Many of you are taking an interest in nursing careers, only to realize that:
A. Cal has no nursing programs.
B. You don't know what kinds of nursing programs exist.
C. You're uncertain about what kind of nurse you'd like to be.
Let's start with the basics. By now you probably already know that nursing jobs have evolved beyond the wedge caps and bedpans of yore, and that nurses take on many weighty responsibilities: Administering medicines, educating patients and families, taking vitals, monitoring patients' progress, etc. There are bachelor's level nurses, and master's level nurses.
Bachelor's level nurses are usually referred to as registered nurses with a bachelor's of science in nursing (RN/BSN.) Yes, you already have a bachelor's degree from Cal. Becoming a BSN requires a separate degree, although because you have fulfilled your GE requirements at Cal, the degree will usually only take an additional two years. Sometimes RNs refer to themselves as "scrub nurses" because they don scrubs and work directly in hospital units (meaning they provide in-patient care.) RNs spend a lot of their time carrying out doctor's orders, although their opinions are valued as a critical part of the patient/doctor discourse, as RNs spend more of their time working closely with patients and their families.
Pay is good. Great actually, in the state of California. Many RNs, due to the nursing shortage, can command salaries of $80,000 or more depending on the unit they're working in (usually the more stressful, the higher the pay.)
Master's level nurses usually take on one of two roles: Nurse practitioner or Clinical Nurse Specialist.
Nurse practitioners usually work on an outpatient basis. Many patients see nurse practitioners for their primary care needs. For example, to get a pap smear, or to discuss treatments for an allergy. Nurse practitioners can prescribe medicines, and do many of the things that primary care physicians can do. They generally refer out to specialist physicians when a patient presents with a serious health issue requiring unique expertise. Nurse practitioners often work in public health settings (community clinics) or are affiliated with HMOs or PPOs and work mostly in outpatient settings (clinical offices.)
A clincial nurse specialist is an advance practice RN. Like RNs, they usually work in acute care settings, and take on administrative roles to supervise the RNs and promote better clinical outcomes.
Most Cal grads are interested in Master's Entry Nursing Programs. These are programs designed for applicants who already have a non-nursing bachelor's degree from another institution to place them on the fast track as an NP or CNS. These programs typically whisk you through the coursework and training to gain RN licensure on your way to completing a master's degree within your focus.
The course pre-requisites for these programs vary, and you should evaluate each program on a basis of
location, cost, and the type of specializations offered. Not a science major at Cal? Most programs don't mind if you take your science pre-requisites at a community college.
These programs exist at many universities, such as UCSF, SFSU, University of Pennsylvania, Yale, Samuel Merritt College, and Johns Hopkins.
RN/BSN programs are available at many state universities.
Unfortunately, the web has yet to yield a good resource for compiling programs. All Nursing Schools
offers a basic list, but I've noticed that it does not include every master's entry program. Googling schools in places where you'd like to live is a good start; simply check to see if they offer nursing programs. I would also recommend making an appointment with one of your health counselors at the Career Center for more information. You may book an appointment online here.
