Quote:
Originally Posted by 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. |
I agree it's worth it to "get it over with" and get your degree from the get-go. It's only 2 extra years of school and then you don't have to worry about having to go back to school in the future should you decide you want to go into management.
Everywhere in Canada, except Alberta, you can't do the 2-year RN program anymore. There's only degree nursing now. It's been that way for about 2-3 years now. If I'm not mistaken, this is Alberta's last year of having the RN program, too, but I'm not positive on that.