Tricia Lawlor

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Preparing for a Nursing Career
Hosted by Tricia Lawlor
Director of Admissions and Outreach for the School of Nursing & Health Studies at Georgetown University
Tuesday, July 23, 2002; NOON EDT

Tricia Lawlor is the director of Admissions and Outreach for the School of Nursing & Health Studies at Georgetown University. She holds a master's degree in heath communication and has over 8 years of experience in health care related higher education programs and undergraduate and graduate admissions. She regularly counsels prospective students on educational opportunities leading to careers in health care.

If you are thinking about a career in nursing and would like to know how to get started, talk to Tricia.

The transcript follows below.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

Washington,DC: I am currently an MPH student in International Health at GW. I have also considered the possibility of becoming a nurse. However, I don't not have a strong science background. In order to even apply to a nursing program, would I need to take a lot of prerequisite science courses to be competitive or even eligible?

Tricia Lawlor: Hello! Thank you for signing on. I hope that I'll be able to shed some light on the admissions process for educational programs in nursing.

Dear Washington DC:
Certainly if you have been accepted to a graduate program at a strong school such as GW I would say that you have an academic background which would make you eligible for a BSN program. You are correct that you may have to take some prerequisites in the sciences before matriculating in a program but they will help you to be sure that it is the right course for you. I would recommend that you take the pre-reqs at an accredited college or university that is the most cost effective.

Arlington, Virginia: I am interested in a career as either a Physician's Assistant or a Nurse Practioner. What are the major differences between the two? What are the benefits to enrolling in a nursing program rather than a Physician's Assistant program?

Tricia Lawlor: Clearly my bias would be toward nursing but that said you should speak with faculty and students from each type of program. Both NP's and PA's are master's prepared but NP's practice under their own license while PA's practice under the licensure of a designated physician. As an NP you may have more autonomy in varied work environments.

Falls Church, Virginia: I was wondering if you can test out of any classes as you progress through an education in nursing. I already possess a medical background, I am an EMT and have worked as a clinical technician at Fairfax Hospital ER. I am also a personal caregiver for an elderly female.

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Tricia Lawlor: You clearly have wonderful experience to bring to the field of nursing. If you have taken any college level coursework some of it might be transferrable to a BSN program however you will need to actually take all of the nursing courses required to sit for the N-CLEX. Good luck!

Greenbelt, Md.: I would love to explore the nursing profession but unfortunately I also have to work. Are there any nursing programs in this area that offer evening classes for the working adult?

Tricia Lawlor: There may be others but I believe Howard Community College offers evening/weekend options toward an Associates degree in nursing. From there you could balance your schedule as a nurse to complete a BSN at many area colleges.

Silver Spring, Md.: I'm finishing up my BS in Animal Biology and am about to start on a 4-year nursing program for a BS in nursing. What is the difference between a 4-yr program and a 2-yr program? Will getting the BS (4-yr prog.) give a head start once I start working? And after a 4-yr prog., do I still have to go through residency/clinical studies? Will the BS in Animal Biology help me in anyway to gain a higher position in nursing?

Tricia Lawlor: No, no, no. You do not need to complete another 4 years to obtain a BSN. Since you already will have a BS you should investigate accelerated BSN programs which range from 12-18 months depending on the school. Several schools in the DC area have accelerated second degree BSN programs. Contact them for more information asap. Since you most likely have many of the pre-requisite science courses completed you may be in good shape to start a program as soon as January.

Weak Knees in Washington, DC: Hi Tricia!!
I am 28 years old and currently considering a career change into the field of nursing. However, there's one stumbling block that's giving me pause--I really think I want to become a nurse, but I can't watch any of those live operations on the Discovery channel without becoming majorly squeamish. Does this mean I should reconsider my decision to apply to nursing school? Is this something that I can overcome with exposure and time?? Thanks in advance!!

Tricia Lawlor: Hi weak knees! Stop watching Discovery Channel and call a local college of nursing and ask to shadow a current student or faculty member in their clinical practice. Over time with exposure you will probably find that your desire to help people will overcome the butterflies in your stomach. Best of luck!

Washington DC: Do you know much about the Armed Forces need for nurses? Is is better to join up with agreement they will pay for the training or going the ROTC route? What do you think about ROTC programs as a means to fund Nursing school for an 18 year old who can not afford college? Thank you.

Tricia Lawlor: ROTC is a wonderful opportunity for you to attain your goal of becoming a nurse. There is an ROTC representive at all of the local universities who can help you find the right school for you. Students in ROTC programs usually have a slightly tougher but very manageable course load during their four year BSN. Also a clinician in the armed forces certainly has a wide range opportunities for advanced education and leadership roles. Contact the school of nursing admissions office for the name of the school's ROTC contact person.

Fairfax, Va.: What's the best way for someone to determine if nursing is a good career choice? I've worked for hospitals in administration (which sparked my interest initially) but am hesitant about whether I have the "right stuff" for a nursing career. I've considered volunteering at a local hospital but am not sure that will really simulate what a nursing career might be like.

Tricia Lawlor: Volunteering in an acute care environment would give you a pretty good sense of the role and if you are comfortable with the environment but again, shadowing a nurse would give you an up close experience. Contact a local school to inquire about shadowing a nurse. If you are intersted in labor and delivery ask to shadow a nurse-midwife, interested in working with kids, ask to shadow a pediatric nurse practitioner etc.

Bristow, Va.: Hello...I'm a second-degree student going back for my nursing degree (ADN; decided against the accelerated BSN because of intensity of program nearest me). There's so much emphasis on traditional hospital-based nursing, but I'm more interested in school nursing or physician-office based nursing. How difficult is it to get into these fields? Thank you...

Tricia Lawlor: There are certainly opportunities in both school based nursing and physician's offices however at present there are fewer positions available in school systems in the DC area due to the fact that sadly there are not nurses in every school. Nursing positions in physician's offices are more plentiful but be aware that salaries may not be comparable to acute care environments. Good luck!

Silver Spring, Md.: Do you know of any programs in the south? I will attending college in Louisiana.

Tricia Lawlor: Check out www.aacn.nche.edu or www.discovernursing.com for a list of programs in that area. Come back to the DC area for your graduate program. Good luck!

Washington D.C.: How much experience is recommended for your MSN nurse anesthetist program? As I still need to complete a BSN, it is easier to go straight to an NP than leave the academics and then reapply to the anesthetist programs. How many students are there in Georgetown's program per year?

Tricia Lawlor: Feel free to contact me off line at snhsgradadmis@georgetown.edu for specific information. Nurse-anesthetist programs usually require a strong academic background, especially in the sciences and at least one year of ICU experience after your BSN. Work experience toward this goal is really essential.

Alexandria, Va.: I am interested in an accelerated program. However, I am concerned about financing since it is a midcareer switch. A friend of mine in SC was able to have her education paid for by promising to work for a specific hospital for a couple of years after graduation. With the current shortage of nurses, are you aware of any such programs in the DC metro area?

Tricia Lawlor: Absolutely. I would suggest that you look at your area hospital of choice, especially academic medical centers which do offer scholarship support for both accelerated and traditional BSN programs in exchange for an employment commitment upon graduation.

Washington DC: Hi, my name is Sharron Randolph and I am eighteen years old. I just got out of high school abd I also plan to take up some college class, but now I am looking for a job.

Tricia Lawlor: Congratulations on your recent graduation. If you are interested in eventually becoming a nurse you should look into a clinical technician role or patient care associate positions in hospitals (the titles are different in some hospitals). Some require you to have a certified nursing assistant course which can be taken at a local community college but some hospitals train on the job. Look carefully so that when you choose the right job for you there might be opportunity for future nursing education to be paid by your employer. Best of luck.

Leesburg, Va.: How receptive are nursing schools to older students? I'm considering a career switch and am in my 40's. Will I be considered a dinosaur?

Tricia Lawlor: Absolutely not. The average age of a nurse in the workforce today is 45 and many many people are changing careers to go into accelerated BSN programs at your age. Call your local school asap and get going!

Washington, DC: I am a lawyer doing health policy in the nonprofit world. I am looking to stay in the health field but in a more hands-on, people contact environment. I would love to help people navigate their health plans through an HMO, advocacy group, human resources department. I have also considered going to Montgomery College and getting a two year degree in sonograms or another technical area so I could have flexibility. Any thoughts? Thanks.

Tricia Lawlor: There are so many opportunities in health care that would benefit from your legal background. You might consider health care administration or if you want more patient interaction perhap you might think about counselling or social work positions in health care setting. A nurse with a law degree is also sought after in many settings. Based on what you've shared I'm not sure the tech positions will maximize your expertise but again the best way to learn is to speak with the schools faculty about career opportunities post degree.

Vienna, Va.: I haven't had any exposure to health care, but the idea of contributing to patient care in the role of nursing sounds appealing.

How do nurses function in an inpatient setting? Do they have a list of things to do? How are duties dividing among the staff? What if a nurse is assigned to do something he or she hasn't done in a while? Are the mentors?

Tricia Lawlor: The answer to your question could be pages long so I encourage you to talk with nurses and faculty about the role but in general nurses are responsible for the total care of the patient. It is a collaborative role and interfaces with physicians, social workers, clergy and non professional staff to meet these needs. Resonsibilities are defined differently in varied settings but the best organizations you should able to expect ongoing support from clinical educators and managers.

Framingham, Mass.: Growing up, I was told that nursing isn't for boys, so I focused elsewhere during my college career. Now, however, I see that that isn't the case. But, since I didn't study nursing as an undergrad, is it too late for me to switch over?

Tricia Lawlor: It is never too late to follow your passion and meet your goals. As the role of nursing has evolved so has the face of nursing to reflect more diversity. There are multiple opportunities for both men and women in health care and the field of nursing will only benefit from different perspectives. Contact your local school of nursing asap to get going on an accelerated BSN program! Best of luck.

Tricia Lawlor: Thanks everyone for the wonderful questions. It is very exciting to see how many people are becoming aware of this very fulfilling career. Take the next step and contact your local school of nursing to see what you need to do to get started. Good luck!

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