Thinking ahead of my education

[Lurdes777]

Hello all,

I applied to an Accelerated RN (ASN)program and now waiting to see if I am accepted and will start in January of 2016. I am 38 years old, have Bachelor's of Business Administration. My goal was to become and RN and start working, but since a year ago I've heard many different tracks I can try also. That being apply to PA program or NP school.

My question to you is - do you think it is wise for me to do something like this:

- get RN license, enroll into online BSN program while searching for a job

- hopefully finish BSN in 6-12 months, work for 1-3 years and apply to NP program?

or maybe something like this:

- get RN license, find job, work 1-3 years, apply to RN-MSN fast track either online or regular school, become and NP?

Any advice will be helpful!

[Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP]

It all sounds so simple when you write it like that but in reality how do you know you want to be an NP when you're not even a nurse yet? The jobs are not the same. To be enrolled in my NP program I had to have several years of critical care experience which an ADN might have difficulty getting seeing as most ICUs in the NorthEast now only hire to critical care if you have a BSN. It can be extremely challenging working in some areas so really you'd need to have an understanding of which path you want to take first. Nothing wrong with having a goal, but it might be a better idea to get into nursing school first, pass your boards and get your first job. A lot can happen between now and then. Do you want to be a nurse or a PA? They are two very different paths. A PA and an NP have more similar paths but you'd have to get lots of prereqs and experience in a healthcare environment to get into PA school which is expensive and competitive. You really could benefit from shadowing an NP, a PA and a nurse first so you can decide what you want to do before you waste good money on an education that you really didn't want. Also, in which universe can you get a BSN in 6 months? I had 20 years of experience and it took me 2 years to do my RN to BSN part time while I worked. It can also be harder to get an acute care position as an ADN nurse as opposed to a BSN nurse. I know many nurses that have had difficulty getting employed in a hospital without their Bachelor's and there was even a lot of competition for long term care facility jobs. Don't want to burst your bubble but you don't know these things yet and it's valuable to know beforehand some of the pitfalls. If you really want to progress to an NP I would personally recommend going straight for the BSN. If you really want to be a PA then make that your plan and go for it. Same with NP, but understand it could take quite a few years to get where you want to be.

[Lurdes777]

Thank you for your reply. It is very valuable and I will of course do more research. My friend received her BSN at WGU.edu in 6 months, online. That is after obtaining her RN license of course.

[Jules A, MSN]

Whatever path you decide to take, I love that you have plans to actually work as a nurse before attempting to become a NP. I found my nursing experience invaluable when I became a NP.

Good luck.

[PG2018]

To the contrary of others, you can know you want to be a NP, having never been a nurse, just as a physician knows to become a doctor without ever working as....well, anything. One option to capitalize one are the RN-MSN programs. As you already have a bachelor's degree this is an avenue I think would be prudent to follow. Work for a RN as long as you want. I became a RN, enrolled in the master's, and RN'd my way through the MSN program. I actually did all of this to become a NP so RN was just part of it. This goes against the typical nursing grain, but one must choose his or her own path.

[ccohen]

Where did you enroll for your masters?

[Qka]

Contrary to the other responders, I do not see anything wrong that you try to plan you future. I did the same. It seems weird but it worked for me.

I was almost in your situation. I got a master degree from abroad before we moved to the USA and I faced a dilemma what to do with myself. I went in to RN school although some people told me I could take advantage of my MS. Although I always wanted to be an MD, I did not consider medical school because of its cost and length of study. I could not afford it. I did not know much about PA back then, there is no such a profession in my country of origin. Anyway, there was no PA school locally and I did not consider relocation. So, I went into nursing. Now I am finished FNP school working as a nurse.

But my situation is slightly different than yours. If I were you, I would go to PA school to save time. Going for RN, then BSN, then NP is too long and $$$$ and the end result is equal to PA. Unless you are not sure if you want to continue studying after BSN. Another thing that I did not know about nurses is how much exhausting this job is. Nurses work very short, they are required to perform more and more tasks. I know many nurses are burned out. The pay is an okay in my opinion, but for that kind of pay you can get an easier job somewhere else. The only good thing I can tell is that the schedule is very flexible and job market is great when you are a nurse. You want have a problem to find a job comparing to other specialties. You are able to raise kids and work full time. You can work nights, weekends, whatever.

[besaangel, ASN, BSN, MSN, CNA, RN, APRN, NP]

If I were you, I would go to PA school to save time. Going for RN, then BSN, then NP is too long and $$$$ and the end result is equal to PA. Unless you are not sure if you want to continue studying after BSN.

This!! Makes sense to apply to PA school since you already have a Bachelors degree. All you would need is the couple of pre-reqs to apply which would save you YEARS compared to doing a RN-MSN as most NP schools want years of experience. With the PAm you wouldnt necessarily need to work as a Nurse before applying to PA school, but if you do while doing pre-reqs.

All things considered, you'd still need to see how many pre-reqs youd need for PA because if it can be done in under 2 semesters, Id go that route

[Dranger]

Pa school sounds like the best option

[BirkieGirl]

if you already have a BA degree and know you want to go into an advanced practice type role, maybe going direct to PA school is a better choice, and will cost less than doing RN, then BSN, then MSN/DNP, i would guess!

[nyc2011]

Hmm.. I believe PA school is the best route for you because you already have a bachelors…although you will have to take time to get all the prereqs in! (there are quite a few!) ….let me tell u something you may not know….since you already have a bachelors there are programs that let you get a bachelors in nursing in ONE year…(this doesn't count the prereqs) but i believe it doesn't make any sense for you to pursue a ADN…..then BSN…just go straight for BSN!!!