Alright, so I just graduated with my bachelors (not in nursing) and I'm thinking about becoming a nurse-getting an RN or a second-degree BSN, something along those lines. But here's the kicker, I don't actually want to BE a nurse. Let me explain, right now I'm applying for MPH programs (Masters in Public Health) looking for specific programs with an emphasis in Emergency Management and Disaster Relief. I would like to work for the CDC, Red Cross, FEMA, or basically any other first responder organization. The MPH will be a BIG help in this goal, but I was thinking that getting a nursing degree would only be a boon and not a detriment. But what's the best way to go about getting a nursing degree (keeping in mind I have no intentions of actually nursing...yes I am an odd duck, I know). I'm looking for the quickest way, I have the basic GE pre-reqs for BSN programs, but not really any of the science classes-so from right now: needing about 5-6 pre-reqs to finish (hey I have a nursing degree) what's the quickest way? ANY help would be so great...because the MPH is gonna take some time and I'd love to get out of school before I'm 30. Thanks!
you see nursing isn't just a "job" or a way to get a "bump in pay" .. nursing is a act of charity , a service to others who are at their worst, they are so sick they need someone to not only give them TLC but to give them the best quality of care. that's what nursing is...
nursing school is very competitive and alot of people don't make it through the program . so many people want to get into nursing school who want to make a difference in lives , not to just use it for a better job...
leave that spot in a RN program for someone who wants to serve people , not someone who will acquire a degree and not use it for what it is intended...
nursing is not a degree or letters after your name .. it is a way of life..
you see nursing isn't just a "job" or a way to get a "bump in pay" .. nursing is a act of charity , a service to others who are at their worst, they are so sick they need someone to not only give them TLC but to give them the best quality of care. that's what nursing is...
nursing school is very competitive and alot of people don't make it through the program . so many people want to get into nursing school who want to make a difference in lives , not to just use it for a better job...
leave that spot in a RN program for someone who wants to serve people , not someone who will acquire a degree and not use it for what it is intended...
nursing is not a degree or letters after your name .. it is a way of life..
Well said! :redpinkhe I am in the process of finishing my last two prerequisites and plan on starting nursing school next year. I started volunteering last month and helping the nurses and CNA's take care of their patients has been such a blessing in my life. I truly feel privileged that I get to help take care of these patients! Why don't you want to work as a nurse? Just curious.....
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
A multitude of sick people linger in the hospitals, nursing homes, and extended care facilities across the nation. Conversely, there are many people who are willing to provide healthcare for the droves of sick individuals.
With all due respect, please do not fill another nursing school spot if you do not ever intend to work as a nurse. Please allow the precious slot to be filled by someone who is actually ready and willing to provide nursing care.
Have you ever heard of going around your elbow to do something?
OK WHY NOT just apply to graduate school in public health?
I can virtually guarantee it will be the easier, most cost effective way. Why would you want to take up someone's place in a competitive field like Nursing?
That's an odd game with semantics. The way I figure it, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing I both "earned" and "got" because I (1) did the work, and (2) wrote the checks. I have to dissent here because I feel that if you have sound advice about a nursing degree's possible enhancement of self marketing in very competitive environment, then I say it's nobody's business but yours. If you have the means and the time, then you have just as much right to occupy a slot in nursing school as anyone else. No applicant is "more worthy" because they regard the profession as more of a vocation for themselves. Does anyone question why the MD suddenly decided to become a lawyer? Noooooooo I agree that nursing is a service, but it is also a very specific set of skills which needs to be recognized apart from all sentimentality. If your profession is your vocation, then you are very lucky and have done enormous introspection to arrive at that place in your life. We cannot assign nursing school slots based on whether we think the job will become a vocation for that person. It seems that type of criteria would only be qppropriate for the seminary for the aspiring clergy. The degree to which the nursing profession identifies itself as charity for which money should not be a motivator is troublesome. Our society would not look at aspiring MD's and say that their job will be an act of charity and service and they should not be occupying a spot in Med school if they aren't interested in working with patients. Guess all those guys and gals with enormous brain power for medical research will go somewhere else, huh? They need that basic degree first now, don't they? There are some very good articles out there regarding problems in nursing today and their link with historical perspectives from the early 1900's. Very interesting reading.
Wow, I think there may have been some miscommunication in my original post given all the not so happy responses to it, I apologize as it is clearly my fault since I started the thread! I, at no point, have ever intended to use nursing as a "pay bump" in my career, when I said a nursing degree would be a boon to my future plans I meant that it would make me more useful in the field of emergency management-ie: first responders. I do not want to work longterm as a nurse in the tradtitional sense of the position, not because I do not like the idea of nursing but simply because I find my real happiness lies in emergency work. I also understand that to be more "useful" in emergency management I will need some practical experience working as a nurse and I am more than happy to to put in my time (so to speak) so that I'm not a complete idiot with just a piece of paper in my hand and no hands-on experience. But not for the longterm, and I should have specified that in the orignal post, so sorry again. I honestly didn't mean to offend anyone with my post, and I know nursing programs are ROUGH and competitive, but having spent lots of time in the developing world I've found that having some sort of basis in any medial/nursing field while working in emergency settings is very, very helpful for everyone involved and I simply want to be the best I can be and offer the best of me I can in my work, that's all.
And thanks for the advice about how to go about seeking a nursing degree, there are so many options it's a lot to try to take in and organize. Thanks again.
OK, I dont want to sound harsh either, but I dont know many people who would make it through the rigors of nursing school without the desire/motivation, etc to actually work as a nurse. I also dont know why you would put yourself through the whole thing only to NOT use the degree.
But yes, if you plan to work and get some experience before going on in your education, then ok, I get that I guess. :)
But yeah, an ADN is the "quickest" route but "becoming an RN" is NOT easy by any means.
Do you want to do the Master's program or the nursing first?! I would go for an Associate's as it's usually about 2 years but could be less as you will have quite a few of the pre-reqs given your degree. I would apply ASAP as some places take based on testing, etc. and others have a very lengthy waiting list.
May I ask what position you ultimately hope to hold?! I would call and inquire if people in these positions hold any form of medical education in their background. I have a Bachelor's in an unrelated field and an MBA. I got my Associate's in nursing to work for years to come in this field. I fear you might be putting yourself through a ton of work and stress where you might not need to. I hope this helps. I wish you will. :)
If you have a previous Bachelors degree (as I think you stated you do) getting an accelerated bachelors degree would be less time than an ADN. However, it will probably be much more expensive. I am not sure where you are located but some schools have entry level masters programs where you can later specialize in Public Health. It may benefit you to look into this option... Good luck!
Batman24 you make really great points! I'm thinking about doing my MPH first, simply because I have all the pre-reqs done for any MPH programs (ie: no pre-reqs required!) and based on the courses required in a few of these MPH programs I think I may be able to complete one or two nursing pre-reqs while getting the MPH. So that's the schedule I have in my mind right now.
And as for the positions I'm looking into career-wise, most of the first repsonder teams want AT LEAST an MPH. I've checked out the employment websites for a few organizations and read their hiring requirements and what I've come up with is the more the merrier in terms of degrees and experience. They want you to be "well-rounded" and I really want to work in that field, so I will do whatever it takes to do so because I really, really want it. Thanks!
Specializes in ER, ICU, Infusion, peds, informatics.
hmmm ... i think what you are talking about sounds like a very interesting cross between community health and emergency nursing.
i know of many nurses who go on to get their mph; i really don't see anything wrong with getting them at about the same time.
as others have said, which route will be faster really depends on the requirements of the programs in your area.
nursing is my second degree. i have a bsa and a bsn. the bsn was faster for me (than an adn) because with my background, it was easier to get into the university than the local community college. (i had good grades, and the cc did the lotery system -- all of those who met minimal qualifications were put into the lottery and a certain number of names were pulled; while the university accepted applicants based on merit)
i did not do the accelerated program, though both my bsa and my bsn are from the same school, so that might have made gen ed requirements transfer easier.
it took me 2.5 years, jan-may. had i done the accelerated program, it would have taken me 1.5 years (i think), jan-may, including the summer. yours will probably take longer since it sounds like you have to take many of the science classes.
the adn route might be fairly quick, too, but it depends on how many gen ed requirements they take from your previous degree.
you might want to check to see if there is a professional advantage of having the bsn over the adn, since you will be working in public health. even with an mph, the bsn may be worth any extra time/money. even if you start out in a non-nursing role (having the rn just for the solid background), any position that you might want to go into that requires an rn will probably require a bsn, esp on the international level.
lots of luck to you -- it kind of sounds like something i would like to do, if i didn't hate to travel so much :) . disaster relief fascinates me. if i ever manage to find a job where i can take significant time off on short notice, i'm going to try to volunteer for the red cross in some sort of disaster relief capacity.
Alright, so I just graduated with my bachelors (not in nursing) and I'm thinking about becoming a nurse-getting an RN or a second-degree BSN, something along those lines. But here's the kicker, I don't actually want to BE a nurse. Let me explain, right now I'm applying for MPH programs (Masters in Public Health) looking for specific programs with an emphasis in Emergency Management and Disaster Relief. I would like to work for the CDC, Red Cross, FEMA, or basically any other first responder organization. The MPH will be a BIG help in this goal, but I was thinking that getting a nursing degree would only be a boon and not a detriment. But what's the best way to go about getting a nursing degree (keeping in mind I have no intentions of actually nursing...yes I am an odd duck, I know). I'm looking for the quickest way, I have the basic GE pre-reqs for BSN programs, but not really any of the science classes-so from right now: needing about 5-6 pre-reqs to finish (hey I have a nursing degree) what's the quickest way? ANY help would be so great...because the MPH is gonna take some time and I'd love to get out of school before I'm 30. Thanks!
You want to take a spot in nursing school from someone who actually does want to be a nurse? Is it really necessary?
ohmeowzer RN, RN
2,306 Posts
you see nursing isn't just a "job" or a way to get a "bump in pay" .. nursing is a act of charity , a service to others who are at their worst, they are so sick they need someone to not only give them TLC but to give them the best quality of care. that's what nursing is...
nursing school is very competitive and alot of people don't make it through the program . so many people want to get into nursing school who want to make a difference in lives , not to just use it for a better job...
leave that spot in a RN program for someone who wants to serve people , not someone who will acquire a degree and not use it for what it is intended...
nursing is not a degree or letters after your name .. it is a way of life..