Ramblings re: my future nursing career

[dianacs]

I change my mind every week or so about what kind of nursing I want to do. Part of me would love to pursue a Ph.D or CRNA or NP--you know, something that requires lots of advanced study and knowledge, opportunities for research, teaching, etc. Yes, I know I might be able to do these things without being any of the above, but you know what I mean.

The reality, though, is that I have a family, and they need to come first. I feel like I need to be home for my son as much as possible, even when he's school-age. I'm not sure how to reconcile these two things. Any advanced degree would require a big time committment on my part. My husband already has an established, well-paying career. He's worked hard to get there, and him cutting back is not an option for us. We have little family in the area. So, it's just me on the homefront. I wonder when it's going to be my turn to pursue my wildest dreams. Maybe when you settle down and have a family you can't really have your cake and eat it too. Or you have to wait until the kids are grown and have left home...

[live4today, RN]

That's nonsense, dianacs! Just because you are a mother does not mean you cannot have a career in an area of your choice. Many of us went to college while raising children, and it is not only possible, it is being done every single day. Even grammas are going to college late in their years and graduating.

You don't say how old your son is, but here are a few suggestions as to how you can go to school AND still be the best parent and wife you can be:

If you have no one to watch your son while you are taking a class at the local college or university, take Saturday classes, evening classes, classes via television learning, classes via the internet....

Your husband can watch your son while you take a class or two each week.

Once your child is in kindergarten, you can take a class or two while he is in school (half day or full day kindergarten...you can do it!)

When your child is in school for a full day, you can certainly increase the number of courses you take while he is in school.

If you add another child to the family, you can still earn college credits. If you have time to visit and post on allnurses.com, you have time to click into a cyber-college on the net and bust out some classes as a beginning to what will one day become a degree for you.

In this day and age, there is nothing - ABSOLUTELY NOTHING - that should hinder a person from becoming as educated as they want to be. Now, get to studying, young lady! :kiss

[jschut, BSN, RN]

I say "Go for it!"

No one says it has to be all right now. I'm finally doing something for me, too! I've waited 39 years to become a nurse....Nothing is stopping me now!And don't let it stop you either!

Julie