Fitness and Nursing- any ideas?

I was wondering if you have figured out a way to incorporate fitness and nursing. My true passion is fitness as well. I'd love to get a job in Wellness and Prevention promoting healthy lifestyles and exercise. It would be nice to apply this to my nursing skills and degree.

HI! I have thought that it would be a good idea to get certification as a Health and Fitness Director through the American College of Sports Medicine. This certification requires an associate or bachelor's degree, which you and I have as nurses. It therefore is of higher caliber than being a Fitness Trainer, not that the general population would necessarily know the difference. Like you, I've tinkered with the idea of having my own gym, but I would like to add a wellness component, encompassing health from fitness, nutrition, and the mental health aspects. Fitness classes, yoga, counseling, providing lectures, etc. Providing more services would create more business, and I would be willing to give lectures at companies piloting wellness programs for employees, the general public, etc. It would also be beneficial is I had a business with a partner or two that had unique skills to offer such as massage, chiropractic, etc.
I have also seen jobs for Health and Wellness nurses in various places around the U.S. They would all require me to relocate. The YMCA also has positions for Wellness Directors that require bachelor degrees.
Where do you live? Send me anymore ideas if you come up with them!

I have almost 3 years of experience. I have worked in Pulmonary Intermediate Care, and now I am in the Mobile Unit Critical Care Cluster at my hospital. It is not my passion, though. I live for running marathons, reading about nutrition, etc! hahaha, I feel that my focus is sometimes astray from my job. Maybe I should change my job to be more inline with my focus
Did you buy the books for you ACSM certification? I need to buy them and study. Where do you live?
Okay, time for work...that's another thing...working all evenings and weekends has really burnt me out. I miss out on life. I seriously get depressed b/c I have been deprived of things that are so fundamental like spending time with family and friends, eating dinner with family or even eating dinner at all!

would opening cardiac/vascular/pulmonay rehab be a good fit for you? This could allow you to use nursing skills and fitness conditioning. Referals could come from cardiology, pulmonary ect. It might take some effort to figgure out billling but might be worth looking into....Jeremy

I work with an RN who works 1 day a week at the hospital and teaches 22 different fitness classes at different gyms throughout the week! What about opening a weight loss center that incorporates teaching a healthy diet, with a focus on fitness with different fitness classes? This seems to be very popular right now and being a nurse gives you credibility. Good luck!

Entrepreneur RN

There are several courses in prenatal/postnatal fitness education. You only need a nursing degree. Don't worry about not having worked with OB patients. It really won't give you the knowledge you need to provide classes to pregnant women - unless one goes into labor and delivers during class!

Here's some places to look:
http://www.childbirtheducation.org/fitness.html

http://www.maternalfitness.com/fitness/fitness.html

The copper institue also has something, but I couldn't find it right now. They have moved some stuff around. But, there web link is:

http://www.cooperinstitute.org/index.cfm

Hope this helps!