[Wylie's Mom]

I'm a BSN RN, but not currently nursing. I would def. recommend you get your BSN if you're even thinking about going into the business or industry side of nursing; or, if you want to advance to mgmt. eventually.

The BEST part of nursing is caring for people, which you don't always get to do in the way you'd want to.

About 2 years after graduating, I went into industry - worked for a pacemaker/defib company for 7 years. I had about a 2-3 hour territory and had to be present for every pacer/defib implant surgery - and help the surgeons/cardiologists/electrophysiologist through the surgery. The pressure was IMMENSE bc there was a ton of life/death responsibilty placed in your hands - both bc of the way I had to test/stress/temporarily stop the patients heart AND bc sometimes, I knew more than the doc and basically had to WALK them through the surgery.

I was on call for every hospital, ER, cardiologist, and clinic in my area - almost 24/7. VERY stressful.

Learned more than I ever thought possible - but there are no words for how demanding and draining this job was. I also had to do follow-up clinics for all the patients in my territory. Also had to educate the docs, staff etc. on new pacer/defib technology and proved CEUs.

I then moved up to Corporate HQ and worked in global education, program marketing, and finally VIP Physician Relations (in Heart Failure).

So, there are a LOT of areas you could work in w/ a nursing degree - not just conventional hospital nursing.