Why I Am Going for My Bsn

Completing my bachelor’s degree in Nursing has been a personal goal of mine since I graduated with my associate’s degree in nursing. Having my BSN degree is essential for my career and personal development. Initially after graduating with my ASN, I enrolled in a BSN program and started my first class, when life happened. I was a single mother raising my 5 year old daughter, working the night shifts at Miami Children’s Hospital. I was dating my now husband and became pregnant with my second child. I ended up having to quit my job as a pediatric nurse which was my goal, to be a pediatric nurse, get my BSN and climb the ladder there. After the birth of my daughter my personal goals changed, and my academic and career goals were put on hold. My daughters are now almost 13 and 6, so I think now in this stage of my life, I am pleased to go for my academic and career goals.

Since I quit my job at Miami Children’s Hospital, a lot had changed. When I graduated eight years ago, nurses where in such high demand, that with an ASN degree there where so many open doors to choose from. My personal goal was always to re-enter a pediatric hospital. Now after being in home health and hospice care for the past 6 years, I have found it extremely difficult to get back into the hospital setting, without having a BSN. More Hospitals are seeking Magnet status, and therefore most facilities in my area prefer BSN or higher to even work as a bedside nurse.

One of my professional goals is to re-enter the pediatric setting, and eventually become charge nurse and/ or unit manager. I want to continue on with my education to eventually become a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, so I can work locally side by side with our only Pediatrician in the upper keys. I live on a very small island with one hospital, and it has no pediatric unit. So we are extremely limited in career choices if we work locally.

Some of the most difficult personal conflicts I predict as I go through the RN-BSN program