[WJBDineen]

I've only been on this site for about an hour and I am already blown away by the information being shared and support being offered, especially to the "newbies"

I always wanted to go into nursing but never understood how I was going to afford tuition, books, etc... I knocked on the admissions counselors door two years ago, have already completed my Bachelor's in Psych and am one month into a "Graduate Entry Program" at the University of Illinois at Chicago's College of Nursing for my MSN. I had to complete all the nursing pre-req's (which helped me finish my bachelor, by the way!) and then applied directly to the MSN program.

The "Graduate Entry Programs" are just starting to pop up around the country. I chose the one that is a direct conduit to the MSN. Other programs are directed to a BSN and are much shorter.

The first 15 months of the GEP @ UIC is an intensive basic nurses training with a heavy clinical portion. They "suggest" that you don't work during this phase. I can't imagine anyone surviving the workload if they had to hold down a job, too! At the end of the first phase, you sit for the NCLEX. Pass it on the first try (please!!) and then start working as a RN. You then continue part-time to complete the Masters.

Only hitch to this program is that you have to declare your MSN specialty upon application. Kind of rough if you really don't know what kind of nursing you want to do. I declared "Adult-Nurse Practitioner" with a clinical focus in HIV and a post-graduate certificate in Palliative Care.

Like a lot of posts I have already read, nursing is not my first career. I am 43 years old and was a Police Sergeant with 13 years. But, being a cop just wasn't doing it for me anymore. I wanted the ability to move and find work anywhere I went, I want to travel... can't do that as a cop.

So, ****O! Great Forum! Thanks for having this.

[cougarnurse]

:waving: Welcome to the site! Believe it or not, I graduated from school with a (former) Chicago police officer. He wanted to work 'the other side' of the coin, so to speak. :39:

BTW....the Hospice/Palliative Care bit is a good idea. Hospice is SOOOO under-utilized. Keep us posted on how you're doing. :luck:

'Cat'

[MagRedC5]

:welcomescroll:

Glad to have you come aboard.

[Cammer]

Welcome to the site and Welcome to the best career on the planet!

I was a firefighter/paramedic for many years and gave it up out of boredom. The field of nursing is wide open and has tremendous options and opportunity.

My only suggestion to you is that you look into going for Family NP. Sticking with only Adult NP can shut down some of your options and there are only a few more courses needed for the Family NP route.

Good luck to ya!

[Marie_LPN]

:welcome1:

[hupnurse]

Hey all I recently graduated from Neumann college in December. I have been working in the Med field in many capacities but I have to admit nursing is the best. The hard wrok really pays off. I just joined the site about 10 minutes ago cruised the site and really like it.

[Ricu]

Originally Posted by hupnurse

Hey all I recently graduated from Neumann college in December. I have been working in the Med field in many capacities but I have to admit nursing is the best. The hard wrok really pays off. I just joined the site about 10 minutes ago cruised the site and really like it.

Welcome Hup!

Glad you cruised by. I hope you let us know how nursing works out as a career for you.

R

[Fil149]

I am thinking of becoming an NP eventually. The program at Thomas Jefferson University also has MSN program for second degree seeking students. The way it works is you work toward you BSN the first year, and while you are working toward that BSN you can choose to go for you MSN directly in either Clincal Nurse Specialist or NP. Just out of curiosity, if you go for the NP without having much clinical exp. as an RN is it difficult to find an NP job? Also, is there travel NP assignments? Good luck and it's awesome that you going for it!!! :luck:

[cougarnurse]

Originally Posted by hupnurse

Hey all I recently graduated from Neumann college in December. I have been working in the Med field in many capacities but I have to admit nursing is the best. The hard wrok really pays off. I just joined the site about 10 minutes ago cruised the site and really like it.

:waving: Welcome to the site, and nice to meet you!

'Cat'