Where to go from RN?
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Anonymous
| Entering a BSN program (am a new RN, second career) and am looking at ways to grow down the line. Am debating whether to become a psychiatric and mental health NP or CRNA. Seeking opinions from those with the inside view. TIA! |
Anonymous
| What do you like to do? What are your goals/objectives? If the goal is to maximize income then work in a ICU for 2 years and apply to a CRNA program. If you have another source of income and money is no object you can consider psych NP, FNP, nursing education, etc. With the exception of CRNAs, NPs do not make a lot of money. Salaries are very low six figures and you can earn more working a little overtime as a staff RN. But if you enjoy the work and want to grow professionally, broaden your scope of practice, and work week day hours, NP is a great choice, |
Anonymous
| Bump |
Anonymous
| Work on the floor for a while and develop some skill and clinical judgment, please. |
Anonymous
| Skip the BSN and go straight to a CRNA program. |
Anonymous
| Have you worked as a nurse yet? Psych NP and CRNA could not be further from each other on the APN spectrum. What did you enjoy in your clinical rotations? |
RNrain
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+1! |
Anonymous
|
You need experience on the floor first. I went in to nursing school with the end goal I wanted to be a psych NP. Everyone told me to work at a hospital first and get some experience. 6 months into a job on a med surg floor, I knew I didn't want to work in psych anymore.
As for the pp who said go straight for a CRNA program , I have several friends who are in those programs and all of them had to have their BSN as well as experience in a hospital. I'm sure there are some who don't though, I just don't think it's a wise choice. |