RN to BSN in MI? Y or N if plan to be stay @ home mom?

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So, I have been an RN (associates degree) for 5 years in Michigan, I am 26, and have our 1st baby boy due in one month! (yay!) Not currently working since some issues earlier in the pregnancy, and I have only had 1 full time job in the last 5 years at a LTC facility. I have also done PT/contingent jobs in home care, private duty, and on a med-surg floor...but due to my husband and I moving 2 times, my resume is choppy with all these being short term jobs...which I know isn't a good thing. But now we are settled and starting a family.

Our plan is for me to be a stay at home mom for the next 3-6+ years...depending on how many kids we have, my hubby has a pretty decent job, so this works for us and I figure kids are only little once and I want to be with them, I have the rest of my life to work...just not now.

SO...with all that being said, is it worth it for me to try to get a BSN now, within the next 12-18 months, considering I won't be working for quite some time? I am also concerned about the debt from college, and maybe not making much more money with a BSN than I could make now...but I know there are more jobs open to BSN grads, yet I also have no desire for a management type job, and see myself mainly working a PT/contingent job in the future.

I was thinking my other option is to take an RN refresher course closer to the time when Ill be entering the workforce again...I know I will need a skills/ everything refresher by then and maybe that's all I'd need?

I don't have a specific type/ field of nursing I want to get into when I do go b2work, I probably see myself sticking with homecare/hospice/private duty type jobs...

In all honesty I haven't really enjoyed most of my other RN jobs, home care and private duty were fairly good fit for me, but not a fan of case mgmt. I just don't know if it's worth it or not to spend all the money on a BSN with this situation. I do value education, but when it may not pay me more in return...not so sure...especially since we would have all that college debt for years before I would be working to pay towards it...

Thanks for reading, any advice or thoughts?

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I have read that after being off for so many years, you are basically treated as a new grad, and I do not want to go through that again with taking a job on a floor. Perhaps it would be better for me to go back to school closer to when I plan to work, rather than get it done now but wouldn't be using the BSN for years more...

I am tempted to just start over with a new career path when I do return to the workforce, and leave nursing all together...I don't want to feel as though I'm a new grad again! It's hard to know what things will be like in 3-6 years

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Enjoy your baby(future babies). School is hard with newborns. I would worry about it when you get there. Since you already have your RN you could use ur FAFSA if applicable to finish a degree online in something else if nursing is not looking good to you any longer. :) Congrats on the baby!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTACH, LTC, Home Health.

If I were you, and I'd go ahead and get that BSN done while there is only one wee tyke needing your attention. In this economy, you never know if or when you may become the sole source of income. You owe it to your family and to yourself to be able to provide for your loved ones should the time presents itself. It could mean the difference between home sweet home and homeless shelter housing.

The BSN trend is happening right now. An online BSN program can be done from your baby's nursery if need be. I say do it now....before your back is up against the wall. Who knows, you might land one of those work-from-home utilization review or telephonic RN jobs that will fit in quite well with your family life.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

If I were you (and I'm not) I would keep a PRN job after baby comes with private duty and work on my BSN through an online school like WGU. The cost is very reasonable (you could earn enough a couple days a month to pay cash) and you can do everything except the community practicum at home with the baby. The community practicum is in YOUR community, arranged by you so you can work around hub's schedule.

You never know what the future will bring- I'd rather be prepared with a BSN that I 'might' never need than really NEED it and not have it.

Best wishes!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

CONGRATS on the impending arrival!

I STRONGLY recommend that you get your BSN/RN online as soon as possible. As nursing goes forward they will be only an increasing requirement for a BSN. While you see no need to work now...the future is NEVER certain. When you want or need to work...you might find that even with a refresher course not having a BSN might make you unemployable. I would look into per diem....stay employed in some manner. One or two weekend shifts a month will allow you to remain "current" and will give your hubby he perfect bonding time with your new arrival.

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Specializes in ER.

There is a preference for BSNs and it will only grow due to a lot more people going back to school for nursing and more schools offering it. I would honestly consider a PRN job even if it is only one weekend a month kind of deal. That way you can show that you have kept up on your skills.

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Specializes in hospice.

applesxoranges gave good advice, but even if you choose not to work (for pay) at all for a while, once you have that BSN no one can ever take that away from you. You can always take a refresher course after your years at home and then get back into nursing.

I work full time now yet still don't really consider myself a "former SAHM." I guess I'm a hybrid SAHM because I work three 12 hour night shifts a week so I can be home when my husband isn't and vice versa. I can still pick up kids from school and cook dinner, I make it to most sports and after-school events, and when I have to go to work, Dad is home to pick up seamlessly with homework, chores, etc. I feel like I have the best of both worlds and wouldn't give up my years at home with my little ones for anything.

Good luck and you'll make it work. :)

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