Considering my options

Hey Y'all! I'm new here and have just registered for school. I have an AA degree, a BS in IT and Security and I'm at a crossroads. Today I interviewed for a position in a PhD program in Informatics at a Medical University - which is where I thought I wanted to be when I woke up this am. I'm lacking 3 courses in order to apply. I was told that I could apply and be accepted as long as I completed these courses prior to starting the PhD program. Those 3 courses are also required for the ADN program that was sort of my backup plan if I didn't get accepted into the PhD program.

I stopped programming about 17 years ago. It makes me crazy. I love databases and manipulating data, but I hate actually coding - especially when I have to follow someone else's rules. I have panic attacks and seriously fall apart when I code. In speaking with one of my mentors today he reminded me of this shortcoming of mine. I'm thinking that maybe getting my RN and working towards the Nursing Informatics / System Design world is where I want and need to be for my own mental health and enjoyment of my future instead of leaning toward the actual programming/development/research side of things.

In addition, they are accepting only 3 students into the program per year. It could be 1-3 years or more to get accepted and then its a 5 year program. I could have my RN in under 2 years (I have a good portion of the courses already under my belt) and begin immersing myself in the industry to figure out where I fit best.

I would love to hear suggestions from people that are here in this position, how you got there and if there are other options for me that I hadn't really considered.

My strength is databases and everything is a database in healthcare now. I don't necessarily see myself in patient care but at this point I'm just trying to be open to every option. I know that programming isn't my future - but I don't know what is!