I am a 35 year old new mom of a 2 month old and need help on which direction I should take.
Here is the story.
I have a BA in film production and worked in the industry as a production accountant.
After nine years, I decided to change careers. I always had an interest in healthy eating and decided to pursue a second degree in RD/nutrition. I completed my chemistry, biology, and nutrition courses as well as accumulated nutrition work experiences early on (this is mandatory for the dietetic internship).
After these work experiences I realized I wanted to stay in clinical and know RD's don't get much respect or necessary pay (as told to me by an RD). Nursing with a certification in nutrition or CDE sounds more appealing. The only thing is: which way should I choose?
I am in the NYC area and considering Hunter (first choice), Downstate, and LIU. An Accelerated BSN makes sense for time but not money since I have a new baby. An ADN makes sense for money but not time.
What would you do or what would be your advice?
Just take the remaining pre-reqs and apply to accelerated program (hoping to get in)
OR
Go for an Associates so I can at least get into the profession and focus on BSN later.
Are there any other tracks I am not aware of? So far from researching I believe these are the only ones for my situation.
I want to work in healthcare and make a decent salary. Since I want to work on the clinical side, nursing is my best option. I came from the film and television world, I can handle brutal and unfortunately, I will have to work and can not stay home.
I can't compare your previous work to nursing. I suggest you read some of the many threads on this site regarding the challenges of nursing.
If you feel you can stand on your feet for 12 hours without a break, running around like a chicken with your head cut off, and responsible for life and death for 6 or more patients.. please proceed.
I have been a bedside nurse for 30 years, the responsibility has increased many fold since I started.Healthcare is now a business, run by the corporate masters.
If I could go back in time... nursing would not have been my choice. RD's make 50 K.. do you not consider that decent?
I wish you the best of luck, whatever your decision.
Thank you for your responses. I hope I didn't come off like Nursing was this easy breezy career. I know of friends and a few family members that complain about some aspects of nursing. I am coming into this with both eyes open. In any event, I will keep researching. Thanks,
I would urge you to reconsider the health care field if you are looking for "respect". Only get into nursing if you truly want to do it to help others with no expectation of anything in return (other than paycheck). Pay..you need to actually get real data on pay. You also need to consider that you will be working nights and weekends. I have never met a nurse who works in nutrition and if that is your passion I would go dietitian route. More than likely as a new grad you will be working 12 hour nights Med/Surg. That is just the reality of it. However anything is possible. Good luck.
I would urge you to reconsider the health care field if you are looking for "respect".
This times 1000. I got screamed at when I worked in a nice hotel for 30 minutes about the internet being down once, and that was a lot more respect than what I get from patients and families now. Basic retail and customer service are more pleasant than nursing. At least those people eventually walk away - your patients usually don't. You are stuck with them all shift.
Nursing really is being a servant. I won't say a slave because we do get paid. But, you know that feeling you get towards that person doing your pedicure or the person mopping the floors at a restaurant? That's what your patients and families think about you. You are the water fetcher, the pain medicine bringer, and the pillow fluffer. For the most part, they don't care to understand the rest of it, and all hell breaks loose if they don't think you're attentive enough.
Specializes in UR/PA, Hematology/Oncology, Med Surg, Psych.
You are in NY? From what I've read, NY has one of the most difficult New grad job markets around. You will probably wait 6-12 months for a job offer after graduation. And New grad pay definitely isn't all that. I'd do Radiology Tech then proceed to ultrasound school OR Respiratory Tech then proceed to Polysonography school if I had to do it over.
As someone in Brooklyn, I would urge you to probably consider a different career. ADN nurses are struggling to find employment, and most BSN nurses I know are employed but it less than ideal situations (night shift, swing shift) which makes child care very difficult. I cannot underestimate the stress and exhaustion of being a first year nurse - it's been hard on my husband, I can't imagine doing this with small children. There are other jobs in healthcare that pay similarly but with much less stress. If you were to go to one of the accelerated programs, it would be very difficult to hold down a job while in school and most of the mothers with small children in my program were very stressed and had difficulty finding childcare due to the "on call" nature of the schedule - they expect you to be there when they say and sometimes with little notice. Honestly, knowing what I know now, I wouldn't have done it.
This is a TOTALLY different animal. That's kind of like saying you're an aunt so you can totally know what to expect when you become a mom.
No but what I am saying is brutal is brutal. That's not a reason to give at least for me to know if I can handle something. I had to work 18 hour shifts in that world so....
I think at this point you have whatever answers we can give you. Job market is very tight for new grads in NYC; without a BSN you aren't apt to find employment there. When you do find employment, you should plan on nights/weekends/evenings/holidays. Pay is going to be the prevailing minimum for a new grad, as the market is flooded and employers don't have to pay a dime more than they HAVE to pay.
If knowing all that makes you want to enroll in a BSN program, then more power to ya!
Not sure if BMCC is close to you but their PT Associates RN seems like a good choice. I also have a Bachelor's in another field and am hoping to use the ADN and my Bachelor degree to get into a Master's program later on. I would focus on the pre-reqs one at a time (I did the same) to ensure you get top grades which will help. The program at BMCC is excellent and you get a lot of support from the teachers since they know you work full-time in most cases. Classes are held Tues & Thurs from 6 - 9 and clinicals are on Saturdays. That would still leave some time for you to spend with your family and baby.
Been there,done that, ASN, RN
7,241 Posts
I can't compare your previous work to nursing. I suggest you read some of the many threads on this site regarding the challenges of nursing.
If you feel you can stand on your feet for 12 hours without a break, running around like a chicken with your head cut off, and responsible for life and death for 6 or more patients.. please proceed.
I have been a bedside nurse for 30 years, the responsibility has increased many fold since I started.Healthcare is now a business, run by the corporate masters.
If I could go back in time... nursing would not have been my choice. RD's make 50 K.. do you not consider that decent?
I wish you the best of luck, whatever your decision.