I really want to be a nurse practitioner. Unfortunately, the first year or two of any nursing program requires CLINICALS.
For starters, I have a genetic disorder (and some hormone problems) that make it impossible for me to be on my feet all day every day. The most I can handle is 2-3 days of clinicals per week, with a rest day in between. I have a BA in Psychology (or will in a few months, at least). What's my best bet for low-paced clinicals? ADN, second BSN, Direct Entry MSN?
For another thing, I'm not allowed to drive right now because of very small seizures! So even if I could somehow get family to drive me to a nursing school a couple of times a week, is there any hope of me getting to clinicals?
Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.
I think the car issue would be the bigger problem since they do not usually let you pick which hospital and hours you want your clinical, but maybe by the time you get there that will be resolved so no reason not to go for it.
Give it your best and if you are unable to do it find something else that you can utulize the background in like psychologist or something like that......a million things you can use your nursing/medical background for so just do it.
I like your punk, but I think it is unfair to get all dogy to people who gave you their honest opinion when that was what they asked for.
They are not saying you can't do it. They are just saying it may be very tough.
I didn't ask for opinions on whether or not I should go into nursing. I asked what the most doable program, in their opinion, might be. I probably should have edited my title better (since it was originally "can you do nursing school without a car?, and I tossed in the severe fatigue part last minute) but the question in my post was essentially "which program would be easiest for me? ADN/BSN/DEMSN?" Maybe I'll try to make a better title.
In your original post, you say, "I really want to be a nurse practitioner. Unfortunately, the first year or two of any nursing program requires CLINICALS."
You're correct. You can not get through any nursing program without clinicals. Is it possible to get special accommodations for disabilities? Probably, hopefully, I'd definitely look into that. BUT you will not get a 'go straight to NP without or severely reduced clinicals' card.. which is how you're coming across to me in this thread.
You continue to say,"The most I can handle is 2-3 days of clinicals per week, with a rest day in between."
If you have a documented disability you may get accommodations but I'm pretty sure you will have to put in the same amount of clinical hours as everyone else.. maybe just in different proportions.. If you're willing to do that, what is the issue?
Then you say, "I intend to work in an office, so 12 hours shifts would be hard to come by, lol. I expect I'll try to get a schedule with Wednesdays off or something, so I can rest."
Sounds like an awesome end game.. but you have to put in years of school, clinicals, and work to get to this point. Only you know if you can do it.. but there won't be any shortcuts.
"I just need some time to rest if I have to be on my feet a lot. I don't see why that would preclude me from being a nurse practitioner, just getting through clinicals. If I can just get through the standing-on-my-feet bit of the first two years or so, I don't see why it should be a huge deal for me to get some online RN-to-MSN training."
Getting through clinicals is a requirement. If you can't do this then of course you'll be precluded from becoming a NP. If you can do this with reasonable accommodations for your disability (say a wheelchair), than what is the problem?
"I think for now I'm going to work a high-paying office job while I finish my pre-reqs for medical school. If they're both going to be intense and demanding and take ~5 years, I might as well come out with making more money."
Okay, here is where I'm most confused. You say you will have a hard time with the pesky little issue of clinicals so instead you'll just go for med school. Do you see the lack of logic?
"I love the ablism in this thread. No, of course there has never been a doctor using an electric wheelchair for work or their internships! How silly of me! It's not like I have friends with severe diseases who made it through!"
Is this an issue of reasonable accommodations for disabilities? If so, OF COURSE accommodations can be made if you want to be a doctor or a nurse. That doesn't mean you get to skip the stuff you're unable to do without those accommodations.. it just means you do them differently, or with a little more time, than others.
I have a documented learning disability. School is hard for me. I'm eligable for special accomidations (extra test taking time, tutoring, extra assignment time, etc.) if I ever choose to use them. I can not, however, skip entire classes in my degree, get out of exams, or get easier exams than everyone else because of my disability.
As far as getting to school and/or clinicals go.. I wouldn't even worry about that until the time comes. Car pools, friends, buses, taxi.. where there is a will there is a way.
I have a physical disability. Clinicals for RN & BSN are roughly similar in hours. My program I have clinicals 3 days a week. Day 1 data collection -- consists of standing at a computer and getting your patient data (few of the puters have seats). Days 2/3 on my feet almost non-stop for 7 hours. Also, there is all the standing/walking in skills lab - hours and hours of it.
I give up a lot to physically, mentally and emotionally to do my program. The only "special" consideration has been my disabled parking space. There are physical requirements for entry into my program and I must meet them. By the time I do all of this I am exhausted, in a lot of pain and then I have all of my homework.
It is doable but there is a cost. For me it means that my life completely revolves around school because that is all the energy I have.
I have friends who are office based NPs and they are "run off their feet" all of the time. So the chances of getting an office based job that also allows you to remain seated most of the day are not high. All it means is they will have to make accommodations. It is your choice what you do.
As for the people who suggested you reconsider...sorry they didn't tap dance around the subject but you can hardly expect them to. I thought exactly the same thing as they did -- and I have a pretty harsh disability myself. I choose to meet the physical demands of my future profession from the outset rather than have those demands reduced for me. But that too is my choice.
If you want to do it -- just do it. You will probably find it quite informative to speak with nursing schools directly and get information about their physical requirements and clinical hours. I wouldn't say anything about a disability. As far as they will be concerned you are someone with a BSc who wants to train to become an advanced practice nurse.
The other thing is to ensure that your disability is properly documented. Once you get accepted you then can go to the disability services dept. of the school and discuss your needs.
You would definitely need reliable transportation for nursing school, and not just a couple days a week, as you mentioned in your OP. Clinicals happen in different locations, some far from the school campus, at different times, and you would be in different groups (of students) at different times. Clinical schedules sometimes have to be changed on short-ish notice. Some schools and some clinical rotations require you to go to the clinical site the evening before the actual clinical day in order to collect information about assigned clients so that you can be prepared for the actual clinical day. There are often lab practice sessions, skills check-offs, etc. that happen outside of regular "school" hours. You would either need to have a family member or friend available to drive you around pretty frequently, or be v. active about arranging carpooling. (Or use public transportation as a back-up).
I doubt anyone here is trying to be "ablist," just realistic. Most of us have years of experience with much of the general public considering us glorified waitresses -- few people realize the commitment and effort involved in nursing school until they're in it. Another thing that hasn't been mentioned is that nursing programs typically have v. strict attendance policies, definitely for clinical, sometimes for lecture, also. The minimum number of clinical and classroom hours required in order to be qualified/eligible for licensure once you've finished school are established by the state Board of Nursing, not by the school, and most nursing curricula don't have a lot of "wiggle room" built into the schedule. It's not uncommon that, if you miss more than a day or two in a clinical rotation, you flunk out of the program, regardless of how good and valid your excuse may be. Some schools have slightly more lenient policies, some schools have some means whereby you can make up missed clinical days, and some don't. It just depends on the school. I just offer that as something else (that most people are not aware of until they're in nursing school) to take into consideration.
On the other hand, however taxing anyone might find nursing school, it is a walk in the park compared to medical school and a residency. I've spent years working in teaching hospitals with med students and residents on all sides, and the demands placed on nursing students are nothing compared to what they go through. As trauma noted, they are now "only" allowed to be worked 80 hours a week -- and I work in psych, and even the psych residents spend much of that 80 hours on their feet and moving. In my current facility, in addition to their regular responsibilities and caseloads, the residents take turns being the "house float" at night -- on duty 6 pm - 8 am, covering the entire facility. They may get to sleep some during the night, they may not; it just depends on how busy a night it is. And they do this for a week (M-F) at a time.
However, people who are determined enough are able to do all sorts of remarkable things. Best wishes for your journey.
I am sure you have been through alot in your life. But you are not the only one who has had hard times. The other Nurse hopefuls here are not trying to tell you what you can and cant do but I don't think too many medical schools will even give you an interview with a 3.2 GPA, even if you went to one of the top 9 universities. Of course most nursing programs are looking for higher GPA's as well, so I guess you really don't need to worry about if you can do it without a car, or which program is more doable considering your restriction.
I would think someone with kids is far more limited than someone who can't *stand* on hard floors for excessive periods of time!
A little bit of experience will prove you wrong there ...
Anyways. Yes, you need a car for many nursing programs. Basically, you must be able to reliably get yourself to clinical sites at an assigned time with zero excuses. So if you can fly or walk 10 miles to work through the snow, that's okay, but you have to be there. Most of us choose the car route ...
I would not recommend an ABSN or direct entry program if you are concerned about your stamina. These are crazy intense programs that are physically draining on 100% healthy young adults.
I would imagine that you would need to be very well controlled w/ the seizure disorder before you could go into clinicals. No way are they going to release a student onto a floor who might hit the ground at any time (even if you don't think that's likely to happen). So just be prepared to wait for med OR nursing school until you've got legitimate medical clearance from your doc.
As for med school or nursing being the easier route ... I will simply say - neither is easy. Both are physically and mentally exhausting. Nursing school is a shorter commitment but (i think) more unforgiving than med school. I also think it's the better option (warning terrible bias on this one :)).
I missed the seizure disorder. Must be too tired to read properly.
Yea I think I goofed. I've had too many tests this week ... I'm up and typing but there's nobody behind the wheel . She only mentioned one, which currently restricts driving.
Specializes in Pediatrics, OB/GYN, ER, Geriatrics.
OMG!!! You asked a question and we ALL gave you an honest answer!!! 10 years ago I was diagnosed with cancer and had to go through chemotherapy...everyday I am in physical pain as well as chronic fatigue.
Before going to nursing school I knew what I was going to be faced with and determined to get through clinicals. Yes, it is hard to stand on my feet 8+ hours a day. It is hard to wake up each morning and get there to my rotation, but I do it because this is my dream.
I in no way want you to think that I was trying to discourage you from your goals, I was merely saying that you should consider getting your health in order so that you are able to perform the job as a nurse or doctor. Both careers are very demanding and exhausting, but doable with determination.
Every school requires a health clearence stating "I certify that this student is in good pysical health and have no reason which would make it medically inadvisable for this student to participate in supervised clinical rotations at a medical facility." Based on that statement, I do not see how you can get cleared by your doctor.
I do though think that maybe once you finish all your prereq's, you just might be in a better state of health.
Good luck to you and again sorry if this came across harsh. In no way was I trying to offend you in any way.
A little bit of experience will prove you wrong there ... 
. She only mentioned one, which currently restricts driving.
CrunchRN, ADN, RN
4,557 Posts
I think the car issue would be the bigger problem since they do not usually let you pick which hospital and hours you want your clinical, but maybe by the time you get there that will be resolved so no reason not to go for it.
Give it your best and if you are unable to do it find something else that you can utulize the background in like psychologist or something like that......a million things you can use your nursing/medical background for so just do it.
I like your punk, but I think it is unfair to get all dogy
to people who gave you their honest opinion when that was what they asked for.
They are not saying you can't do it. They are just saying it may be very tough.
I hope you do it and love it.