Anyone getting a master's degree in a different field than nursing?

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Specializes in Neuro/Med-Surg.

Hello all. . .I am just sitting here musing about life. I have a degree in English and writing from 10 years ago, and was a technical writer for a few years. I went back to school to become a nurse because I wanted to get out of the office and I love people; however, I never lost my love of literature and writing and scholastics. I always used to dream about getting an advanced degree in writing or liberal arts. . .honestly just to inspire and challenge myself. I love being a nurse and want to continue being a nurse. I have no plans on becoming a ARNP or anything - I want to stay at bedside. Being a nurse is hard work - every day I use critical thinking skills, people skills, math - but I miss intellectual challenge and creative outlets. I crave it.

I was just wondering if any other nurses out there have studied other fields while being a nurse? If so, what did you study and why and did you enjoy it?

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Specializes in CVICU, ED.

I am currently working on my masters in business. Not sure what I am going to do with it yet (dreaming of starting my own business). I am narrowing my focus on informatics within the MBA electives. I never knew I had such an interest in information technology until I took the required computer course (which ironically I was putting off because I was dreading it!!). The last computer course I took was nearly 10 years ago when I first started college!

I chose to get a Masters in business instead of Nursing because I knew I didn't want to be a NP, nursing management doesn't really appeal to me, and I wanted to be exposed to ideas and happenings outside of healthcare. For the last 10 years I have focused on nothing but healthcare. Time to pull back the shades and take in a broader view!

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Specializes in ER, OR, PACU, TELE, CATH LAB, OPEN HEART.

I have a Masters in Public Administration and my area of expertise is Health Policy and Administration. Back in the day this allowed me to be a DON in Sub-Acute Rehab units within the hospital. Today, it is worth absolutely NOTHING in the nursing world. One program for MSN will allow me to skip GREs because of my other Masters, otherwise no credit or recognition.

I love policy work, and am debating weather to get a MSN, or go back into the public sector and work in policy.

All I can say is follow your heart. We should be happy in life and at work. I LOVE nursing, and taking care of patients. However, I know I won't be able to work the floors/PCU/ER for ever, so need to figure something else out. Perhaps medical billing and coding, think that is 5-6 classes at Community College.

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I did my masters in education. I can use it in nursing and in other fields if I want to branch out away from hospital nursing - I am hoping to get into either public health or international development at some point.

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Specializes in Gerontology, nursing education.

I would seriously love to get a degree in something utterly useless in terms of employment opportunities but completely useful in terms of personal development and fulfillment.

Like a Master's of Fine Arts. It would love to get a degree in studio arts but have neither the time nor the money to do so and need to be practical in terms of doing something that will aid my career in the long run.

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I am an NP and also have an MPH. What I learned doing the MPH was applicable, fun to explore and gives me the option to go in a purely public health direction should I ever want to. It is nice to have that option, as having a healthcare background is valued in public health.

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Specializes in Oncology/Geriatrics/Holistic.

Many years ago I obtained an M.F.A. in Theatre. I have taught at several universities along with having a career as an actress. I loved it. But alas,I could not do it forever either. Upon completion of the bridge program I have been accepted into this Fall, I plan to pursue my M.S.N.to become an N.P. Call me crazy...but I want to completely cross over into the health care profession. Had I not enjoyed such a rich, rewarding, and creative professional life, I might feel different. In "Letters to a Young Poet",one of the great poet letter-writers of European Literature, Rainer Maria Rilke sometimes received correspondence from eager aspirants seeking advice and guidance.

They spoke of the places in their hearts where secrets are unearthed. My suggestion would be to read "Letters to a young Poet". I have no doubt that you will find your answer...all the best.

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Specializes in mental health, military nursing.

I would looooove to finish my philosophy degree, or study English lit and spend my days picking apart texts. As the only practically-careered person in a family of film students, philosophers, and composers (read: well-educated and unemployable), I almost feel like I owe it to myself at some point.

Yet I also love nursing and sciencey things, so I can be content with this - employability goes a long way towards contentment. Planning on starting my Masters in nursing education in the next year - my second masters and/or career will be in something frivolous :D

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My degrees are in English & education, and I spent my last 25 years working in those fields in various ways, with a big spoon of creative arts and theology thrown into the mix. I had a wonderful time, but when I was done with that work I realized that I didn't want to do variations of it for the next 15 years.

I still do freelance projects, but after nursing school, I plan to reserve my study and writing time for a few projects that are emphatically not intended to make money. Right now I'm working as a CNA and I already love the balance it brings me: nothing like being on your feet for 12 hours to make you grateful to sit down at your desk to write the next morning! More seriously, I deeply appreciate the honor of serving the patients, co-workers and hospital where I work.

Dina

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