RN needs advice on career advancement

[Robinenr]

Hello!

I am an RN with a BSN who has 5 years experience in the pediatric Cardiac icu/neonatal icu. I love my job. I love the intensity of the icu. I also want to use my brain more and advance my career down the clinical pathway. Management hasn't ever interested me. I love working in a large hospital setting but being only in my late 20s I'm thinking one day slowing down in a office would be nice. Things that interest me would be PA vs NP (FNP or peds) vs CRNA vs perfusionist? I have an idea what each of these means, but I am very interested in the lifestyle I could have for each....including compensation, hrs a day, hrs per week, and the feasibility of obtaining a job after graduating school with the current job market saturation that I have been hearing about from my peers who have graduated grad school. Any advice from those experienced and wiser? Those with careers, what would you do if you could do things over again from your 20s? I am married without kids and could afford to cut back or leave my current job to relocate or attend school full time as my husband is up for the adventure.

Thank you everyone for your advice in advance!

[Born_2BRN]

I would highly recommended if you are serious want to advance your career. Do it early while you don't have kids. Once you have kids your life will be totally different. I am attending BSN-DNP and I just turned 31. I wish I could have done it sooner but I'm still happy that I stick to my career plan all along. I do not see bedside nursing my future neither on the management side--too boring as I see it. I need a challenge and keep my blood pumping and my heart raising but of course I want to be able to make the decision not following.