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back to school suggestions?-nursing
ok..so I'm researching the timing of going back to school now for nursing (ie enrollment; pre-reqs and deadlines)
any suggestions? What type of program should I be looking into and what ae the benefits/pitfalls of associate vs bachelors
I already have a bachelors degree and a the majority of pre-reqs
What should I be looking for in a program?
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Re: back to school suggestions?-nursing
I've been a nurse for about 12 years but have taken the last 3 years off to be a SAHM. I am returning to work next week.
I have a bachelors degree but I think it depends on what you want to do w/your career. Since you already have a bachelors degree, I don't think it would be as important. I think most masters programs in nursing probably require a BSN. Some certifications also require that you have a bachelors. Since you have a bachelors degree, it shouldn't prevent you from going into management if you have that desire. Oh- and I think public health nursing usually requires a bachelors.
That being said, from what I hear, it's not difficult to get your bachelors once you have your associates. I think you can do it primarily online.
If you have any questions, let me know.
my longterm goal is to be a CRNA...
I guess I'm concerned about what the best pathway would be ...
I would also like to get through a program as quickly as possible and it looks like most associate programs can do this in a year with the opportunity to sit for the NCLEX-RN test...
then I would need to do an RN-BSN program but I have heard that a lot of employers won't hire you if you just have your associate degree, so I guess I'd need to go back basically right away??? hmmm - then why not just do BSN is what I am curious about....
then as my children grow (hopefully within the next 5 years) I can go back to school for my CRNA which is a little over 2 years of schooling...
I guess what would be my best options??
I will tell you first that what I am doing now is not at all what I thought I would be doing before I entered nursing school. Just keep your mind open because something you don't expect may touch you while in nursing school or even while working after you graduate.
I don't think you would have a problem at all getting a job w/o a BSN. I would assume you want to work in the OR when you first get out of nursing school. There always seem to be more OR jobs than in other places when I look around at hospital websites. I never considered just getting an associates, but I just feel like if you _know_ you want a BSN, just go ahead and do it if you can do it financially. I just think it would be a PIA to get it after the fact. I don't have any friends who had associates and went back for their BSN so I don't know much about that experience.
we're in the same boat financially...which is why I am looking at part-time or evening nursing programs so that I can "work" during the day and summers. I am hoping to open my home to another child after this baby is born in October...we plan to finish our large basement and create a pre-school style set-up down there with stations for activities...hopefully this income along with financial aid and grants would help us stay afloat while I pursue this career change. I have found a few programs that would fit this and am in the process of setting up interviews but would like some help in the details. I recall there were a lot of things that I had overlooked in the process of choosing a college for my undergrad and don't want to choose the wrong program....
It sounds like you have a lot on your plate so good luck to you! Make sure that when you are looking at schools, you include clinical hours. I went to a traditional university and we usually had to do 2 full days of clinicals in addition to lab time. Make sure that will fit into the schedule you plan for yourself!
Nursing is a great field! I am a nurse and am currently going back to school for my masters and will be a nurse practitioner in May!!! If you already have a bachelor's degree there are programs that are 1 year. They are very intense and a bit more expensive, but you get the BSN right away.
I was also going to do CRNA, but then I thought about the pros and cons.....
I don't want to be on call all the time for surgery, OB, and anyone who needs an IV. School for CRNA is a 28 month process where you can't really have a life outside of school. I have a girlfriend now in it and she is having a hard time juggling around a husband and has no kids involved. The clinical hours are 40 a week alone and then you have classes too. This is a program in MN so I am assuming that they are all the same. The programs are also changing in that you will not be able to get a masters anymore for CRNA or nurse practitioner and you will have to get a doctorate which adds another year on to school.
Alot to think about but money as a CRNA is good!
there are BS to RN programs... I know some are 16-24m programs... depending on full time vs parttime and depending on what prereqs you may need (if you're coming from a business degree, I'm sure you'll have to take some prereqs). keep in mind you have to complete clinical hours which are usually during the day and many times a full day.
for CRNA programs.... look at the schools you want to get into, what their requirements are. many require 1-2 years of critical care experience... (ICU, PACU (recovery), ER). I would highly recommend a surgical or medical ICU for the experience. I've worked PACU and currently work in a trauma/surgical ICU. I wish I had had this experience prior to working in the PACU. CRNA programs are full time, 2 years (or slightly longer, I think one friends' was 30 months) , year round. the first year is a lot of class time... organic chem, physics,etc (I have a number of friends from school who completed programs over the last few years). CRNA schedules can vary depending on hospital. some are not oncall but work M-F or M-S hours, with anesthesiologists on call at night and on weekends. this is the case in our Level I trauma center. CRNAs are used for the more run of the mill cases. I've worked at smaller hospitals , one wouldn't hire CRNAs, no need... and one in the south did and those CRNAs were on call routinely.
depending on where you live or want to live, you can get funding to pay off your tuition loans for working x number of years. I know there used to be some gov't funding to get nurses/NPs/CRNAs and other healthcare providers into areas that were in need... the deal, they pay off your tuition, x amt per year , you work in that facility for x number of years. done. pay as a CRNA can vary by region... but I read an article in the NYTimes or maybe USNews that showed the avg salary for a CRNA is greater than the avg salary for a family physician. good pay... high malpractice premiums. in general, anesthesia is a good route to make good money and have a fairly relaxed job. most days are routine... the rare happens... but rarely. ; ) but you do need to know your stuff.
Good luck.