Big career change... would like to make sure nursing is the right choice

[NBolas]

Hi everyone, thank you for reading my post.

First, a bit of background about me. I am currently 30 years old, male, with a strong interest in healthcare. I have a PhD in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, specializing in atherosclerosis. I have also completed 2 years of post-doctoral training in diabetes, obesity, and developmental origins of health and disease. Ever since my third year of undergrad (9 years ago now, wow), I have been in and around hospitals on a daily basis, as all of my studies were done there.

While I do cherish the intellectual challenges and the exciting discoveries that a career in academic research offers, I find myself longing for the clinic. I want real contact with patients, to be able to make a difference on a daily basis, and all the while feel challenged in my work. I entered research with the intention of improving health care, but there is a significant gap between these two worlds. If I do not understand what patient care entails, how can I improve it through research?

This year I have applied to the nursing program at the U of Calgary. If accepted, I would work hard to become a RN, with the possibilities of working towards a NP in the future. Before going forward, I have a few questions about nursing.

1. For nurses, do you enjoy your work? Do you find that your skills are being fully utilized? Do you have the time and opportunity to collaborate with scientists on research projects?

2. What is the job market projection in Canada for RNs or NPs in the next 2-4 years?

3. Is it relatively easy to move from province to province for work? For example, would BC preferentially select applicants who obtained their degree in BC? Or would I be able to get a job there?

Thank you very much for your time!

[Silverowl99]

I enjoy my work. I practice in med/surg. I try to complete many tasks. I enjoy laughing and talking with patients, and helping them navigate through the ropes of the hospital. I do not collaborate with scientist.

[Fiona59]

Oh Grasshoper, have you read anything on this site?

Nursing jobs are so tied to the fiscal policies of the provinces. AB is reducing jobs, the BC job market isn't any better. When I worked there, yes, they did prefer to hire local grads.

Skills, yes I use most of them. Do I feel challenged? No. Patient care is often drudge work. We don't have aides on my unit. S/he who finds the code brown, cleans the code brown. Do our doctors listen to me? Usually but that's because I've been on the unit for nearly a decade and they know and trust me. Often, our biggest challenge is not to murder the patient's daughters, lol.

Yes, I have met nurses involved in research. But it's hard for them to get the jobs. Networking and on the job experience got them these positions. Usually the job only lasts for the term of the project and they either have to return to their old jobs or look for soething else. These jobs are really only found in areas with teaching hospitals. It's not scientific research either. More along the lines of are care needs being met in a timely manner, is NPO really required for specific surgeries.

Job markets in Edmonton and Calgary are saturated with new grads. The demand is out in the rural areas and you will not be making the connections you need to make out there.

With your background why are you really applying for nursing? Wouldn't medicine be a better fit?

[oceanblue52]

From your background and interests it sounds to me like you are more suited for a PA program/ career.

[dayandnight]

Nursing is technically in the bachelor of "science" department, but you really feel quite apart from science, as research opportunities are minimal and we do not get to learn as much science classes (most do not learn 1st yr bio,chem,physics) compared to other science majors. Nursing is very personal, personal care is vry important for Canadian nursing as we are at a huge shortage. I enjoy my job but lately became interested in research but nurses, esp bachelor level or lower nurses have no power to influence the actual healthcare. We are short all the time, often times deal with violent pt with no protection. I am looking into possibly going back to school to minor in science field and go for my masters... so I can make a difference in health care. i feel medicine would be more suitable for you than nursing as you would use your current knowledge more.

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

The problem with any Masters degree is that there are few jobs because these jobs are also highly paid and tied to funding. Unless you have strong work experience and connections, a Masters degree is an expensive piece of paper.

I am currently in a Masters program, and I knew before hand that that there are fewer and fewer postings (unless you are interested in working as an NP in a rural area).

[CanadianRN16]

It sounds like you want to become a doctor researcher, have you considered pursuing a MD? You could run your own practice while simultaneously performing research.

You don't get many opportunities as a RN to engage in research, unless you specifically fo into nursing research or participate in studies. As a NP you'll get opportunitues to conduct clinical research though!

[NBolas]

Thank you all very much for your replies and for sharing your experiences/wisdom with me! For some reason I only received alerts for the first couple of responses. A number of you asked why I'm not going for the MD route, and there are a few reasons. For one, the time and financial commitment of medical school + residency (~8 years in total) is a tremendous burden for my family. I'll be 40 years old before making some real income. Yes, there are lines of credit, but I'm already in enough dept with mortgage and such.

As well, after speaking with doctors and nurses, I find that the lifestyle of nurses is potentially more suitable for me. My friends who are doctors mention that they never truly stop working, even when they are away from the clinic. There are always patient files to review, cases to ponder, and emergencies that require attention. This is something I can relate to, coming from research. The time away from the lab is used to catch up on reading journal articles to stay up to date.

I've also been told that nurses have the opportunity to spend more time with patients. As companisbiki mentioned, nursing is very personal, and that is one of the aspects of healthcare that I admire. Doctors and nurses care for patients in different ways, and I am perhaps more suited to providing care the way that nurses do.

It's also worthwhile to note that one does not need a MD to conduct clinical research, as many PhDs I worked with do that already. Personally, however, I feel that understanding how to care for patients will help tremendously when researching ways to improve patient care.

@Fiona59, thank you for the insight. It's encouraging to hear that you have met nurses who are involved in research. The type of research you mentioned is the type I am most interested in. My previous lab also looked at the nutrition of hospital food... some very interesting finding there.

[Technicalglitch]

I think you should go for it. Nursing is not going to be as intellectually stimulating as the work you have been doing, but you don't have to get all of your intellectual stimulation from work, either. Nursing is meaningful, and you can always be learning more about your patient population (provided you have the time!)

Yes, it is pretty easy to move between provinces and territories, lots of annoying paperwork, but no real problems other than hassle.

You might enjoy being an NP more, but you could work in Northern Canada (doing roughly the same work) without one, where the money is very good, the responsibilities are big but it's one of those rare working environments where it comes with the authority too to do your job and do it right.

The nursing market is cyclical (it shouldn't be, but it is), but once you have a bit of experience you can usually find something, the challenge is getting that first job if we're in a down cycle when you graduate. However, you will stand out for being male, as that makes you into diversity hire in a female-dominated position. Plus, you come with very interesting experience, which might intimidate a few nurse managers, but will interest the ones that matter.