When do going back to school STOP!!

ThePrincessBride, MSN, RN, NP · Jun 29, 2015

I am not sure if you understand that a CNA is an unlicensed professional, an LPN's scope of practice is different from an RN and an RN's scope of practice is different from a Nurse Practitioner's scope of practice and...

You get the picture. Nursing isn't like corporate America. Each level of nursing requires a different skill set and knowledge base. Similarly, a MD cannot switch specialities willy nilly. Would you want your psychiatrist performing open heart surgery without an intense cardiac residency? Or a neurologist delivering a baby without an in-depth knowledge of OB? No?

Same concept.

There are no short-cuts to nursing...and I prefer it that way.

MidLifeRN2012 · Jun 29, 2015

And treatments, EBP, and scientific discoveries change over the years. That requires nurses to keep their knowledge updated.

Otherwise could be using treatments and theory from 40 years ago.

CelticGoddess, BSN, RN · Jun 29, 2015

My husband is in radiography. He has to have CEU's. He had to go back and take the AART exam for CT. He will need to go back to school if he wants to do MRI. (Or nuclear medicine, or specials, or whatever). Perhaps it's because as we progress, we learn more and we need to keep up with advances in medicine, technology, etc?

macawake, MSN · Jun 29, 2015

CNA's have to go back to school, LVN's to become RN's, RN's back to school to become Nurse Practitioners and if you want to specialize into anything, you have to go back to school to for that position. To become a midwife requires more education, a Nurse anesthetist requires more education; it's non ending to just wanting a career. On top of that, keeping up CEU's and other necessary requirements.. When does this stop? What ever happen to just getting regular promotions within a job, instead of going back to school??

(my bold)

My first thought when reading your question "when does this stop?" was, hopefully never. Like other posters have mentioned, the nursing and medical fields are constantly evolving. As research brings new knowledge, practice changes to reflect that. It is imperative that healthcare professionals keep abreast of the latest research.

The reason I bolded parts of your post is that I think that you feel that there is a natural progression between CNA--> LPN--> RN--> NP/CRNA/CNM. That you should be able to start as a CNA and by virtue of years on the job should be able to advance to LPN, RN and beyond.

While I realize that hands-on experience is valuble, it's not a substitute for formal education. The two complement each other but in order to make the move from one role or profession to the next "level", formal education should in my opinion be required.

Jory, MSN, APRN, CNM · Jun 29, 2015

Those are not promotions. Those are different jobs. Yes, it's a good thing and I support it.

Do you really want a CNA who has never been to college putting you to sleep and all she has is on the job training? Think about how terrifying that would be.

PghRN15 · Jun 29, 2015

In nursing school I was taught that this profession is a life long commitment to learning. Thank goodness for that! As nurses or anyone in the medical field we owe it to our patients to provide the best possible care. Always learn. I make it a point to read something every day.

calivianya, BSN, RN · Jun 29, 2015

I think what the OP is hitting at more is that every level is a dead end in healthcare. That is something that bothers me a little, too. Of course, you need education for every different role you take, but once you get that education... that role is all you can do. You're stuck again.

My half brother, as a counterexample, started working at a company's loading docks when he was 16, and now at almost 50, he is that company's CEO. He went through countless different roles in the company to get there. The potential for these sorts of moves from nothing to respected company leader is almost zero in nursing.

I feel like you really have to be satisfied by never accomplishing anything substantial besides nursing school if you are going to stay a bedside RN. No matter how many times you change specialties, or how many certifications you sit for, you're still an RN.

roser13, ASN, RN · Jun 29, 2015

It's never wrong or unnecessary to advance your education, particularly in English comprehension and written expression. In fact, doing so will greatly increase your chances of advancement and promotion in your current position.

roser13, ASN, RN · Jun 29, 2015

I think what the OP is hitting at more is that every level is a dead end in healthcare. That is something that bothers me a little, too. Of course, you need education for every different role you take, but once you get that education... that role is all you can do. You're stuck again.

My half brother, as a counterexample, started working at a company's loading docks when he was 16, and now at almost 50, he is that company's CEO. He went through countless different roles in the company to get there. The potential for these sorts of moves from nothing to respected company leader is almost zero in nursing.

I feel like you really have to be satisfied by never accomplishing anything substantial besides nursing school if you are going to stay a bedside RN. No matter how many times you change specialties, or how many certifications you sit for, you're still an RN.
Absolutely nothing wrong with that. I certainly do not consider my challenging, stimulating position as an RN (as an ASN, no less) to be a dead end. I make "substantial" contributions to my patients' care and to my employer's operation every single day.
If you consider that being "stuck," so be it.

mvm2 · Jun 29, 2015

Calivianya you make some good points, but I'm sure your brother had to go to some schooling to get where he is at. Even if it was some leadership classes the company paid for perhaps. I'm sure he had to work hard to become CEO. I font think they'd just hand that over to just anyone

Your brother also has something that helped him out tremendously, and that was commitment and loyalty for 40+ years. I would say that if a nurse would give a department 40 years she has well might see some benefits come to her as well. She would stay at here job as an RN but she could be head of a department or become a director of nursing.

Truthfully I'd say nurses that would work 40 years in one spot is a rarity now days. Plus you might not be able to climb the ladder of a higher health care worker, but there are different ladders you can climb as a nurse. A whole world of different specialties that you are eligible for. Many people can not say that about their profession. A lawyer is still a lawyer. He can climb the ranks and become partner, but one lawyers office still is like any other lawyers office. And guess what no matter where he goes he will always just be a lawyer. No other degree he can get without schooling. Nursing on the other hand has so many new and exciting avenues to choose from to spice up your nursing career

TakeTwoAspirin, MSN, RN, APRN · Jun 29, 2015

Nobody has to do any of this. To suggest that it would be appropriate for a, say, an experienced CNA to be a supervisor of BSNs or NPs is ridiculous, regardless of how much experience they have. Kind of a shocking post from someone with 28 years of experience.