Being both a nurse and chiropractor

[kansasdc]

I am looking for advice on those of you who are licensed chiropractors and continued on to obtain a nursing license. I am looking to become an NP in the future and want to hear your stories and experiences. I want to see more cases and have a strong interest in surgery, orthopedics, and acute care. I want a broader scope. I love musculoskeletal but find my self wanting more. I do a lot of PT and rehab now with extremities and thinking of becoming a NP. Has anyone been able to integrate the fields and have the best of both worlds? What kind of nurse are you? How was school in regards to clinicals? And before you ask or comment...no I'm not anti medical or medicine, I don't cute cancer diabetes or attempt to. There is a place for both and I want be in both worlds. If there's a musculoskeletal issue I feel right at home treating it but I want stronger diagnostic skills outside of this. If anyone has advice on this please share your experience and advice with me. Thanks!

[Southerngal408]

Nicholas McCarty said:

I am both a Chiropractor and a Nurse. I live in Alaska, so I fortunately have good options as far as either go. 

However, these are my thoughts and mine alone, others may think otherwise.

Chiropractic offices rarely offer health insurance, decent vacation time, holidays/etc. Plus, if you want to work for a government or state position (VA), it's nearly impossible as a chiro. So you'll have to pay those 150k in student loans off for quite some time, out of pocket with no assistance (which is what most do, no issue in that). I ended up working 7 days a week for 3 years at my office and never got to see my wife or go on vacation. I made decent money, but with billing and all the denials these days, it made it such a pain. 

I got my RN for 5k at a community college and make as much as I did as a chiro (around 100k) and work half the time. I have full benefits for my family and I'm in the public student loan forgiveness program that will forgive all of that debt (tax free) after 10 years. Retirement and pension are on the table and all other stuff, like life insurance, is covered under my position. I have 7 weeks of vacation/per year and I can get a $20k sign on bonus every 2 years. 

 

Something to think about. 

I'm curious if you still practice as a Chiro? I have 18 years of nursing experience with a BSN and I'm currently enrolled in Chiro school. I have had many Chiros tell me it is more work and less pay than I'm currently doing. What is your advice for the RN going for DOC?

[Nicholas McCarty]

I do still practice as a chiropractor and I'm actually at a hospital. Id suggest going into NP and taking adjusting classes. NPs can bill for a lot more and everything you learn in chiro school can be taught in seminars. I love chiro, but NP school will teach you everything you need to know medically...and then those seminars will help you become a skilled adjuster.