What nursing career would suit my mother?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

I don't know where this fits so feel free to move it.

My mother works for the State of Texas. They just implemented a hiring freeze & want to consolidate all nonessential jobs. Her job falls under the nonessential category.

So I was wondering what would be good for her as another job. She wants to become a med aide but according to Texas law she has to work as a CNA for 90 days. I'm not trying to find a way around that but maybe there is something else she can do.

She has a bachelor's degree so I know she could do an ABSN program but what else is out there for her?

Specializes in PICU, Sedation/Radiology, PACU.

I think the more important question is, what does your mother want to do? Is she willing to return to school full time? Willing and able to pay for an ABSN program, or graduate education? Does she mind the physical demands that nursing school and bedside nursing could place on her? She could, theoretically, work bedside for a couple years and then move into something less physically demanding. Nursing would give her more options than CNA or med-aide. There are also other programs, such as master's in social work, radiology/ultrasound tech that allow her to work in health care without the rigors of the nursing profession. You didn't specify what job she held prior, or what bachelors degree she has, but there may be other opportunities within that career too. It really depends on what your mom wants the rest of her work life to look like, and only she can answer those questions.

Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
I think the more important question is, what does your mother want to do? Is she willing to return to school full time? Willing and able to pay for an ABSN program, or graduate education? Does she mind the physical demands that nursing school and bedside nursing could place on her? She could, theoretically, work bedside for a couple years and then move into something less physically demanding. Nursing would give her more options than CNA or med-aide. There are also other programs, such as master's in social work, radiology/ultrasound tech that allow her to work in health care without the rigors of the nursing profession. You didn't specify what job she held prior, or what bachelors degree she has, but there may be other opportunities within that career too. It really depends on what your mom wants the rest of her work life to look like, and only she can answer those questions.

Thank you so much for your reply!

She doesn't care as long as it pays & is steady work. She worked in a lab doing cancer research prior to moving & working for the state. So I believe her bachelor's degree is in biology. There really aren't many opportunities for my mom with her current degree. I know there is a hybrid BSN program offered by a university that should could attend. I just want to give her options as to what she could do that would give her stability.

Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.

One more important question is what your mother actually can do, physically, mentally and financially.

School of nursing, and especially ABSN programs are brutal for anyone not acccustomed to intense studying, very frequent tests and generally less than friendly and supportive atmosphere. There was a recent topic of a disgrunted student whose whole class was apparently left to prepare for medical calculation test (which they must pass 90%+ or be canned out) totally on their own - that was a perfect description of nursing schools' normal student life. Plus, these programs cost not a little money. Plus, in the process and when it is all over, nursing is a mentally and physically tasky job, especially for those of us who are not that young anymore. As a matter of fact, CNA job isn't much less so mentally, and way more exhaustive physically. Plus, idea of "total job security" in health care, especially in acute (hospitals) is WAY overblown. Plus, there IS a problem of age-related discrimination in nursing.

If your mother really wants to enter healthcare, there are jobs she probably could get with minimal training where she at least can sit most of the time for the same money as an aide, like tele tech, coder or transcriptionist, or at least not move 350+ pounds all day long.

Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
One more important question is what your mother actually can do, physically, mentally and financially.

School of nursing, and especially ABSN programs are brutal for anyone not acccustomed to intense studying, very frequent tests and generally less than friendly and supportive atmosphere. There was a recent topic of a disgrunted student whose whole class was apparently left to prepare for medical calculation test (which they must pass 90%+ or be canned out) totally on their own - that was a perfect description of nursing schools' normal student life. Plus, these programs cost not a little money. Plus, in the process and when it is all over, nursing is a mentally and physically tasky job, especially for those of us who are not that young anymore. As a matter of fact, CNA job isn't much less so mentally, and way more exhaustive physically. Plus, idea of "total job security" in health care, especially in acute (hospitals) is WAY overblown. Plus, there IS a problem of age-related discrimination in nursing.

If your mother really wants to enter healthcare, there are jobs she probably could get with minimal training where she at least can sit most of the time for the same money as an aide, like tele tech, coder or transcriptionist, or at least not move 350+ pounds all day long.

Thank you for you reply & I'm sorry I left so much information out.

Physically she can handle it. She moves heavy feed bags (she has farm animals) & animals in her spare time. Mentally I know she can as well. She has handled much worse in her current job than anything she would go through in nursing school. Financially, I believe she can as well. She has lots of savings built up.

I am suggesting BSN or ABSN programs because should she lose her job that would be much more stable & be able to support her whereas working as a tech won't. She is divorced & never remarried so she is footing the bill for everything.

I think she could secure a job as an RN in any environment & wouldn't have to worry about losing her job. We live in a rural area & the demand for nurses (well RNs) is high. I know she would face age discrimination, unfortunately. When we first moved here & she was younger she dealt with it when trying to apply for lab positions with her current degree.

I just want to offer her some suggestions on a career path she could take that would be able to support her. It's not that she lives like a millionaire but I know it isn't cheap caring for all of those farm animals.

She mentioned becoming a med aide so I just figured I'd continue along that path. But she brought up being a med aide as a second job because she knows being a med aide without a second job isn't enough to pay her bills.

Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

If your mother has a degree in biology, she could most likely handle the rigors associated with an accelerated BSN program.

However, depending on her age, she would need to work as an RN for a minimum of 8 to 10 years to see a return on investment since the tuition/fees for accelerated BSN programs are notoriously expensive.

She could also enroll in a community college ASN program and graduate debt-free, which is optimal for a middle-aged person with retirement not too far beyond the horizon. I know from your posts that ASNs/ADNs are still hired in your area.

I couldn't imagine caring for people as a living, then coming home to further give of yourself to farm animals AND having kids. I'm not saying it can't be done. Just that it would be very emotionally and mentally taxing. Not to mention physically. Good luck to your mom. I can see you care about her and are just trying to help. But the truth is, no one on the internet has the answer for what's best for her.

Heck, I AM a nurse and don't know what specialty is best for me

Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
If your mother has a degree in biology, she could most likely handle the rigors associated with an accelerated BSN program.

However, depending on her age, she would need to work as an RN for a minimum of 8 to 10 years to see a return on investment since the tuition/fees for accelerated BSN programs are notoriously expensive.

She could also enroll in a community college ASN program and graduate debt-free, which is optimal for a middle-aged person with retirement not too far beyond the horizon. I know from your posts that ASNs/ADNs are still hired in your area.

Thank you!

She knows she would have to work for awhile. She didn't plan on retiring from the state for probably another 10 years.

I suggested her going the LVN or ADN route but I don't know how she would work her job & go to classes. With the eline program at least she could self study & deal with clinicals when she has to. I just don't know any program where she would still be able to work her schedule & go to school.

Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
I couldn't imagine caring for people as a living, then coming home to further give of yourself to farm animals AND having kids. I'm not saying it can't be done. Just that it would be very emotionally and mentally taxing. Not to mention physically. Good luck to your mom. I can see you care about her and are just trying to help. But the truth is, no one on the internet has the answer for what's best for her.

Heck, I AM a nurse and don't know what specialty is best for me

Thank you!!!

I don't know how she does it but she does. She use to be a worker in the field, taking care of the elderly & then come home to take care of the animals. She loves her animals & it relaxes her, so that is good.

I know. I just don't want her to lose her job & have no job prospects. It will be hard for her due to her age but I don't want her to stress about if she's gonna have her job tomorrow or how she will manage to pay her bills. It is all ultimately her decision on what she does but I just want to help as much as possible.

lol! I feel you on that last part.

Maybe I'm just not reading carefully enough, but one thing I'm not seeing in any of your posts is whether your mother wants to become a nurse, or whether it's just that you think that would be a good option for her. You mentioned that she "doesn't care as long as it pays & is steady work," but I don't see any mention of an actual interest in nursing.

Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Maybe I'm just not reading carefully enough, but one thing I'm not seeing in any of your posts is whether your mother wants to become a nurse, or whether it's just that you think that would be a good option for her. You mentioned that she "doesn't care as long as it pays & is steady work," but I don't see any mention of an actual interest in nursing.

She just doesn't care. I know some people see nursing as a calling but she just wants a stable job. She didn't take this job with the state because she loved the idea, she took it because she was offered it & it paid.

She mentioned becoming a med aide but the requirements state she needs to be a CNA for 90 days before applying to the program. I don't think at her age she should become a CNA. Not saying becoming a nurse won't be hard work but not as back breaking as a CNA. Also she couldn't support herself by being a med aide alone.

Plus we live in a rural area with a limited job market. Since the state mandated a hiring freeze she can't apply for a different job or work at the prison. Pretty much the only option she has is to become an RN.

Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

How about physician office

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