Student Center >> Considering Nursing >> Please help with career choice
Please help with career choice
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Posted almost 5 years ago My husband is getting ready to re-enlist in the Navy after being out for a few years. I am 31 and have a bacherlors degree in Business Admin. I have always wanted to become a nurse to be able to help people. I feel like I have more in life to offer. And, if we are moving every 3-4 years, I should be able to work whever we move. Plus, I would love to work in a military hospital of clinic to help the sevicemembers and their families. By hubby going back into the service, it puts us in the financial situation where I will be able to attend school to become a nurse and concentrate on school without having to work. I was initially thinking of first doing CNA to see if I would really like this career path before going for RN. But, I have heard from others that I should not even do that, since a RN would have much different job duties vs the "grunt" work. So, then I was thinking going straight to school. If my gen ed's from college transfer, I would consider doing a Bachelors in Nursing. If not, I would look into a 2-year nursing degree, just because I need to finish up my degree while we are at the the first duty station so I don't risk credits not transferring. OK, not onto my point. If I just do an Associates Nursing Degree, after passing the state board, am I qualified to work as an RN in a hospital? Would you suggest I do CNA path first? How long is that training? Sorry for my rambling. Thanks! |
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| Posted almost 5 years ago Becoming a CNA is the first step to figure out if you would actually like/love nursing. RN's are trained to do the exact same "grunt work" as CNA's and LPN/LVN's it's called basic nursing care. Many colleges require you to be a CNA and work as a CNA prior to being admitted into the nursing curriculum. You are eligible to work in any hospital, in any state in the US once you pass the NCLEX-RN. Many government facilities allow you to only hold a license in the state you are originally licensed in, so you don't have to worry about continually getting licensed in the state you move to. |
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| Posted almost 5 years ago Since you already have a degree you could always do a 2nd degree program in nursing which usually takes 15 months for a BSN or MSN program. Both would allow you to sit for your boards to become a RN. You may have to take a couple of preq courses since you probably didn't take alot of science courses in undergrad. I am about to start my program (MSN) this August and it will take me 20 months to complete. This is just a suggestion because these programs are accelerated, competitive and from what people told me hard as the dickens because you will be doing what a traditional RN program does in 2+ years in 15 months courses and clinicals all together. Good Luck and I know you will make the best decision for you and your family. Carol |
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| Posted almost 5 years ago I agree with the last post that a 2nd degree nursing program may be the best option for you. However, consider that the prerequisite courses vary some from program to program and school to school. If finishing quickly is important to you, I would research which program could get you finished and taking your RN boards the fastest. As far as becoming a CNA first unless your state requires it, I wouldn't postpone starting a nursing program for it. Where I work in southeast Alabama CNA's only work in nursing homes. In the hospitals they have unlicensed patient care tech positions that do the same thing. If you still have anatomy, physiology, or microbiology to take before beginning a nursing program you might consider taking a part-time patient care related job in a hospital just for exposure to the field while you are actively pursuing your nursing education. Also consider, even if you find that the patient care side of nursing is not for you, the options you will have with an RN license are limitless. The process you go through to achieve that license is difficult and priceless. You will be a better person for having done it. You wont regret it.
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