move to a different college if I am not accepted at the school I will attend for pre-reqs. Is this something to consider or am I just being a worry wart? lol

OnOn2RN, Thanks for your input! :) I definitely agree with you, the school is expensive and I'm not sure I want to spend that kind of money. The way I see it, if I went to a state school and paid little to no money, I could end up saving close to $45,000. Thats alot of money I could have saved for grad school or bought a car with! I will certainly check out the college your mentioned. I appreciate you posting!