Total Years It Took You To Reach Your End Goal In Education/Credentials

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I was recently accepted into nursing school and although I have A LONG way to go, I am super excited about the many career options in the nursing profession. I'm certainly entering grad school for my doctorate or masters.

I would like to know how many years it took you to reach your end goal for education/credentials.

This should be fun and enlightening :)

Specializes in ICU, trauma.
Are you going for masters or DNP? My professor finished her FNP masters degree in two years.

for now just my masters...but i'm only going to school part time for it!

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I was CNA 15 years went for emt/ Paramedic 2 years, four years pre req 1 1/2 years LPN currently working as a LPN the past five slowly finishing my A.S. R.N. will have pre reqs finished for my B.S. in R.N. so yeah its taken forever:yes: started at 25 and soon will be 40 lol

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Started in 1973. Finished in 1997.

BSN = 4 years

MSN = 2 years

PhD = 5 years

I worked for a while after each degree to solidify my knowledge and experience at each level. I also used that job time to save up money to pay for the next degree so that I didn't have to go into much debt.

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Just enjoy the ride. If you're doing it right, you'll never meet your "end game." I thought I'd always just want my RN and I'd be happy, but I went back for my BSN. Then I wanted TNCC. Now I'm chasing my CCRN and looking into Master's programs. After that, who knows? Some days I think I might go after a different specialty that would require a whole new set of certifications. Chase after what's interesting.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

EMT-B: 1999

Paramedic school: 2000-2003, AAS degree

NREMT-P: 2003

ADN/RN: 2007-2008

CEN: 2009

BSN: 2008-2010

CPEN: 2010

MSN (one): 2011-2015

TCRN: 2015

MSN (two): 2014-hopefully February 2017

I am taking a break after that!!! I swear, I really am! I am tired.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

2006 - graduated from ASN program with RN degree

2007 - got my IBCLC credential (lactation consultant - that was actually 8 years of work, and the original reason I became an RN)

2010 - entered a CNM (master's in nurse-midwifery) program

2011 - dropped out of CNM program, entered RN-BSN program

2013 - got my BSN, started MSN program (nursing leadership)

spring 2015 - got my inpatient OB certification

summer 2015 - got my MSN

At 42, I think I'm now done with certifications and schooling. So, 9 years from graduating with my RN license to finishing all the formal education I plan to do. A PhD is not off the table, but not very likely.

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EMT-B: 1999

Paramedic school: 2000-2003, AAS degree

NREMT-P: 2003

ADN/RN: 2007-2008

CEN: 2009

BSN: 2008-2010

CPEN: 2010

MSN (one): 2011-2015

TCRN: 2015

MSN (two): 2014-hopefully February 2017

I am taking a break after that!!! I swear, I really am! I am tired.

wow! If I may ask, what are your master degrees in?

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
wow! If I may ask, what are your master degrees in?

The first one is an Informatics MSN, the second is a Nurse Educator MSN. I didn't think I was going to finish the first one because I couldn't find a mentor for my informatics capstone class, so I transferred a bunch of graduate credits to another school to do an FNP program. Right after I finished the core MSN requirements for the FNP, a couple of things happened: first, I realized that I had zero interest in being an FNP. Second, the school where I did the Informatics MSN found a mentor/preceptor for me. So not wanting to waste the GI Bill tuition I had already spent at the second school, I switched to the educator track while completing my first MSN. I am kind of a mess. lol. I am working as a trauma educator, so the nurse educator MSN will directly benefit me, but I find that in working with the trauma program, I use the informatics stuff a lot as well. So it's all good!

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Specializes in Critical Care and ED.

Diploma 1992

ADN 2003

CDN 2010

CCRN 2011

BSN 2012

MSN 2017

25 years to the end point.

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical/Float Pool/Stepdown.

ASN 2011

BSN 2013

CMSRN 2014

MSN hopefully by 2017 (I just started literally)

Sweet sweet retirement...?!?

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Specializes in orthopedic/trauma, Informatics, diabetes.

Let you know when I get there LOL (currently in MSN Informatics program). Hope to finish my DNP Dec 2018. First degree was 1994. DNP will be #7

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Specializes in Private Duty Pediatrics.

I started out as a nurse's aid just out of high school. Back then, it was on-the-job training.

I earned my Diploma RN: that took 3 years. Since then, I've been working my dream, bedside nursing. This is what I love.

As for furthering my education, I read, do CEUs, and go to EMS EXPO. I got my Medical First Responder license, although I did let that lapse last year.

I so enjoy private duty home nursing! I have no need to get a degree.

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