Thinking about a career change to nursing, MSN-CNL or accelerated BSN program?

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Hello!

I am seriously considering changing careers from operations management in the manufacturing industry to nursing. I have a BA in Psychology and a BS in engineering. I have been out of school for 7 years.

I have researched the nursing profession online, I have spoken with several different nurses with different backgrounds, and I have been reading many of the posts to the forums on this site. I have contacted several schools in the Midwest, my focus being on the MSN-CNL programs because they accomodate a person with a non-nursing background. However, I am also researching the accerlerated BSN, which for me may be a better option as my dream is not necessarily a Masters in Nursing(yet).

The two things I am aware of that I haven't done are physically go to a hospital or other settings to shadow different nurses, and I haven't posted to this forum asking for other points of view.

My three questions are:

1. What is a good plan for shadowing nurses to get some kind of feel for what it is like? For example, are there three, five, ten different nursing specialties I should shadow to that will provide a decent sampling? The goal is not to get all my answers, but to get a feel if it is a profession I can contribute to and one that I can make decent living at while having some time to spend raising my young children.

2. MSN-CNL or accelerated BSN?

3. In reality are there really as many options in nursing as I am reading about? For example, is it common for your employer to support your efforts to continue your education if you want to specialize, or if you want to go into teaching, or something else related to your profession?

Sincerely,

Potential new nurse

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Hiya NewNurse....

If you don't mind, I'm gonna jump on your bandwagon here. I'm looking for pretty much the same information. I have a bachelors' degree - totally unrelated to nursing.

I have had mine MUCH longer than you, however. My age worries me when contemplating a career change, but the people I've spoken with in person tell me that it will be a non issue in this field. Boy, that would be great!!

I have been a claims adjuster for nearly 20 years, handling lost time/trauma workers' comp cases (long before NCM's were used by carriers) and casualty bodily injury claims.

I have contemplated this 'career move' for nearly 10 of those 20 years.

I am hoping to go to work in a hospital so that I can 1.) be partially compensated for tuition fees, and 2.) take advantage of the great programs most hospitals offer to their employees who want to become nurses. My brief research has already informed me that SOME hospitals even reimburse tuition in full and teaching hospitals have work/study programs.

I just joined this forum today, and it looks to be VERY promising: chock full of good info and many friendly folk willing to share!!

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Well, what do you know, I could use some of the same info! I'm considering an accelerated BSN vs. taking a somewhat longer route (technical college courses, get my LPN or Associates first).

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Well, what do you know, I could use some of the same info! I'm considering an accelerated BSN vs. taking a somewhat longer route (technical college courses, get my LPN or Associates first).

I think that's what I'm looking for also, the accelerated BSN. I would like to work in a hospital while I do it, because most of them will reimburse you for your costs OR provide in-house education. I am certain that you likely have to make a specified time commitment to work for THEM after they offer such support, but I don't mind that.

I wish I had started this YEARS ago.

My head is still spinning around with all the designations etc.... have been googling for a comprehensive list of those, but no go so far...

good luck to all......

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Greetings to all who dare to pursue their dreams!

I'm only one rat in this RN, BSN, RN/MS second career in nursing experiment, but if I can share anything useful from my journey thus far I'm happy to "pay it forward" in the generous spirit of the AllNurses.com forum.

My journey to nursing school ...Abridged version

Part I- An idea that wouldn't leave

I was 50 when I finally gave in to a gnawing urge that had been telling me for years to move on from my comfortable teaching career in health promotion and venture into the unchartered realm of healthcare as a "nurse". Believe me, I tried my best to ignore the whole notion but it just wouldn't go away.

Part II- Investigating the idea

For the next year I cut back at work and took both a VNA hospice volunteer training and a Red Cross CNA certificate program. I worked with patients in LTC and volunteered at a hospice house. Nothing changed my mind. I was ready to do what needed to be done to enter the nursing profession.

Part III-Surrender and Committment

At age 51 I left my job to take nursing science pre-reqs fulltime ( I have a BS (unrelated) and M.Ed.( Adult Ed/health promotion). To increase my chances of getting into a school, I took every pre-req required by the five nursing programs I was interested in ( some wanted stats and/or nutrition, organic chem and gen chem II -it varied). It took two semesters and a summer to complete prereqs.

Part IV-My family wonders why I'm not a nurse by now

I turned 52 as I sent application packets out to- 1 community college AD RN program, 2 accelerated BSN programs and 3 RN/MS NP track programs.

So far I have been accepted to 2 of the schools, been wait-listed at 1 and am still waiting to hear from 2. Whatever program I choose I'll be 53 when I start nursing school in the summer or fall of 2008.

Take home suggestions if you are having thoughts of becoming a nurse...

1. Wait a while and see if the thoughts go away.

2. If they don't go away, try harder to make them leave.

Volunteer where you'll get up close and personal with the messy realities of aging, illness, death and dying. We all partake at some point.

3. If the experience you had with #2 enriched your life, sign up now for prereqs. Also start asking teachers to write nursing school recommendations. Begin working on nursing school application essays yesterday.

4. Break the news to your family that you'll be busy for a few years. Know that it is a very long process and a ton of work to get from prereqs to the acceptance letters. Humor and patience are a must, and the people you'll meet in classes along the way will be your support system.

5. Keeping asking those questions!

I'm grateful to have a seat in an accelerated BSN and RN/MS program to choose from and I am still here asking the AllNurse.com sages:bowingpur questions to help me choose a program! Stay close to this site...it has been and continues to be a trusted resouce on my journey.

Feel free to e-mail me with questions.

Best of luck to all!

Latebloomer 51

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Yes, most employers are very supportive of continued education. I get $2200 a year towards continued education and for several years I used it all to go from an ADN to a BSN.

Good luck.

If I were you, I'd start with an accellerated BSN program, which will allow you to practice as an entry level RN quickly, but also opens to the door to BSN preferred positions or MSN or NP school after you get some experience.

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One very practical consideration -- unless you are willing, after you graduate from a CNL program, to relocate anywhere in the country to take a job, you may want to check with hospitals in your area about whether they are using CNLs and what you might anticipate in terms of employment opportunities. The CNL is a relatively new role, and it's not clear how much actual demand there is in the real world for them (as opposed to the enthusiasm demonstrated by the universities that are offering the degrees ... :))

Best wishes for your new journey --

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thank you elkpark, tweety, and latebloomer51. all three posts are very helpful.

latebloomer51, i am starting your step two this summer. i would really like to read the unabridged verison of your change to nursing. i have a relocation to get through in the next four months in order to continue on the path to becoming a nurse, and i am doing everything i can in the meantime to prepare. i am relocating to the midwest, and with this career change my wife and i are considering different locations including iowa city, ia; milwaukee and madison, wi; illinois (chicago area); and minneapolis, mn. i will contact schools in those areas, but if anyone has any recommendations on schools in those areas i am eager to hear them.

tweety, the accelerated bsn makes sense for me. my thoughts are a fast track for getting real experience and an understanding of the field will be more beneficial than spending two years getting an msn-cnl and then working for several more years to get experience to give the master's degree legitimacy. and i have researched the cnl role and the information i have found indicates it is not exactly well received by the nursing community, and not exactly well-defined in practice by most organizations. perhaps it is still too new....

the main reason i was considering the msn-cnl is i already have two undergraduate degrees, one in psychology and one in engineering and am thinking that i eventually would like to teach on a part-time basis. but it seems to make more sense to begin as an entry level rn and work my way up getting real experience along with the benefit of having the tuition assistance.

thank you all. i really appreciate the feedback, perspectives, and food for thought. everything i read is helpful.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

Good luck! Feel free to bounce your ideas and questions off of us, that's what we're here for. :)

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Part III-Surrender and Committment

At age 51 I left my job to take nursing science pre-reqs fulltime ( I have a BS (unrelated) and M.Ed.( Adult Ed/health promotion). To increase my chances of getting into a school, I took every pre-req required by the five nursing programs I was interested in ( some wanted stats and/or nutrition, organic chem and gen chem II -it varied). It took two semesters and a summer to complete prereqs.

What did you do to pay for school and for money in general while you took your pre-reqs? If you don't mind me asking...

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Hi! I am in the same boat as well! I have a B.A. in History and I'm finishing up a master's degree this semester in education (adult training). I'm starting my science prereqs this summer and applying to an accelerated BSN program that's starting in January. I'm also going to apply to a new entry level CNL program, but it doesn't start until July 2009. Not sure what I'll do if I get into the BSN program, but I might hold off since I think the CNL seems like a better fit for me.

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I'm looking for the same kind of guidance--accelerated 2nd degree BSN or direct-entry CNL MSN program. I'm planning to work as a bedside nurse for a few years but I definitely see myself going back to school for an advanced degree eventually anyway. That is why I am leaning towards MSN program, but I don't want to limit my job opportunities after graduation. Any advice on jobs available for MSN-CLN grads?? Thanks!

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