Which Master's Program Would Be Right For Me?

I understand what you mean, however, my reason for wanting to be in hematology is because I am a hematology patient and my reason for wanting to work in oncology is because of knowing people with cancer (family and volunteering.)

Yes you need to get some experience first for you to really know what's good for you. It takes time.

I guess I should have worded my question another way. I desire to work in this field, but I am open to other options. I just want to know which Master's program would help someone get into the oncology/hematology field.

I didn't mean to say which would be right for me as in as a person, because I know myself better than anyone and I know that only I can decide what field is best for me. What I meant was which Master's program would be right for a person desiring to eventually work in Oncology or Hematology. That's what I meant to say.

Sorry for the confusion.

i'm just curious what schools you are looking into for the CNL or NP? Thanks.

I don't mean to be "mean," ... but ... I understood your question. It just doesn't have a single answer. There are many different Master's programs that would be appropriate for someone specializing in hematology/oncology. It all depends on what type of work you want to do with hem/onc patients, what role you want to play within the health care system. You don't get Master's Degrees in a single disease: you get Master's Degrees focusing on the nursing role that you take. You need to decide to what role you want to take with these patients before you can know what graduate program would be right for you.

For example, if you want to be a Nurse Practitioner (NP) you get a Master's (or DNP) focusing on that role ... and then focus on working with the patient population that interests you -- which might be hem/onc patients. There would be other NP students in that same Master's Program that would focus on other patient populations, but you would all be in the same Master's Program.

Similarly, if you wanted to do nursing research about hem/onc, you might choose an academic career -- and get a Master's in Nursing Education and then a PhD focusing your teaching and research and hem/onc patients and care.

You might choose to be Clinical Nurse Leader or Clinical Nurse Specialist and focus on hem/onc patients as your clinical focus. There are separate Master's programs for nurses interested in these roles. Again, you would be in class with other CNS or CNL students who would be specializing in other patient populations.

You see? There is not 1 type of Master's program for people interested in hem/onc. There are many -- and the one that is right for you will depend on what type of role you want to take as a career path. Simply knowing the patient population that you want to work with is not enough. You have to decide what type of work you want to do with that patient population ... and it is too soon for you to know that yet. You need to figure out which nursing functions and roles fit you best.

I hope that helps a bit.

I never said I wanted a single answer. I also never said this is the only field I want to work in, I said I want to eventually work in it.

I think asking the question could tell you I know you can't get a degree in nursing in a specific disease. Otherwise I wouldn't be asking questions about different Master's programs.

I should have just asked what the difference between NP and CNS (because from what I can tell it seems the NP is more hands on and the CNS tends to have more desk work - if you would call it that) and which do you see more often in Oncology, because that is what I wanted to know. Which it sounds like I'll just have to ask the oncology & hematology nurses I know from volunteering.

i'm just curious what schools you are looking into for the CNL or NP? Thanks.

I'm going to the University of Cincinnati, but they do not have the CNL program. They have NP and CNS.

I never said I "saw" a CNS doing desk work, which is why I'm asking this question. Because the information some school have provided make it seem like the CNS is more involved in paperwork than the patient.

The role of a CNS might differ from one institution to the next. When you start your entry-level nursing program, maybe you can try to shadow a CNS at one of your clinical sites as an assignment or just as something for your own information.

I don't think Elkpark was trying to be mean to you in suggesting that you get through your entry-level program first. It's great to think ahead and to have goals, but just realize that when you get into the clinical setting as a student and, later, when you are working as a nurse, you may find that your interests and goals change. Unfortunately, many grad students don't have much experience on the floor and, when they go to school, they find themselves locked into a track that might not necessarily be right for them. One can always go back for an additional certification past the master's (and I presume, the DNP) but that can be a hassle.

If you are thinking about becoming, say, an oncology/hematology CNS, you WILL need experience on an oncology floor before you start graduate school. As a CNS, you are considered to be a nurse leader and you will definitely have more credibility and a higher level of expertise if you work for at least a couple of years at the bedside in the specialty you desire before you go back to school. I am not saying that to make you "pay your dues". Not at all. You will have a much easier time formulating clinical questions for nursing research and you will be able to find research that is clinically relevant to your interests if you have a good foundation in oncology or hematology before you start an educational program to become an advanced practice nurse. I have seen many graduate students struggle with clinical questions because they don't have enough current clinical experience to be able to focus on patient-care issues.

Also---while you are in your entry-level program, work as hard as you can because, while grades don't matter in terms of passing the NCLEX or getting a job, they DO matter when you are applying to graduate school. Get the best GPA you can and pay a LOT of attention to your theory, research, and statistics courses because you WILL be using them when you get to grad school. I will be honest with you---if you sit through your theory, research, and stats courses and find them "boring" or "irrelevant" you will have a tougher time in graduate school because grad school focuses heavily on theory and research. If you become a CNS, you may end up being involved in research projects at your institution or you might find yourself creating educational programs around mid-range and low-range nursing theories. So when you hit those classes as an undergrad, learn to love them and strive to learn everything you can as it will help you in the future.

Again, it's great that you have goals and plans for the future---but just start preparing yourself now so that you can maximize your chances of success when you get to graduate school and so that you can be the best candidate possible for future education and a job. A grad nursing program is like an undergraduate program on steroids, so do what you can now to best prepare yourself for the future.

Wishing you the best in your future endeavors!