which route to take to be an ER nurse? please help

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I have my ASN right now and I am enrolled in a bridge program to get my BSN and MSN at Mercy College in NY. I am also working in an acute care rehab hospital.

Basically, I chose to be in the RN-BSN-MSN program because I was thinking the best thing would be to have my masters ASAP so It would open more opportunities and also increase my paycheck, and why not just continue on in school before I have a family and so on. So, the bridge was the best way to go in my opinion, since it would save me a little time.

But, now I am realizing my dillema, which is that at Mercy the masters is only in education or administration. I have no interest in ever teaching or being in administration. I love beside patient care. My dream is to one day be in the ER and be a great trauma nurse. So, in conclusion, is getting my master's in administration going to help me in any way in the future? In other schools that I have researched, most of the masters programs also gear towards having an administrative role. So, I basically just need help deciding what the best route for me to take is. I am at the crossroads, and am not sure which way to turn. Is there some sort of master's program somewhere geared toward ER/trauma nursing? Or is it only special certifications? Theres so much information on the internet that it gets really confusing. Any advice you all could give or personal experiences with this same dillema would help me greatly!!

Thanks for your time!!

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Specializes in Emergency.

I wish I had the foresight that you obviously have when I received my ASN in 2009. If I knew then what I know now, I would've pursued my BSN initially or immediately after my ASN. I agree that most masters-prepared nurses are teaching or move onto management, but regardless of what area of nursing you choose to pursue, a higher degree will set you apart from most and demonstrate to your employer, managers, and colleagues how dedicated you are to your education! Having your MSN shouldn't preclude you from providing bedside nursing care; it will, though, open up so many more doors in your future. You never know what tomorrow brings, and one day we wake up and realize that we're not spring chickens anymore, and bedside nursing isn't as easy as it used to be :) IMO, if you've already begun your MSN bridge, keep going!

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I'm an ER nurse with my ASN. Most trauma centers prefer that you have EMT schooling and just different certificates TNCC, CEN and so further. I don't work at a trauma center but I do see traumas and we have trauma rooms. I have my TNCC and soon will have ENCP and CEN. I am hoping to go back for BSN but that's not for the ER it's for me.

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

There is an NP speciality in ER medicine. You can google it and find the schools. If you want clinical practice and money, become an NP. If you want to work ER you will need a program that includes kids, like family practice. Adult critical care would be good as well but it doesn't have the kid piece. The ER programs include it of course. The one thing that education, leadership, or admin will get you, is that degree would qualify you to work outside nursing in the future, like in business. Good luck.

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

I earned an administrative MSN as my entry into nursing.

I started med-surg and found my way to the ER within a year and a level 1 trauma center two years after that.

To maximize your chances, you should get a BSN right out of the gate.

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Specializes in Emergency Department, Float Pool.

I'm new ER Nurse I got in by having ICU and float experience!!! Keep aiming for your dream I love the ED

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Specializes in Home health, Med Surg, LTC.

How did it work out for you in this program. I have my ASN in nursing too.. looking to go this route.

Thanks,

Cece

I wish I had the foresight that you obviously have when I received my ASN in 2009. If I knew then what I know now, I would've pursued my BSN initially or immediately after my ASN. I agree that most masters-prepared nurses are teaching or move onto management, but regardless of what area of nursing you choose to pursue, a higher degree will set you apart from most and demonstrate to your employer, managers, and colleagues how dedicated you are to your education! Having your MSN shouldn't preclude you from providing bedside nursing care; it will, though, open up so many more doors in your future. You never know what tomorrow brings, and one day we wake up and realize that we're not spring chickens anymore, and bedside nursing isn't as easy as it used to be :) IMO, if you've already begun your MSN bridge, keep going!
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I agree! Most hospitals won't look at you without the BSN.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ICU, ER, Peds ER-CPEN.

If you can get into the ER go for it, BSN isn't everything if you have the experience, I a position in a level 1 trauma peds ER at a major teaching hospital with an ADN because of the experience I gained in a 10 bed rural ER. I saw allot more fresh traumas in the little ER than I see now, most times they are what we call recycled, everything Haas been done and we just watch them until they get admitted.

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