BSN jobs with flexibility and independence

[Anonymous]

I am thinking about switching from medical research to nurse practitioner. My plan is to do an accelerated BSN, then hopefully Georgetown’s FNP or Yale’s PMHNP program.

My concern is the 1-5 years that I’ll be working as a BSN. I’ve enjoyed flexibility and independence in research, and I worry I’ll lose that in any BSN job. There may be some BSN jobs with those elements, but not likely for a new grad.

I’m looking to switch for a few reasons:
1. I just don’t see myself doing research for another 25 years
2. I only make $55K
3. I have always wanted to be a medical missionary and could do that once my kids have graduated

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

[Anonymous]

First and foremost, go to a state school for BSN and your master’s. The tuition will be a lot cheaper than Georgetown or Yale and there are lots of high quality nursing programs at state schools.

I started in labor and delivery out of school
and was able to get a 3 12-hour day shift job. I had flexibility with my schedule especially because I was willing to work weekends to free up my week days for my master’s program. I told 1-2 classes per semester in graduate school and didn’t have to take student loans.

[Anonymous]

With my BSN, I left floor nursing (cardiac step down unit) after one year and went into a clinical research nurse role. It offers quite a lot of flexibility (no weekends, M-F) and depending on the physician who hires you, and the clinical trials you support, you can do some of the work remotely. With your background in medical research, you might find it interesting! Good luck on your journey. I went back to school to get my BSN and it was the best decision- personally, professionally and financially rewarding.

[Anonymous]

NP here. In my opinion, you need several years (at least 5, more is probably better) of bedside nursing prior to NP school to get the knowledge base needed for the advanced role. Outside evenings, nights and weekends, there is not a lot of flexibility. Shift hours are hard for families. I would make quite sure you would actually like being a nurse before committing to school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here. In my opinion, you need several years (at least 5, more is probably better) of bedside nursing prior to NP school to get the knowledge base needed for the advanced role. Outside evenings, nights and weekends, there is not a lot of flexibility. Shift hours are hard for families. I would make quite sure you would actually like being a nurse before committing to school.

How does one find out if they would like being a nurse?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here. In my opinion, you need several years (at least 5, more is probably better) of bedside nursing prior to NP school to get the knowledge base needed for the advanced role. Outside evenings, nights and weekends, there is not a lot of flexibility. Shift hours are hard for families. I would make quite sure you would actually like being a nurse before committing to school.

This may be "preferable" as a matter of opinion but not all the NP schools require that much nursing experience. Having looked at this recently, most firmly require only 2 years.