OT or Nursing - Can I get some Opinions?

[injured1]

Hi,

I am an aspiring N.P.....but deciding between Nursing or Occupational Therapist. I also might add, did the OP go to Online N.P program. That was my thought for the N.P route. 2 Years in Nursing, then grad NP online. Also, what's youropinion on Oline N.P programs?

Far as Nursing or OT: I personally have had mixed reviews. I talked to someone in a Nursing program, and one said I would be bored with Nursing after Year 1. I have been told by many, That, " I don't think like a nurse." For instance, I liked learning beyond the text book in chemsitry on how Carbon 11 is used for brain scans and how you can see images an how it reacts with glucose. However, when I see people weight train, and I see many have an internal rotation of the head of the humerus. Many on men. It shows they highlight bench press, however, lack thoracic extended movements like Back, Scapula, etc. So these people tend to have a forward deposition bc of them doing so much anterior movements..the, " Show Me", Muscles if you will( Chest, Biceps, Abs ) that they neglect the posterior, which have the biggest muscles, the back, triceps, etc. This can lead to Impingement, or Bicep tendon injuries. I can usually tell just by looking and confirming by seeing them train, and then touching their back.

I also like the psychology of illness. Put it this way,I dislike it, but like it. I dislike the physical can effect the mental. Ever see someone who had gastric surgery? Someone on Steroids( corti..not anabolic ) and they gain weight? A physical ailment now becomes mental in the form of anxiety, OCD( also in particular OCD...when something happens beyond your control, ppl tend to be OCD about things afterwards to gain some sort of control mechanism ). I pay attention to all these things, just even weight training with ppl. I am not a nurse, but loved AP....and Micro Biology I got a 97%. I got a 97% bc what we studied related to practical things. Like bacteria and how it attacks the mucus layer to kill the Epithelial cells, then after that is done, attack the tissue causing inflammation. To me that is practical.

I am just nervous bc of Horror Stories, and also bc people say, " I don't think like a Nurse." They say physician assistant etc....I do admit, if I learned something and knew it was right, I might clash with people who might put someone at harm. I cannot think of one class I did not raise my hand 2-3 times per class session. I am not scared to ask questions, I don't care if I asked q's and might have annoyed or got a pat on back from M.Ds with my questions.... we all bleed the same( unless you bleed old oxygenated blood ), so someone being an M.D does not matter, I still ask q's if I have them. That is my mentality in class.

So I am nervous to enter nursing bc of what ppl say to me and horror stories online, and I am caught between OT and Nursing.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Moved to prenursing forum

[callinshotz, RN]

You have to decide for yourself. These are two different fields. So make up your mind. Shadow people from each profession. So an OT, nurse, and nurse practitioner. Which ever one you like, go for it.