[happybody]

Hey there:

I'm a massage therapist who is considering going into nursing (I know that this is really a forum for nurses--thank you for indulging me...). Are there other MT's here who've entered nursing? If so, how was the transition? Do you continue to do massage? Are there advantages to being a nurse massage therapist? Any advice (from anyone in this forum) for someone holistically minded who's considering nursing? Also, any men out there (like me) who have gone this route?

I've been practicing for about three years and am about to enter an advanced training program in medical massage therapy and orthopedic massage. I was delighted to hear that there was such a thing as a Nurse Massage Therapist, which has given me some hope.

I'd love to hear from anyone who has thoughts on this. Thanks so much for your patience and your time.

-happybody in Colorado

[ONSnrs]

Hello and welcome to allnurses happybody, I am a RN, LMT. I was a LMT long before I was an RN. I continue to do massage but more as a sideline. Nursing is better insofar as insurance for yourself and not having to do as much accounting. You can also use a lot of the same tax write offs concommitantly, augmenting any massage practice that you profit from. A lot of LMT's make the transition to RN smoothly. Your fellow nurses will adore you for those end of shift shoulder massages.

Do you follow any MFR, w/ J.B. in Colorodo? feel free to pm me any time
warmly,
ONS

[happybody]

Hi ONS:

Thanks so much for your good words, especially about the smooth transition from MT to RN. Encouragement tastes good right now!

I haven't studied MFR with J.B., but it is an integral part of the curriculum at my alma mater, Boulder College of Massage.

Be well,

happybody

[Nemhain]

I was a massage therapist (part-time) for a few years before I went to nursing school. The transition was mostly smooth. The only thing I really had to get used to was a few of my fellow classmates. The Alternative/Complementary health schools tend to attract students who are completely holistically minded and definitely more open minded. Nursing, on the other hand, attracts just about everyone you can imagine. I'm all for diversity in the nursing student body, but some people I could have done without as they were very closed minded, didn't have a clue and were far from adopting holism in their practice. Anyway, most of those people failed out in the first year, so it was pretty much smooth sailing after that.

[happybody]

Hey Nemhain:

Thanks for your insights. I've encountered people of that mindset in massage school too (remarkably), so I'm not too concerned about it. But being a massage therapist, I'm pretty sensitive to others, so it's good to know.

So, that leads me to my next question, for you or anyone else out there: how transformative is nursing? I ask that because massage therapy has really made me look at myself, my history, my body and people in a different light (I'm much more forgiving, accomodating, etc.). Does nursing have room for that sort of understanding, or I setting myself up for heartache and frustration? Now, I'm not talking about some sort of co-dependent, rose colored glasses thing, but more holding a sense of compassion and depth. Or is it simply a "you get out of it what you put into it" sort of thing?

Anyway, thanks again for taking time to reply.

Be well,

happybody

[Nemhain]

Originally Posted by happybody

Hey Nemhain:

Thanks for your insights. I've encountered people of that mindset in massage school too (remarkably), so I'm not too concerned about it. But being a massage therapist, I'm pretty sensitive to others, so it's good to know.

So, that leads me to my next question, for you or anyone else out there: how transformative is nursing? I ask that because massage therapy has really made me look at myself, my history, my body and people in a different light (I'm much more forgiving, accomodating, etc.). Does nursing have room for that sort of understanding, or I setting myself up for heartache and frustration? Now, I'm not talking about some sort of co-dependent, rose colored glasses thing, but more holding a sense of compassion and depth. Or is it simply a "you get out of it what you put into it" sort of thing?

Anyway, thanks again for taking time to reply.

Be well,

happybody

Hmmm... how transformative is nursing??? I can't really answer that except to say if you're looking to relive your massage school experience you'll be very disappointed. My massage school education encouraged me to be very introspective and with this I was able to better serve my clients be knowing myself better. Nursing education was far from my massage education which was more of a spiritual/existential experience. With that said, nursing school was far more difficult intellectualy, however, I believe I grew more as a compassionate human being with my massage education. I believe you will get out of your nursing education what you put into it. However, I think massage therapists bring a refreshing perspective to healthcare in their nursing programs and I do believe it is appreciated my many instructors. I'm always overjoyed when I hear that a massage therapist wants to go to nursing school. Welcome aboard!!!

[indigo girl]

Hello, happybody,
I went to polarity school after being a nurse and half of my school mates were in massage therapy training. I met other nurses in both trainings. I think that it does not matter whether you do massage first or nursing first. In my opinion, , the type of person who does massage or in my case polarity training, is different than most nursing students in that they are for the most part, more open to complementary, and an holistic approach to healing either because they have experienced the benefits of that kind of therapy, or they just think differently. In this country, most of the population believe only in the medical/allopathic model of healthcare. It's not their fault. It's what they are exposed to, and what they are taught. They view anything else with great suspicion. They usually need to have a credentialing body preferably governmental saying this is OK to do such and such. The mindset of the students you trained with in massage school will be different from the mindset of your nursing classmates. It is a big difference, but you will be so busy studying you may not notice this right away. Or, you just might, having done massage first. Now, that I think of it, it is a hugh difference. I think that there is an expanded awareness available to you when you are doing hands on therapies on the human body. You will be bringing that awareness, and your openmindedness to the inherent healing potential of the body into your nursing practice. Those are very powerful tools that your nursing classmates will not possess. As you learn the art and science of nursing, you will already have some understanding of the nature of healing. You will have a lot to offer to your future patients.

[happybody]

Hello Nemhain and Indigo Girl:

Thank you both for putting time into your thoughtful replies--I really appreciate it. I don't feel so alone now! You've given me a lot to reflect on and have also helped calm some anxiety about a career in nursing. I wish you many blessings.

Be well,

happybody

[spottss]

I trained in Massage Therapy in 2001 and worked for chiropractors and for myself in FL for a few years. I then had to move to Boston to help a family member who was ill. In Boston it became much more difficult to earn a living as a male therapist, i believe in part due to the conservative nature of the people in the Northeast, and the different insurance regulations. I decided to become an LPN as it was the quickest route for me to earn a living while staying in healthcare. I then fairly recently attended an LPN program just north of Boston in a technical school during evenings.
I was extremely dissapointed in not only the student attitude and lifestyles but even the attitude of the instructors, some who seemed less than willing to help students and only to willing to tear them down. It was all very disillusioning compared to my experience in massage classes, which was a very pleasant learning experience.
For one, many of the nurse students, especially the women, would be smoking like chimneys durning breaks and bringing McDonalds food in each night to class. They'd swear and behave in a trashy manner.
I guess i should have realized that these people wouldnt necessarily be as broad minded and holistic in nature as people who are geared for massage or other holistic training, and to add to this was the caddyness(spelling?) they put forth toward one another.
I haven't yet obtained my license, having only recently graduated from the program, but i too feel trepidation of going into this field, having heard of horror stories related to the viscious nature of some of these nurses. It always amazes me that the same people who are responsible for helping others can be so nasty to each other. I think their behavior speaks volumes as to the lack of respect they are given by doctors,(though doctors may not openly admit to this) and why nurses will always have a difficult road in gaining the type of respect that other health professionals seem to come to the table with. I think once more men are in this profession this problem will be rectified.
I too hope I can find a sanctuary in all of this.

[happybody]

Hey Spottss:

Sorry things were so nasty in school. I work at a massage school as a recruiter and tell people how great the field is. It's pretty easy because I really believe it. I love being a massage therapist.

What I don't love is the look I get on the faces of medical professionals when I tell them what I do. "Oh, that's nice," the look seems to say. The massage industry is definitely trying to garner legitimacy as healthcare through research, but it's still a long haul.

So, that brings me to my next question in my self-dialogue: Do I want to be a nurse because I want to be seen as a legitmate health care practitioner and make more money or do I want to be a nurse because I want to be a nurse? I know from experience that if I only go into the field for the first reason, it's going to feel disillusioning and wrong because my heart's not in it. If I go in for the second, I'll generally be able to cope with whatever happens because the internal "yes" is there. And, of course, I think there's room for both reasons (sorry for my thinking out loud here, but you've really hit a nerve and exposed some of my fears about the nursing field).

The funny thing is that I keep getting these hints to check it out. Since I'm studying medical massage, a good friend of mine tells me I need to talk to her massage therapist who does similar work and is a...nurse. I just moved into a new apartment and my next door neighbor is studying to be a...nurse. It goes on and on. I keep getting nudged to at least check it out. We'll see how it goes.

Again, thanks for your input--it helps to see the spectrum. I wonder if there are nurse massage therapists in your area that you could get some work from and some mentoring as well?

Be well,

happybody