So here's my background in as few words as possible.
I'm a college graduate with a degree in cell bio and am interested in nursing due to the versatility and advancement potential. I currently work at an urgent care center as a medical assistant, but I also have experience from a med/surg floor as a tech. I was recently accepted to an accelerated RN program at my local community college.
Here's my predicament: I've been discouraged by the majority of the nurses that I've talked to about entering the profession. Most would not recommend it as career that they enjoy. I also really did not like what I saw on the med/surg floor I worked on. Given 14 patients where 8 of them are complete care is not cool. At all. I sort of feel like people will look down on me as a male nurse. The whole "Why isn't he a doctor?". Also, when I go to advising, people look at me like I'm crazy for going in the nursing direction with my current degree in hand.
This is a bit disconcerting because I'm currently torn between waiting it out and becoming a PA or going forward with the nursing profession with the potential of eventually becoming an NP or CRNA. The latter does require experience in the nursing field (duh), but I'm bent out of shape about it because I'm worried I'll be miserable while waiting to gain the experience necessary to move on. Also, if things didn't work out with the advanced degree, I wouldn't want to hate my life.
It is 2 years to a BSN then the extra years for the experience and graduate school. PA school is also a couple years. My grades aren't an issue.
What do you guys think? I feel like most people are discouraging and I'm concerned. I hated my experience as a tech on the med/surg floor. It was simply wiping 8-14 butts non-stop with vitals in between. Will the ICU be different, or will I be miserable? Am I having illusions of grandeur with the NP/CRNA path? I am also male, so I'm very curious if anyone other guys went through the same thought process.
Any advice, encouragement, criticism, etc. welcome. Thanks in advance.
I've been an RN for 10 years and have worked and managed both MS and ICU. If you want to be a CRNA you will HAVE to have critical care experience, either ICU or ER (or both). Best chances to get into CRNA school is being an RN/RT (resp. therapist, by the way).
PAs are okay, but they CAN NOT practice unless they are affiliated with a physician. NPs, however, have varying levels of autonomy and prescriptive authority DEPENDING ON THE STATE. In some states NPs can hang their own shingle and even admit to and manage care in hospitals. There are also critical care NP programs that are popping up. I believe Emory has one here in GA.
MS is very hard unit to work. It is typically the dumping ground of the hospital, but the experience you gain there is incredible. You get to see everything and you really can hone your assessment skills in the environment. I worked on MS for 1.5 years before going to ICU and I wouldn't have it any other way. Nurses who graduated and went straight to ICU tended to believe the equipment and forgot to look at the patient. When the BP cuff has a hole in it and you get a BP of 70/20 but the patient is alert and oriented and waiting to be discharged, something is obviously wrong. Assessment skills are key in any nursing setting. MS is worth it, as painful as it can be.
I've been an RN for 10 years and have worked and managed both MS and ICU. If you want to be a CRNA you will HAVE to have critical care experience, either ICU or ER (or both). Best chances to get into CRNA school is being an RN/RT (resp. therapist, by the way).
PAs are okay, but they CAN NOT practice unless they are affiliated with a physician. NPs, however, have varying levels of autonomy and prescriptive authority DEPENDING ON THE STATE. In some states NPs can hang their own shingle and even admit to and manage care in hospitals. There are also critical care NP programs that are popping up. I believe Emory has one here in GA.
MS is very hard unit to work. It is typically the dumping ground of the hospital, but the experience you gain there is incredible. You get to see everything and you really can hone your assessment skills in the environment. I worked on MS for 1.5 years before going to ICU and I wouldn't have it any other way. Nurses who graduated and went straight to ICU tended to believe the equipment and forgot to look at the patient. When the BP cuff has a hole in it and you get a BP of 70/20 but the patient is alert and oriented and waiting to be discharged, something is obviously wrong. Assessment skills are key in any nursing setting. MS is worth it, as painful as it can be.
How about stating that assessment skills are key in all medical professions? It's true.
100% of the nurses with whom I've chatted about career topics absolutely love it. Sure, there are plenty of drawbacks and bad points, but what job doesn't have those?
I will always believe that, as long as you love what you do, you will be able to be happy. Yes, I know that some employers seem to preclude happiness, and some people simply will not be reasoned with, but there are a lot of nursing jobs to be had.
I've had a high-paying career that drove me to a variety of stress-related health problems, but I learned that it was because I was miserable and hated what I was doing.
I barely care what I earn as a nurse; I was meant to care for people, and that's what makes me happy and feel "whole".
'When your heart cries out, you must obey!'
--Triumph, "All the Way" (from the "Never Surrender" album)
Yeah, it's that part right there where I get hung up. To me it's akin to being a hotel desk clerk and working in hospitatlity. Sure, I care, but I don't want to care away their a person's disease. I want to understand it thoroughly, treat it, and be done with it.
devons1972
13 Posts
A few things...
I've been an RN for 10 years and have worked and managed both MS and ICU. If you want to be a CRNA you will HAVE to have critical care experience, either ICU or ER (or both). Best chances to get into CRNA school is being an RN/RT (resp. therapist, by the way).
PAs are okay, but they CAN NOT practice unless they are affiliated with a physician. NPs, however, have varying levels of autonomy and prescriptive authority DEPENDING ON THE STATE. In some states NPs can hang their own shingle and even admit to and manage care in hospitals. There are also critical care NP programs that are popping up. I believe Emory has one here in GA.
MS is very hard unit to work. It is typically the dumping ground of the hospital, but the experience you gain there is incredible. You get to see everything and you really can hone your assessment skills in the environment. I worked on MS for 1.5 years before going to ICU and I wouldn't have it any other way. Nurses who graduated and went straight to ICU tended to believe the equipment and forgot to look at the patient. When the BP cuff has a hole in it and you get a BP of 70/20 but the patient is alert and oriented and waiting to be discharged, something is obviously wrong. Assessment skills are key in any nursing setting. MS is worth it, as painful as it can be.