[Steph in Boston]

Hey folks,

If anyone is currently looking into massage programs, I HIGHLY reccommend the Finger Lakes School of Massage in Ithaca New York. Both my mother and my sister went there, and had an amazing experience and got a solid education. The program is full-time, 1000 hours, and lasts six months. My mother and sister are excellent therapists, and if you are seriously considering massage, I reccommend you look this school up. They have a website on the internet. And Ithaca is an awesome funky city. Maybe I'll see you there! I hope to follow in their footsteps in a few years.

[Shamrock]

Not interested in attending the school but would volunteer to be a client!!

[Steph in Boston]

Ha! Okay then, I'll remember you once I am in school... Massage therapists need lots of practice!

[Nemhain]

Hi Steph,

I thought I'd join you in saying that "Finger Lakes" is a really good school. A friend of mine from the Zen Shiatsu program at The Desert Institute of Healing Arts in Tucson (which also has a fantastic massage therapy program) went there and I am very impressed with her knowledge and skill! She really enjoyed her program.
I'll also have to add that Boulder College of Massage Therapy (for those folks in Colorado) and the Atlanta School of Massage (for those of you in Georgia) are two other great schools.

Nemhain
-almost an RN and massage therapist for 10 yrs.

[Gem_jewelry]

I want to be a nurse massage therapist.

1.How many credits are there in School?
2.I want to live in Seattle so what is the best nursing school?
3. How many years do I have to study?

[suzanne4]

Originally Posted by Gem_jewelry

I want to be a nurse massage therapist.

1.How many credits are there in School?
2.I want to live in Seattle so what is the best nursing school?
3. How many years do I have to study?

If you study in the US, then you have to complete at least a two year program. My recommendation would be to go for the 4 year and get your BSN, it will allow the greatest opportunities. Your concern as a foreign student will be in getting accepted into a program.....many have waiting lists of about two years................a two year ADN program can actually take four years because of the pre-reqs that many require. So my suggestion, try to go for the BSN if at all possible.

[Nemhain]

Originally Posted by Gem_jewelry

I want to be a nurse massage therapist.

1.How many credits are there in School?
2.I want to live in Seattle so what is the best nursing school?
3. How many years do I have to study?

I agree with Suzanne on the BSN route.
The best BSN school for nursing in the United States (supposedly) is in Seattle at The University of Washington. The HUGE problem with this is that it is beyond super competitive and nearly impossible to get into. I think anyone would have better luck applying to Columbia or John Hopkins. However, I believe there is a BSN program at Univ. of Washington at Tacoma...you might want to try that since it won't be as competitive, but I hear all of the nursing programs out there are competitive. Maybe you can get some of the pre-reqs out of the way before you apply to a school in that area. Who knows, maybe an ASN program might be right for you.

You'll have to go to a massage school before or after nursing school (doesn't matter when) if you aren't already a massage therapist. Some hospitals are picky and will want you to go to a "COMPTA" approved massage school and some states won't grant a license unless the therapist has gone to such a school; others just don't care. COMPTA is the accrediting arm of the American Massage Therapy Association. There are good schools that aren't accredited by COMPTA (ex. Boulder School of Massage Therapy), but you might want to stick with an accredited one just to be on the safe side. A 750 hour massage program can be done in about 9 mos.

FYI, some hospitals hire massage therapists who aren't nurses and they make the same pay!!! Good luck.

[dhrrs195]

15 years ago I went to the Florida School of Massage and I feel that I got the best education that anyone could in Massage Therapy. The school focused on the right brained aspect of massage and not just the technical. We learned to not just do the massage but to feel it. At 51 years of age I really want a career that offers benefit and a stable future. We don't have opportunities in the hospitals here in SE Ga for massage therapists, but ultimately I want to incorporate my knowlegde of massage with nursing.

Originally Posted by Nemhain

I agree with Suzanne on the BSN route.
The best BSN school for nursing in the United States (supposedly) is in Seattle at The University of Washington. The HUGE problem with this is that it is beyond super competitive and nearly impossible to get into. I think anyone would have better luck applying to Columbia or John Hopkins. However, I believe there is a BSN program at Univ. of Washington at Tacoma...you might want to try that since it won't be as competitive, but I hear all of the nursing programs out there are competitive. Maybe you can get some of the pre-reqs out of the way before you apply to a school in that area. Who knows, maybe an ASN program might be right for you.

You'll have to go to a massage school before or after nursing school (doesn't matter when) if you aren't already a massage therapist. Some hospitals are picky and will want you to go to a "COMPTA" approved massage school and some states won't grant a license unless the therapist has gone to such a school; others just don't care. COMPTA is the accrediting arm of the American Massage Therapy Association. There are good schools that aren't accredited by COMPTA (ex. Boulder School of Massage Therapy), but you might want to stick with an accredited one just to be on the safe side. A 750 hour massage program can be done in about 9 mos.

FYI, some hospitals hire massage therapists who aren't nurses and they make the same pay!!! Good luck.

[Mauryne]

Hello, Steph,

I attended an Open House given by Finger Lakes School here in New York City (first one they ever did outside Ithaca) and was so impressed! I'm not sure which semester I will be attending, but I definitely want to go. I am not a nurse, like most people on this forum, but I am making a career change and need to learn more from graduates of this program.

You mentioned that your mother and sister attended the school and had a wonderful experience. Can you tell me if they found full-time work as massage therapists soon after they graduated? I plan to return to NYC after my studies and understand I won't be raking in the big bucks (at least not right away), but I'd like to know other grads' experience regarding the kind of employment they were able to get right after graduation (hours, pay, etc.)

Anyone else out there who graduated from FLSM and can provide answers?All details are very much appreciated.

Best of luck with your studies!