bsnorbust

Thank you so much for such a thorough response! I agree with you that Public Health is more recognizable and in some ways, I feel that nursing has done a disservice to itself when it comes to the DNP programs in the various specialties. I also agree that after national certification, which I am already working on, there is not much a graduate degree can offer if I stay in the school setting. I would love to get into health policy related to public health and even possibly research. Do you have any suggestions on what I should focus on if health policy is my end goal? I plan to do more digging as well. So far the answers I've gotten from DNP programs equate to your future role is what you make out of it and there is not a specific path. Although I love nursing and feel it's a big part of who I am, I almost feel like a traitor if I obtain an advanced degree in a related field. But these are good questions to ask myself as I truly want to pursue higher education that could ultimately lead to me promoting the health of others.

Hi all, Currently, I am a certified school nurse and want to continue my education for some growth, autonomy and an increased salary, hopefully. I love the community health/public health aspect and started in outpatient and have been a school nurse for a couple of years. I am considering a DNP program in public health nursing or population health nursing, unsure of the major difference between the two tbh. There doesn't seem to be that much info online about whether this is a wise choice? My worry is that these at 60k-70k programs and I fear that I will end up with a useless degree. I am unsure where graduates end up. I have tried to research current positions that could apply to me after graduation but there is nothing specific I can find. How is this degree viewed? Any benefit of completing a nursing centered graduate degree in comparison to a MPH that may be cheaper with more availability of programs?

Thank you very much for your valuable input. I haven’t considered this point of view but it makes sense. Interestingly enough a majority of my professors are graduates from my school and end up teaching there.

Hi guys, I joined the forum before even starting nursing school and it has been a god send for support and motivation. I have since earned my ADN, BSN and school nurse certification. My ADN was through a community college and my BSN and certification at a top reputable brick and mortar university in my city. I am now a school nurse and looking to pursue my MSN (possibly even DNP) in the future. I have heard that it’s better to pursue a graduate degree at a different school than your undergrad degree. Is there any truth to this? I aM thinking of getting my MSN ED through WGU or any reputable school (still on the fence about WGU). Also considering Advanced Population Health Nursing DNP. My ultimate goal is to move up in lane within my district due to having another degree and see where it takes me in the future. any idea on whether the school matters or if it should be a different one then my alma matter?

I am currently switching to school nursing after being in primary care for a year. I will also be hopefully starting my CSN program in the fall. Currently I have one offer from a staffing agency that pays hourly (higher than expected which is great!) and at a charter school. They have expressed me being hired directly, possibly as a CSN when I'm done, after the school year. I am also waiting to hear back from the school district that I applied directly to. I expect a reply in 7-10 days. This would be my major city school system and is salary based, I think it comes out to lower when calculated hourly. The benefit would be stability, growth, pension etc. I am having a hard time choosing. At this point the only of working with the agency is the higher hourly rate. With this said, because I get paid per hour, the yearly salary is actually lower than the school district option. Also the district would be helping with tuition for the CSN program. My thoughts are that I could always reapply to the district with a year experience and now as a CSN by next year. Do I wait until I hear back from the school district position? If so, is it OK to tell this to my recruiter? How would I even phrase that? Any input is appreciated and any pros/cons comparing working for the district directly or the agency. Thanks!

Thank you so much for the tip! Trying to really focus this time around.

Do you still have that study guide by any chance? Taking the nclex for the second time around and trying to build a solid study plan. How did you tackle the Lacharity book? Did you go straight to answering questions in the case study or did you read the whole book?

Hi guys, The second time around attempting the NCLEX and wanting to give it my all. I just purchased the 4th edition of the LaCharity Delegation book and plan to use Uworld and HURST as well. I am feeling really overwhelmed on how to break down tackling the LaCharity book as I make up my study plan. The new edition is 800+ pages! Do you do only the case studies? Do you read the whole book? How do people tackle this thing? I keep hearing its a great resource but it seems like a huge book!

Hi guys! I have been a longtime reader of this forum even when i was only considering the idea of becoming an RN. The forum and success stories have been an inspiration during some tough times. Fast forward 3 years and I have graduated with my ADN May 2018. Awaiting to take my NCLEX early September. I went into nursing to become an NP. Currently, I am so so overwhelmed with the number of RN-BSN school options out there. And then there are also RN-NP? Oh my! My prof highly recommends WGU. I like the idea because of affordability and possibly finishing quicker but not sure if I love the idea of a max gpa of 3.0. Then again, I came out of nursing school with a 3.0 and was lucky for it! How did you go about choosing an RN to BSN school? Are programs easier than the ADN? Scared for my GPA for graduate school as well.

Thank you so much for replying! I've actually signed up for a webinar so I'm waiting for the next one so I'm waiting to hear about the next one. Great tip! I did a transcript eval as well. Jasmine has been communicating with me. Basically I was told to aim for A's in my ADN program. It seems like as long as you meet the 2.75 cutoff and meet the requirements, you're in. Which is way less competitive than the UIC traditional route. I still have 1 chem, sociology and history to complete. I'm trying to do those while I'm in nursing school. What was your GPA is you don't mind me asking? Also looking for a manageable chemistry course. Any place you'd recommend?

Hi guys, I'm starting my RN program at a local community college this fall. My plan is to get my BSN afterward through UIC's RN to BSN online program. Long term I'm hoping to become a FNP. I am getting a little ahead of myself since I am not even an RN yet but I'd like to have a clearer idea of my prospects. Does anybody know anything about the general consensus around UIC's RN to BSN program? It seems like the traditional program is rigorous and hard to get into but the RN-BSN program is easier to get into. I love the fact that it will be all online and at the end, UIC has a great reputation for nursing. If anybody knows anything specifically about the program please chime in. I recently talked to another university who did a transcript eval. I'm coming back to school and really messed up the first time around and it's coming back to haunt me. The school calculated my GPA as 2.7, but my science GPA at 4.0. I've hit the ground running since coming back and got all A's in my nursing prereqs that I've almost forgotten how bad my past was. After thinking that I actually have a chance at becoming an NP one day, my old grades are now making me doubt this. The only courses that will affect my grades are my RN school credits. Anybody in the same boat (doing better now but still struggling from an old GPA)? Anything you know about the GPA UIC's RN-BSN will take and how hard that program is?

Thanks for your input guys. The LTC facility is really flexible with me which is crucial because I want to work throughout nursing school. I'm going to take the job and get some experience and see where it takes me. I don't wasnt to make the mistake of being too greedy. Although I'd love to start off in a hospital, they are really difficult to get with no experience.

Hi guys, So I am finishing up my CNA course and will be certified next month. I was hired by a local LTC facility who will allow me to work even before I'm licensed which is great because it's a guaranteed employment that's close to home. I start nursing school in the fall. My end goal is to become an NP in private practice. My plan is to work as an RN in a hospital and continue as I go through school. I wanted to be a CNA to get my foot in the door and kind of guarantee an RN job right after school since it's so hard to RNs to get jobs with no prior experience. I know CNA does not count as nursing experienceA so it won't help me as a new grad but I thought being a CNA I could find a job in the same hospital I worked in. I've applied to many hospital jobs and they seem harder to get than LTC which practically give away jobs. I heard before that once you start in LTC you are stuck there for good in your nursing career which is NOT what I want at all. I want the patient contact experience and the networking advantage and to get some experience. So guys what should I do? 1.Take the job and continue working through nursing school and hope I can get a job in a hospital afterwards? 2. Keep looking for a hospital CNA job? They're hard to come by with no experience 3. Work here 6 months then try and find a hospital CNA job? Does working in LTC mean employers won't see you as anything but a LTC nurse?

This is all great input. I think it will help my confidence and get used to being so personal with patients. I never thought I would have to get comfortable with working so closely with patients, I guess I thought the hardest part would be getting into nursing school. I just signed up today for the 5- week course. It seems like most of the jobs are in nursing homes, like our clinicals, as opposed to hospitals. I will focus on getting into a hospital to make the most of it. I def will not be THAT know it all CNA lol

Oh wow! The networking tips are great too. Makes me think strategically about where to work as a CNA as well.