What are the chances I committed career suicide?

[cjward3]

I'm a 10-year LPN vet and a new grad RN. I've spent the last 7 years working in SNF management. I'm a mom of two small children with no family support and a deployed active duty husband. My goal is to do FNU's WH/CNM program.

All of that is to say that I recently started working again and I'm a little worried that I may be killing my chances of ever getting into acute care. I took an SDC/occ health position in an assisted living because the hours are consistent and work for my family. And, while it's great for right now, it's not my goal. OB is my passion and the only place I see myself headed. Since I'm back in management and essentially doing zero patient care am I destroying my chance of getting into a hospital setting in the future?

In 2 years both of my kids will be in school and my husband will be at a non-deploying unit. In the mean time I'm starting at WGU to finish my BSN, and get myself primed for grad school. it kills me that I won't have the opportunity to do acute care before I start, though (I have zero experience, so I would never be able to commit to a preceptorship even if the goal was to try to go per diem).

I worried that, in 2 years, I will have lost my chance at those "new grad" opportunities, but I'll be unattractive because I don't have acute care experience. Any insight? Things I can do now to make myself more attractive for the future?

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

Do any of the new grad programs have a time frame for obtaining the BSN? I'm a new grad and just got accepted in to a nurse residency program with just an ASN. As long as I show them I've been accepted to a BSN program and complete it within 3 years, I'm allowed to be in the program. Check in to the nurse resident or grad nurse programs in your area. I spoke directly with the nurse recruiter at the hospital.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Hello, there! Your thread has been moved to the Nursing Career Advice forum with the goal of amassing more replies that will answer your question. Good luck!

[cjward3]

Bump. Anyone?

[cjward3]

Unfortunately I can't work in that setting right now. My husband is active duty and deployed. I'm at the mercy of daycare hours (M-F).

[jojo489]

I think it'll definitely work in your favor that you've got management experience. That's always a plus.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Sorry you haven't had more responses.

I don't think you have sabotaged your career.... in fact, you have really accomplished a lot with your LPN, despite a challenging family situation. Becoming an APRN is a completely DIFFERENT career... not just a step up from what you're already doing. Therefore, it may help to think about this with that perspective.

I am not familiar with the program you mentioned. Most APRN programs have very specific experience requirements as part of their admission criteria. If they don't, this means that they probably have some mechanism in place to make up for it... maybe extra practicums or something? The specialty (CNM) you're aiming for is regulated at the state level... sometimes, Midwives are actually licensed by a different body - so RN CNMs have to meet licensing requirements of their own BON as well as the other one. It can be pretty complicated. You may meet requirements in one state, but not in another, so keep this in mind if you are planning on moving states at any time in the future.

Please be very wary of those very expensive 'choose your own adventure' type of nursing programs... with claims that you can complete your clinical training at a convenient location nearby. This is simply not happening these days in my neck of the woods because hospitals have stopped allowing 'one off' clinical rotations due to cost & liability issues. OB is a highly litigious area... it can be extremely difficult to find a CNM residency.

Best of luck to you on your educational pathway - and give hubby a hug for all of us... thanking him for his service.