Career in Nursing and Fitness?????

ImThatGuy, BSN, RN · Apr 14, 2011

Think about changing your major to kinesiology or exercise science. Teach it in college maybe.

Cass.M · Apr 14, 2011

I don't really have the interest to teach college students...

I love the work I am doing in nursing - I just wanted to know if anyone knew of jobs that would allow me to work in both worlds?

or are there no current connections between the two? Am I left doing nursing as a "day job" and personal training on the side?

ImThatGuy, BSN, RN · Apr 16, 2011

Other than a rehab enviroment there is probably little nexus of connection.

Sheryl18 · Apr 16, 2011

I am also in LPN school and a ACSM certified personal trainer, I will be keeping my certificate up and possibly train on the side, but I won't be trying to combine the 2. Have you thought about physical therapy at all? I know you said you loved nursing, maybe you'll be able to find a nursing job in a rehab center.

Good luck!!

worked hard and long · Apr 18, 2011

Cass M. What most nurses don't know unless they work with cardiac patients is That the majority of heart attack pt, angioplasty pt and open heart pt undergo 12 week cardiac rehab program. There is actually three or four phases of cardiac rehab. Phase 1 is the inpatient program cardiac rehab nurses travel the hospital seeing individual pt in their rooms and doing rom excercises, measured Bid walks while on cardiac monitor. And in depth teaching about their disease process. We monitor tolerance to exercise including Spo2 monitoring, pre and post exercise BP HR and rhythm. Sometimes we are the first to know if their gait is off and report it to the floor nurse. In todays insurance driven climate we often see the Pt 1-2 days post open heart in the CVU for simple ROM and teaching. They still have aline, SG catheters, foley and SIMPLE cv drips. The reported tolerance to exercise sometimes drives the timeline of discharge. When their physician allows they attend the out pt program for 12 weeks attending three times a week. In depth knowledge of cardiac rhythms is needed. Phase three or four is community based exercise programs that require less supervision. What would be needed is RN license and experience in a telemetry setting. Current protocols in US pretty much guarantee most cardiac pt attend. It is a wonderful setting in which to get to know pts in depth and see people get well again ( isn't that why were are here). From my understanding a PT or OT training take much longer than an RN. some nurses have dual degrees MS in exercise physiology and RN. Most exercise physiologist in hospital setting made less than RN so they went back to school for RN. GOOD LUCK