Lauren & Chris
Obtaining a BSN and passing the NCLEX-RN is not only a significant accomplishment, but opens the door to a realm of possibilities in healthcare. If you think you're interested in pursuing a masters or beyond, there are several paths post-grad for BSN-RNs and here are a few to explore!
Nurse Practitioner
Probably the one you've heard most about, becoming a Nurse Practitioner is an amazing way to elevate your scope of practice, attain more autonomy, and obtain more job opportunities. NPs are considered providers, so they have the ability to prescribe medicine, diagnose patients, and lead their own practice. There are several specialties for this career, including family, adult gerontology, psychiatric mental health, acute care, pediatric, cardiac, emergency, neonatal, women's health, and primary care.
Steps to becoming an NP:
1) Gain a couple of years experience, especially in the field you're interested in pursuing.
2) Enroll in a masters or doctorates program. In April 2018, the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) made the commitment to move all entry-level nurse practitioner (NP) education to the DNP degree by 2025. However, this date was originally 2015 and is continually being pushed back. An MSN and DNP are both excellent degrees and will adequately prepare a student to become an NP, but keep in mind the standards may change in the next 5 years or so!
3) Graduate from the program, obtain certification, and apply for licensure!
Nurse Educator
Becoming a nurse educator is a fantastic way to combine two honorable professions and create a fulfilling and rewarding career. As a nurse educator, you will help guide the next generation of nurses and play a key role as a mentor, teacher, and role model for nursing students while preparing them for the transition from school to a professional work setting. Some responsibilities in this profession may include: designing curriculum and instruction to help ensure courses meet the state accreditation requirements, preparing and delivering lectures and lead classroom discussions, overseeing lab and clinical education, providing feedback as students work and interact with patients, and supervising student teaching, internships, and research.
Steps to becoming a Nurse Educator:
1) Gain experience! Programs often expect two to three years experience before applying to ensure adequate exposure in the clinical setting.
2) Earn a master's degree in nurse education. Programs vary on their requirements for clinical requirements, but all end in an education and direct patient care practicum. There are often opportunities for online coursework as well, which is a great opportunity to do while working part-time.
3) Although not always necessary, consider becoming certified by the National League for Nursing as an academic nurse educator (CNE) or academic clinical nurse educator (CNEcl). Many employers indicate a preference for these certifications, an even require them, in job descriptions. Additionally, if you want to teach full time at the university level, a PhD or DNP is strongly preferred by employers.
Nurse Administrator
If you find yourself thriving in a leadership role, becoming a nurse administrator may be a fantastic option. A nurse administrator oversees the work of other nurses and has a broad and versatile range of responsibilities. Traditionally, the main component of their job is to supervise the nursing staff at their healthcare facility, including clinics, medical facilities, and other institutions. The role of a nurse administrator is often flexible and generally operates in two major areas. First, nurse administrators oversee the operations and functioning of staff, deal with personnel issues, and address any concerns the team has. Second, they are also a part of the administrative team of their organization, where they focus on areas of finance, human resources, and protocol compliance.
Steps to becoming a Nurse Administrator:
1) Gain experience! Many nurse administrators begin their careers as registered nurses to gain a thorough understanding of the day-to-day tasks and challenges of the nursing profession.
2) Pursue a graduate degree in nursing administration.
3) Transition to the role of administrator, focusing on strategic management of personnel, patient care, and resources, while also upholding and supporting regulatory policies.
Nurse Midwife (CNM)
If you have a passion for L&D, look into becoming a midwife. Midwives deliver babies and offer patients gynecological, prenatal, and post-pregnancy care. CNMs can also care for newborns in the first 28 days of life. These professionals work as advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), which allows them to prescribe medications and take on more medical responsibilities than an RN. CNMs can serve as the main and only care provider during childbirth and are trained to handle all of the most common complications that can arise during labor or immediately after birth.
Steps to becoming a CNM:
1) Gain relevant experience in L&D, postpartum, and/or NICU! This experience will allow you to hone into your skills and be more prepared before looking into advanced practice. During this time, nurses can pursue additional certifications to prepare them for their future roles as CNMs. For instance, RNs can earn their neonatal intensive care nursing certification through the National Certification Corporation.
2) Enroll in an accredited MSN or DNP program with a specialty in nurse midwifery.
3) Earn your degree and obtain certification from the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB) by passing the AMCB certification exam and earning the CNM credential.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)
Nurse anesthetists administer anesthesia to patients and work with other healthcare professionals, such as surgeons and anesthesiologists. CRNAs perform patient evaluations to determine how much and what type of anesthesia to use and consider any prior health conditions before administering anesthesia. Nurse anesthetists must complete specific training and certification in the discipline to work in clinics, hospitals, and private practices.
Steps to becoming a CRNA:
1) Gain at least two years experience in an intensive care unit, such as a MICU, SICU, or PICU, and obtain your CCRN certification through the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN).
2) Earn a DNP in Anesthesia from an accredited nurse anesthesia program. Although some master's programs do exist for this specialty, all CRNAs will have to have earned a doctorate to sit for the certification exam by 2025.
3) Obtain Certification from the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetist (NBCRNA) and begin practicing!
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
Clinical nurse specialists are expert clinicians with advanced education and training in a specialized area of nursing practice who work in a wide variety of healthcare settings. A clinical nurse specialists’ specialty may be defined by: population (such as pediatrics, geriatrics, women’s health); setting (such as critical care or emergency room); disease or medical subspecialty (such as diabetes or oncology); type of care (such as psychiatric or rehabilitation); or type of problem (such as pain, wounds, stress).
Steps to becoming a CNS:
1) Gain a few years experience, ideally in the field you plan on pursuing.
2) Obtain an MSN or DNP from an accredited program in your desired specialization.
3) Obtain certification in the population area you have studied, such as adult/gerontology, pediatrics, or neonatal. Then, you can begin practicing!
There are so many paths to pursue when thinking about opportunities beyond the BSN. One of the fantastic aspects of the nursing profession is the abundance of paths you may choose to take, and the opportunities are endless! Good luck!
References:
https://www.aanp.org/news-feed/explore-the-variety-of-career-paths-for-nurse-practitioners
https://www.herzing.edu/become/nurse-educator
https://www.mhaonline.com/faq/what-is-nursing-administration
https://www.midwife.org/become-a-midwife
https://www.aana.com/membership/become-a-crna
https://nacns.org/about-us/what-is-a-cns/
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