What would you do? RN to Nurse Practitioner

highlandlass1592, BSN, RN · Jul 28, 2009

I'm not an Oncology NP but I know they do use them where I work..have you tried to check on a website like the academy of nurse practitioners to see if you could hook up with someone? I'd also consider looking at Oncology practices, I work at a university hospital...they may be able to hook you up with an NP that you could speak with. You also may be able to set up an appt to shadow such an NP to get an idea of the job. If you love Oncology, it may be great to merge your desire to become an NP with Oncology...I know it can be done. Good luck.

Link for AANP:http://www.aanp.org/AANPCMS2

neonatal_nurse · Jul 28, 2009

Hi. Why not try checking out online courses if the distance is too much for you? And I am not NP but I have a dream to be one in the future (if it works out for me). I think life is too short for us not to live it the way we want to. It's like this saying- "I'd rather do nothing and be happy, than do something and not love it." And remember, not everyone is as fortunate as you, so do what ur heart says. :)

kerric511 · Jul 28, 2009

Yeah... I thought of that too ... I dunno, I just feel like an "online-degree" isn't looked upon as highly as a degree from a brick and mortar place of learning.

I have a friend that has an online certificate and she is having a heck of a time finding anyone that will even entertain her, then again, it could always be something they don't like about her, not her degree.

elkpark · Jul 28, 2009

I moved to go to grad school because my specialty is rare and there are only a handful of schools in the US that offer that specific specialty at any given time. Closed up the house, packed up the BF and dog (and a few other things :)), rented an apartment in the new location for two years. It worked out just fine. I am v. surprised that more people don't do that -- many nurses never seem to even consider the possibility, and I'm shocked at how many get whatever graduate degree they can get close to home (or online), even though it isn't the specialty area they really want, just because it's the easiest way to get "a" degree.

I've never regretted my decision or the experience (this was >15 years ago). Go for it! Don't settle for another specialty/degree just because it's more "convenient." You're in a great position, at this point in your life, to be able to do it, and going "away" to go to grad school is a great experience. You're going to put so much "blood, sweat, and tears" (not to mention $$$) into getting any graduate degree that you might as well make sure it's the degree (and career future) that you really want.

(Plus, once you've made the decision/commitment to move, you have a lot more choices. Look around -- there might be other oncology programs, beside the one you mentioned (600 miles away from you) that are more appealing to you than that one! (Moving 1,000 miles isn't much different than moving 600 miles -- "moving" is "moving," regardless of the distance. :))