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Nurses General Nursing

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I am a career changer (48), with a bachlor's and a master's degrees in other fields. I am considering nursing, but am confused at all the options: LPN, Associate degree, Bachelor degree, Second Bachelor's Track, three-year programs that lead to the Master of Science in Nursing, etc. I would like some flexibility, without spending too many years in school. Any suggestions about the various trade offs of these different degress would be helpful.

Also, I live in Boston, Massachuesetts, and I am able to relocate.

thanks.

Some schools have accelerated programs to get your Bachelor of Science in Nursing, if you already have a degree in another area.

I wouldn't recommend going toward a master's degree in nursing without a couple years of experience first...unless you were already in some kind of business/management field, and wanted to get into nursing management/administration or something similar. Then you could work as a nurse while you worked on the MSN.

Good luck!

:)

I wouldn't consider LPN at all, in your case. You need to get your RN first. Talk to a Dean in nursing school to get on right track.

Specializes in ICU, nutrition.

What do you plan to do with your nursing degree? Bedside, advanced practice, administration, something else? I have a BSN and I will be returning to grad school in the next couple of years to become a nurse anesthetist. I want to work at that for 10 to 15 years and then "semi-retire" and teach nursing school. Because of that, I'm looking at anesthesia programs that offer a MSN with concentration in anesthesia, as opposed a MS in nursing anesthesia. Less to add when it comes time to change careers. Most nursing master's programs require a minimum of a BSN, but some allow for an ADN and a bachelor's degree in another field. It's kind of hard to tell you what to do if I don't know what you plan on doing with it. If all you are interested in is bedside nursing, an ADN will suffice, take you less time to complete and be cheaper than a BSN. But if you have hopes for grad school, look carefully at your options before deciding, and a BSN is probably the way to go. Good luck, whatever you decide!

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