This is a great forum that has been very informative. I am a chiropractor who has been in private practice for a little over 3 years. I am 30 years old and I'm contemplating enrolling in an Accelerated BSN program with hopes of obtaining a MSN or DNP to become a FNP. I currently practice in a rural area. I really enjoy serving this population however, chiropractic limits my scope of practice and I find it difficult to get reimbursed for the services that I perform in my office. I also feel that in order to be financially successful in chiropractic, you have to treat mostly patients that have been in auto accidents. Undoubtedly, these patients need treatment, but many of them come because they think they need to see you in order to get a huge payout from a settlement. Chiropractic has become very overwhelming for me and it takes so much time away from my family life. I have a few questions for any who has thought about taking this path or for any chiropractors that are currently on this path.
1) What type of nursing program are you in enrolled in? I believe the accelerated BSN program is the quicker route to FNP, but I'm not sure if it's best if I plan to keep my practice going while in school.
2) Did you continue practicing while in nursing school?
3) Did you have any financial difficulties with trying to pay for nursing school and take care of home expenses? My current student loan debt is very high so, I don't think I will be able to receive any aid to pursue nursing?
4) Do you know or have you received loan forgiveness for your nursing student loans?
Thank you for any advice or contributions that you have. This is an important decision in my life and I feel that it's now or never. I can't imagine trying to support my family on running a chiropractic business. I know that I'm making a difference in the area that I serve, but I feel it's at the expense of my family. Thanks everyone!
Any updates since these posts are a few years old on the “Chiropractor Looking to Start Nursing School” ? Would love to chat further via email. Thanks!
Any updates since these posts are a few years old on the “Chiropractor Looking to Start Nursing School” ? Would love to chat further via email. Thanks!
No. Looks like the person who posted this post originally has not been back to AN since 2015 - a few months after the question was asked.
If you put your cursor on the person's name, you'll see a window pop up telling you when they last visited.
Any updates since these posts are a few years old on the “Chiropractor Looking to Start Nursing School” ? Would love to chat further via email. Thanks!
Bmmbmm, yes I went back to get a BSN at an accelerated program, started working immediately in the ED and am currently pursing my FNP. I tried to message you an email address but am unable to send messages
Bmmbmm, yes I went back to get a BSN at an accelerated program, started working immediately in the ED and am currently pursing my FNP. I tried to message you an email address but am unable to send messages
Hi Miz-DC, I would appreciate it if you can send me an email too. I graduated about a year ago from chiro school and am considering getting a BSN to become an NP. My email is [email protected]. If anyone else has gone through this process or has any tips, please send me an email too. Thank you!
I, too, was a chiro in private practice in a small rural town. I’m great with people, pretty solid clinically, but stress over potential Medicare audits (practice was 50-60% Medicare) kept me on edge and I didn’t dare grow my practice because that would mean more Medicare patients to stress about!
I also had back, shoulder and wrist problems that limited my volume.
I enrolled in an Associates in Nursing program at my local community college. While not expensive, it was time intensive. I think it would be almost impossible to be the primary provider for your family and go to nursing school, whether accelerated or traditional.
My learning curve was primarily that of working in a hospital, with endless policies and varied equipment, supplies and support personnel. There’s a right way to do just about anything and we are expected to follow procedural steps pretty closely.
Nurses also play a huge role in assessing patients, making recommendations to the doctors, bringing new or changed elements to the doctor’s attention and carrying out or overseeing most interventions.
I put in 8 months in general nursing, followed by 15 months in our progressive care unit and am now applying to the ED. I’m 46 and on the slow path to finishing up raising my kids, putting in my 10 years for Public Service Loan Forgiveness and getting my BSN (I went to chiro school without a Bachelor’s degree).
Im not settled into whether I will pursue a nurse practitioner license, continue hospital nursing, travel nursing, or returning to a concierge style, part-time chiro practice (least likely).
Nursing is fast-paced, often stressful, and full of potential pitfalls. But I like leaving my work at work (no billing, marketing, bookkeeping, etc.), working with a team, learning and getting paid to learn, and the latitude to switch specialties and environments relatively easily.
Bmmbmm
2 Posts
Any updates since these posts are a few years old on the “Chiropractor Looking to Start Nursing School” ? Would love to chat further via email. Thanks!