Which Master's Program Would Be Right For Me?

llg, PhD, RN · May 1, 2010

The best thing for you to do is to actually get your feet wet in nursing so that you can figure out what your strengths and weaknesses are ... your preferences and your dislikes ... etc. As a pre-nursing student you have little idea as to what real nursing is actually like and how you will be as a nurse.

Before you make the kinds of decisions you are trying to make, you will need to give a few things a try and "get to know yourself" as a nurse. Until then, you will not have the key facts you need to make a good decision. You can't pick a graduate program until you pick a career path ... and you can't pick a career path until you have gotten to know yourself as a nurse.

It's fine to learn about the different options ... but you need to keep all those options open as you begin to experience the world of nursing. No one knows how they will be as a nurse until they actually experience being one. Look at all the posts here from new nurses who find that the real world of nursing is not exactly the same as they thought it will be. You too will find some surprises along the way. Good luck to you.

You are just beginning a lifelong journey. No one at the very beginning of such a journey can predict what is around each and every bend. So, don't worry about it. Enjoy the journey ... plan a few rest stops along the way ... see the sights ... be prepared for some detours ... etc.

happy2learn · May 3, 2010

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.)

llg, PhD, RN · May 3, 2010

It's perfectly fine to aim towards that hem/onc goal. But be open-minded about other fields. Just because you have a personal connection to a specialty, doesn't mean there aren't other specialties that might suit you better. I know a lot of people who change their minds once they experience a variety of fields and see the wide variety of opportunities.

Also ... even if you stay in hem/onc for your entire career, there are a variety of roles within that specialty. You might find that you have a talent for organizing things and managing a department -- or not. Top managers/administrators have a lot of power and can influence the quality of care for a lot of patients. You might find that you have a talent for teaching -- or not. You mght develop a passion for research -- or not. You might want to function in a primary care role and become a Nurse Practitioner -- or not. You might want to remain at the bedside doing direct bedside care for inpatients -- or not. You might want to do out-patient teaching -- or not. You might prefer to work with childen -- or with the elderly -- or with young adults -- etc.

See what I mean? Each of those different career paths would require different types of education -- and yet each is within the broad field of hematology / oncology. It's far too early in your career to know which is right for you. YOu'll need to get some experience first.

killjoyako · May 3, 2010

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

happy2learn · May 3, 2010

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.

llg, PhD, RN · May 4, 2010

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.

creativetype2007 · May 4, 2010

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

happy2learn · May 4, 2010

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.

happy2learn · May 4, 2010

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.

elkpark · May 4, 2010

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)

I don't know what kind of "desk work" you've seen CNSs do -- I've been a psych CNS for 15 years, and the only "desk work" I've done (as opposed to direct, hands-on client care) is when I've taught nursing. Part of the appeal of the CNS role, for many of us, is that there is such a wide range of possibility within the single role/credential.

There are numerous existing threads on this site discussing the difference(s) between NPs and CNSs -- you could use the "search" feature to find them if you're interested in reading what's already been posted.

happy2learn · May 5, 2010

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.