Hello. I few months ago I made rounds with a Nurse Practioner in a rural clinic and I really liked her job. Almost doctor like. Very independant.
So now I have started the road to nursing by taking Chemistry, Anatomy and Physiology at the University of Utah. This has not been easy because I'm a computer programmer and must work a 40 hour week.
My initial plan was to apply to the Nursing College there and quit my job while my wife supports us, assuming I can squeeze past the 1/6 acceptance ratio. But now I have learned of a slightly different path that perhaps makes more sense.
The relatively new "Academy of Nursing" here in Salt Lake offers an Associate Degree and prep for the NCLEX test, and it's all night classes. Then I could get a nursing job and go to the University of Phoenix (mostly virtual classrooms) to get a Masters of Nursing degree.
My question is about these higher level degrees. Is a MSN similar to a NP which is similar to a PA? What must I do to become a NP once I have earned a MSN?
Thanks for any comments.
David