M.S. or Nursing or Business? Pleasssse help me

[sneha]

I will be graduating in May 2005 B.S. in Biology. Would it be better to go for a M.S in Biotech / Bioengineering or for a B.S. in Nursing?
I am reluctant about M.S. because I don't know if I'll have a career once I graduate. I am a international student. Do companies sponsor students with a M.S.
Also I like business a lott. I am aware that M.S. in Biotech or Bioeng with M.B.A means hot $$. And I do have a passion for business also.

However with nursing I am "guarranteed" a job once I graduate. The only fall back is I cannot combine it with an M.B.A.
Please help

[Val]

Sneha,

People who had a problemless childhood are usually good at people skills, and are enterpreneurial. The managers are good at picking up from people's behaviour what kind of person you are. Managers value people who exhibit the traits of people who belongs to the "higher middle" and "high" clas, and want to employ them. So yo will have no problems at securing employment with MBA. Your BS in Biology should be a good background for MBA.

Regards,
Val

[Don]

Sneha,

Actually, I believe there is room for Nursing/MBA's. From everything I have read and seen, there is a shortage of nurses - and a dire shortage of very good nurses. So employability as a nurse is probably a good bet (at least for the time being). There are many types of organizations where management of businesses that deal with issues important to nursing (hospitals, out-patient care centers, nursing supply businesses, hospital supply businesses, medical device makers, etc.) is important. In addition, as cost controls increase in medicine and more patient care and decision making is shifted to nurses and PA's, their impact on the businesses that serve healthcare will increase. For these reasons, I would imagine that an experienced nurse with an MBA could be a valuable comodity.

Now, as to Val's comment about types of people who become entrepreneurs, etc. I could not disagree more. I work every day with entrepreneurs and am one myself and I can tell you that few of them had "problemless" childhoods. Further, in a previous job I worked as a consultant for very large (Fortune 100) companies and got to know a number of senior managers ("C-level") managers in these firms. I can assure you that very few of them had what anyone would call "problemless" childhoods. I admit the N of my sample is probably small in comparison to the set of all senior managers and entrepreneurs, but I dont believe it is not representative of the larger set.

Don

[Bill L.]

Sneha,

It's also unlikely for biotech/pharma companies to sponsor international candidates with just a MS.

I also agree with Don, that there is a value for a trained nurses on the business side. That said, there are a few schools (Vanderbilt is one I can think of) that have a joint MSN/MBA program. That's a Master's of Science in nursing, which is what one pursues after the Bachelor's of Science in Nursing.

Individuals can pursue training as a Nurse Practitioner or a Clinical Nurse Specialist (the MSN part) and the joint program is usually designed to prepare nurse leaders for management roles in the type of organizations Don mentioned.

Good Luck,

Bill. L & Naledi S.

[Kim]

I am not sure if Val is qualified to be a psychiatrist. But I think there are many people with difficult and troubled childhoods who later develop very good people skills.

Bill Clinton is one example. He was raised by an abusive and alcoholic stepfather.

[John]

I want to add that Ronald Reagan is also rasied by an abusive and alchoholic father.

Even the critics of Bill Clinton and Ronald Reagan would agree that both of them have very good people skills. They are the two most popular presidents in the recent history. A bad childhood is not an excuse for not developing good people skills.

[Chi-chi]

Hi Sneha,

I can see your dilemma. Although having a job is important, it\'s also important to do something that you love. Your love for business comes out in your post but when you talk about nursing, it sounds as though you feel OK about it. Make sure that there is a love for nursing within you that is going to get you through the long (I mean long) days on the hospital floor, and the feeling of being overworked and underpaid.

It is reasonable to worry about getting a job after you finish. That is why it is also important to talk to administrators at the MS degree-granting institutions and ask them where there students go. Make sure that there are more options than those that you perceive now. This information will indicate benefits of earning this type of degree.

I may sound idealistic when I say do something that you love, but it\'s true (atleast to me). I\'m in grad school and am learning to be a molecular biologist because I love science. This experiernce has been rewarding for me but earning a PhD is extremely hard, and I would not deal with the drama that comes with earning a PhD if the advantages were not more rewarding than the disadvantages.

Good Luck!
Chi-chi

[sneha]

Thank you all soooo much for the advice.
I checked out M.B.A programs & good ones require 2-3 yrs experience before applying. It's hard to get a job just with a B.S. so in that time frame I have to apply to M.S. or Nursign as backup.

I have choice of either doing a M.S. or B.S. in Nursing.If you were an international student in my shoes what would you do?

I like science also especially doing Research on particular in Alzheimers,Diabetes etc. For that I need a PhD which would be nice to have, but eventually when i get older I want a mangerial position, here's where M.B.A comes in.

I know a M.S. "may" lead to PhD but Nursing will lead to money. Please help...

[Bill L.]

Hi Sneha,

Chi-Chi is right about the importance of finding something you love, which will enable you to excel and do it for a long time. That said: you might want to think about institutions that have a focus on clinical research nurses, as you seem to like the science.

Also, regarding the advanced MSN degree: it depends where you are, and what you want to do. For example, there is a shortage of nurses, registered nurses (BSN) throughout the country, and the world, really. There is a shortage of advance practice nurses (those with a MSN) but at least in the states, it's regional. For example, there is not a shortage of Nurse Practioners in the San Francisco Bay Area.

That said, there are many MSNs who worked as registered nurses while they went to school, and until they found the right Nurse Practitioner or Clinical Nurse Specialist job for them. So, if you pursued that path and it didn't work out, you could always work as an RN.

But Chi-Chi's also right in that it will matter where you see yourself ending up, and finding out what type of degrees people have who work in those fields. It's much better to choose a strategy once you're clear about the end point.

You might also just consider applying to both BSN and MSN programs and see where you get in. Sometimes our choices are made for us.

Be well,

Bill L. & Naledi S.

[erik]

Sneha

You sound like a perfect candidate for a Professional M.S. degree program. www.sciencemasters.com



Erik