There are a few traits that every nurse needs. They need to be compassionate, be able to do the hard jobs, and need to have a good eye, patience, and strong fortitude. Nurses need to be able to help those at their worst and still care because it is that care that makes a massive difference in the quality of healthcare they provide and the outcome for their patients.
Nurses are the backbone of healthcare and the primary point of contact for almost every patient in the country. The best news, though, is that nursing can be a very lucrative career, and it can open a lot of doors for yourself.
If you are a mom and are interested in starting a new career or even your second career in nursing, then know there are many ways to speed up the process and reach your goals sooner. You can get started even if you are a stay-at-home mom with young kids now, as there are online degrees that make it easier to manage your time and pursue your personal goals while you raise your children.
How to Jumpstart a Career in Nursing
You may feel behind career-wise when you take time out from your professional life to raise children. Just because you are at the beginning, however, does not mean that there is no other option but to start at the bottom, especially in nursing. The shortage in nursing and the demand for more nurses means that there are more opportunities and options to get started than ever before.
You don’t even have to relocate to get the training and education that you need. You can start working towards your BSN long before your kids are out of the house by enrolling in an online degree rather than a campus-based degree. If you live within a participating nurse licensure compact state, then you can even choose the best program from several different states rather than just the state you live in.
An online degree is just the start. There are intensive, integrated, and accelerated options to look into that will help you jumpstart your career in nursing.
Getting into Nursing
One of the biggest mistakes that you can make when it comes to your nursing career is to assume that you must work in healthcare before you start. You don’t. You can have a bachelor’s degree in an unrelated subject and use credits from that degree towards your BSN. You can take advantage of the fact that you don’t currently have a career to take on an intensive BSN that will help prepare you for a BSN in less time in exchange for a full-time commitment.
All you need to get started as an RN is an associate’s degree in nursing or a BSN. You do not need to have worked as a certified nursing assistant or a licensed nurse practitioner beforehand. While these can be a good option if you need to work and earn an income fast, if you can focus on your BSN from the start, you can cut out time and get started towards your dream faster.
Earning Your MSN Qualification
As stated, you can become a registered nurse with either an associate’s degree in nursing or a bachelor of science in nursing. The reason why you won’t want to go for an ADN unless you need to get started working as a nurse ASAP is that it puts a stopgap in your career. There are very few programs out there that allow ADN-RNs to enroll and earn an MSN. These programs don’t let you skip the BSN either and take longer than the average MSN because you need to complete those missing BSN courses.
To make progress with your career and to have access to the largest number of programs and options, you will always want to go for your BSN. You can earn this BSN if you are a stay-at-home mom and your kids have finally started full-day school. You can earn a BSN part-time and work around a day job.
You can even fast-track a BSN if you already have an undergraduate degree, particularly if you have a BSc in a subject like a biology or chemistry. To accelerate, you will simply be transferring credits from your previous degree to your next. This can help save you up to a year and make it easier to earn your BSN.
Optional: Earning a DNP
If you are serious about rising the ranks within nursing as fast as possible, you will want to find an integrated degree option. These degree options are more intensive and don’t let you take time off between earning your qualifications. In exchange, you can go from a BSN-holding RN to a DNP professional in just over three years. These BSN to DNP programs are becoming more popular and will allow you to earn the terminal degree in your new career. These degree options are available for a variety of different tracks. There are reputable AGACNP programs that can be finished in just over three years that you can apply for with a BSN and just one full year working as an RN.
Tips for Choosing the Right Direction for Your Nursing Career
You don’t have to worry about anything other than the fact that you want to be a nurse at the start of your career. The BSN program will train you to work as an RN. From there, you can earn hands-on experience by working in different units and on different teams. You will want to get that experience, however, as you will want to know where you want to specialize by the time you are ready to apply for your MSN or DNP.
A great tip for those that want to explore their options and get a wide wealth of experience is to work as a travel nurse. Travel nurses fill in during staff shortages, meaning you can work in a variety of situations and use that experience to help direct your career moving forward.
