I want my master's!!

[sbnursing]

I currently have my Bachelors degree, I work full time in a free standing surgery center in the OR. I am seriously considering going back for my master's degree, mainly because most jobs I have been interested in want masters prepared nurses. The school I am considering is Loyola in New Orleans. Its an online course. Is there anyone out there with their master's, what are you doing and do you like what you do? and does anyone have any suggestions for the road I should take? Thanks, Sheila

[3boyzmom_1]

I don't have a master's and don't have any aspirations toward one, but wow, that will really open up opportunities for you. My sister has her masters, as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She chooses not to work in that capacity but remains a DON at her hospital, but it does broaden her options considerably. She didn't take an online course, but it was a "distance ed" course through a university about 100 miles from here; I think she had to travel one evening a week to classes. Like you, she had her BSN already. She's very happy with her decision. Good luck to you!

[cassioo]

Does Loyola offer the joint MSN/NP classes I think those would be worth the time if any were. I think the only pain would be some of the entrance things different schools require for the masters programs. It does just depend on what you want to do with your nursing. I've considered MSN I have BSN also) but have backed away because I like being a staff nurse (they don't require MSN at my hospital or even BSN) I might take some other classes just in something I want to because I do like school but don't know what it would be in right now.

[sbnursing]

I don't think that there is a joint option for MSN/NP but after I get a masters they have course to prepare for the certification for NP. I'm not sure what I want to do. I was speaking to a few doctor's that I work with and one of them was saying that he thinks the profit days in the medical field are almost over because of all the medicare regulations and insurance limits. I think its a shame that insurance can dictate what a patient can and cannot do. It's starting to be strictly fee for service, its going to be bad for the people who really need healthcare.