Wondering if I should get my BSN...

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Specializes in Informatics.

I got my B.S. in microbiology a few years back. I've always had a job in 'healthcare' as an lifeguard, EMT, paramedic, so nursing was the next logical progression.

I have one semester left of my ADN program, and am currently enrolled in a University's RN-BSN program.

However, my passion in life... other than school :D, is computers. I had planned on getting my BSN and then going into computer science (no, not nursing informatics... never). But now as I get close to being done with my ADN I'm wondering if I should follow my soul's passion. Not that I'm not passionate about nursing, mind you, I just can see myself working on the floor for a year or three before making the eventual transition to IT and am wondering if it would just be better to pursue that now. Part of my 'pressure' to stay the BSN path is my wife (yes, I am male fyi), who is an FNP. She's not pushing me either way, I just feel obligated.

What are your thoughts? I could foresee myself getting my BSN eventually anyway...

Since I have extensive previous college already, the online BSN program would be about a year for me; But most of the courses are nursing theory which bores me... I'd rather be in discrete math or number theory.

Thanks for your insight!

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Specializes in ER.

Okay, I'm going to say what everybody else is thinking....

WHY would you continue your education in a field that you dont really want to do? And that is HARD WORK? And couldn't be any farther from your passion?! (I mean, come on! Poop, the public, vomit, life or death meds, legal issues, 12 hour shifts, feet aching.... the list goes on and on... verses computers? It's so far apart!)

I think it's a good rule to follow your passion, WHATEVER it may be! Do not get more education in a field you dont plan on sticking with. It's a WASTE. More money and time and energy into something that WILL NOT MATTER if you dont plan on being a nurse.

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Specializes in Informatics.
Okay, I'm going to say what everybody else is thinking....

WHY would you continue your education in a field that you dont really want to do? And that is HARD WORK? And couldn't be any farther from your passion?! (I mean, come on! Poop, the public, vomit, life or death meds, legal issues, 12 hour shifts, feet aching.... the list goes on and on... verses computers? It's so far apart!)

I think it's a good rule to follow your passion, WHATEVER it may be! Do not get more education in a field you dont plan on sticking with. It's a WASTE. More money and time and energy into something that WILL NOT MATTER if you dont plan on being a nurse.

It's a great 'fall back' job. It's not NOT my passion (yes, double negative), it's just not my primary passion. Why I would get my BSN is to keep me employable should I not find an IT job.

Having been a medic for 7 years and a float CNA for 4 years at the hospital I work at, I'm keenly aware of the bodily fluids, feet pain, coming home drenched in sweat.

My goal is to work IT in healthcare, and I'm thinking my current floor and future RN floor experience will give me perspective that few on the other end have.

I don't see any education as a waste. Essentially, my micro degree was a waste but I'm apt at many sciences most nurses don't get exposure to and it has allowed me unique opportunities to talk with RNs, patients and other healthcare workers.

But alas, I am in a state of pure bliss when working on computers... my co-workers have me fix theirs, recover lost files from broken drives, fix crashes, reinstall operating systems, so much fun!

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There's always nursing informatics...?

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Specializes in ER.

My problem with nursing being a "fall back job" is... well.. have you seen the jobs lately? Theres not a lot in some areas, and its hard, mentally and physically.

I imagine you are aware of this with your background in healthcare, which gives me a slightly different prospective about your post. Also, the fact that you also want to do IT in healthcare does, as well, although if you aren't actually going into nursing informatics, I'm not really sure how a BSN will help you.

My point is.. you can be a nurse with an ADN. You can be a good nurse, have a "fall back" job, make money, get experience, ect, while you work on an IT degree. If you can land a job as an ADN (and with your experience, I'm sure you have some connections or ways of doing that), whats the point in getting another degree if you can do your job with the one you have, and instead of spending that year working on a BSN, you can spend it working towards an IT degree?

I'm just trying to get you to ask yourself the tough questions. Or perhaps just the questions you haven't thought of yet. Ultimately, you will do whatever you want to, of course.

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Specializes in Informatics.

Thanks. That does give perspective that I have not considered! Which is why I posted :D.

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Specializes in ED, Long-term care, MDS, doctor's office.

I think you should complete the ADN and pass the boards since you have come so close..But, I also think you should go for your passion! If computers are your thing, do it!! There is a great need for IT experts and the nursing jobs aren't as plentiful as they used to be...Since we all spend soooo much time at work, it is important to enjoy your work! It will make life so much more enjoyable!! Good Luck:)

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I hear ya Op. Nursing edu was a yawner for me too. I likes the sciences tho!

And let me tell you, ever since I put myself on LinkedIn that mentioned a bit of my former self (a second career/degree gal) I have been absolutely bombarded with IT headhunter folks begging me to say I am a nurse and a traditional IT gal. So, what I am saying is that you would be in such demand it is too silly. Healthcare is majorly going digital. But here is the thing. Nursing Informatics, uh no. They want real IT, and a nurse who knows EPIC intimately and can build as well. Wish it were me, I'd be rolling in it.

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Specializes in Informatics.
I hear ya Op. Nursing edu was a yawner for me too. I likes the sciences tho!

And let me tell you, ever since I put myself on LinkedIn that mentioned a bit of my former self (a second career/degree gal) I have been absolutely bombarded with IT headhunter folks begging me to say I am a nurse and a traditional IT gal. So, what I am saying is that you would be in such demand it is too silly. Healthcare is majorly going digital. But here is the thing. Nursing Informatics, uh no. They want real IT, and a nurse who knows EPIC intimately and can build as well. Wish it were me, I'd be rolling in it.

I gathered that about informatics... it's like 1/2 way between nursing and compsci and from the actual RN informatics employees I've talked to, you can make more as an RN or in Compsci, it's really hard to find a job in as there not really compsci and lack a lot of the needed compsci skills.

What is EPIC? I'm dabbling in Java, Python and C++ atm.

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EPIC is the mother of all EMR. EPIC = HAL (just kidding, not)

EPIC is all inclusive and runs entire hospital systems and links into each and every hospital affiliated medical group, clinic, lab, outpatient therapy, etc. If it goes down and your hospital is 100% paperless EPIC , you are almost screwed if you are an ICU patient, (again, just kidding, not). :sofahider

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

My organization (large, multi-state) has a gazillion jobs for nurse/clinical informatics people. Both aspects are important. Plain vanilla IT folks. . . not so much. From what I understand - oldest offspring has a BSCS & master's in biomedical informatics - the healthcare-specific stuff is very different from generalist IT education. That 'extra' stuff included in an informatics degree is what makes it so valuable. Just like the clinical jobs, hospitals don't have the resources to provide the extra training that basic IT folks would need to bring them up to speed.

From a strictly selfish point of view - the sooner we can get the critical mass of nurse informatics folks needed to lead hi-tech initiatives, the better off we will be. I am very frustrated with having to try to adapt nursing practice to fit information systems designed by non-clinicians. Power to the Nurse-Nerds!!! (would those be "nurds"?)

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Specializes in Informatics.

After much thought, and consideration, I am going to get my BSN, and then continue on.

The current hospital I work for is moving towards an all-BSN staff eventually, and given the economy/lack of nursing jobs/no real nursing shortage at the moment, I can foresee this becoming a norm for the country. Just as it seems many LPN programs are being phased out, it seems the ADN/ASN nurse will be too.

I love IT, programming, math, networking, databases, windows/linux environments... Despite nursing theory fluff in the BSN, with my previous degree, I can be done in 1 year.

Though nursing informatics isn't my 'dream job' (being a corporate white hat would be soooo awesome;p), it will be the best of both worlds and I can see it being a unique niche for we nerd/nurses to fill. There are many, many, many people going into IT. There are many people going into nursing. There are very few going into both... after much more research on the field, it seems to be something I would love. I often see nurses complaining about our charting system and how IT people, having no medical experience, really have no clue what they're doing formatting EMR's certain ways.

Thanks for all the posts!

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