Life is built on the decisions that we make. Circumstance often limit our options, but how we respond is up to us. Other times, what we would like to do is delayed, such as going back to school. At times, our decisions are propelled by things lining up just right. That is what happened to me.
I love my career in GI, and never thought I would change. Working in GI for the past 25 years has served me well. I enjoy it, and learn something on a daily basis. However, for the past 4 ½ years my immediate boss was the worst. I knew that I couldn’t take working under her until I retired. I had applied for other jobs, but that never worked out, and I didn’t want to go back to a night shift or to work on the floor. Having worked in GI for so long had type cast me into procedural nursing. I was so desperate at one point that I felt depressed and trapped, as if in a bad marriage.
About a year ago, I opened an email that stated that my facility was increasing tuition reimbursement. My heart skipped a beat. I actually like school, and love learning new things. So I printed out the information and put it aside until I got home. I did a search of the colleges and degrees that my facility partnered with for decreased tuition. There was one problem, I really didn’t want to teach, and am not necessarily interested in upper management. There was a choice of study that I didn’t quite understand called “Nurse Informatics”. I read the description several times trying to comprehend what exactly what “informatics” meant.
After finally wrapping my head around informatics, I grew to like the idea. Using my nursing knowledge and nursing science to manage and define communication data seems like a great option for me. It sounded like something that I would like to learn more about. Also, when I get to retirement age, it could segue into something that I could do from home.
My age was the only deterrent that gave me pause. I was 53 at the time and I questioned myself whether I should go into debt and invest my time to change into a career that was totally foreign to me. It terrified me, but also excited me at the same time. Would people look at me and say “what? She’s too old”. However, since I really don’t care what people think, that didn’t worry me so much.
I chose the online Masters Program of Nursing Informatics at WGU. I am almost done with my first year, and I am still saying the mantra to myself about my age. Should I be doing this at my age? How many years will I really be able to work in my new field? Even though I question myself about my age, I know I won’t quit. My family is very supportive and working online allows me to work when I have the time. My mentor through the school has been very helpful and encouraging. She helps me to navigate each class and gives me advice on how to proceed. The school offers enough resources that a student can complete their work without leaving their house. I’m sure most online programs are similar and offer resources like that of WGU. The instructors are available for telephone conference, or email correspondence.
I was also concerned about not being in a classroom. I love being in a classroom and having interaction with the teachers and fellow students. However, I have enjoyed working in the evening on my couch doing my schoolwork. At this point in my life, the online program fits my life and I am able to learn and do the work at my own pace. Beginning anything new in life can be nerve racking. A new job, new relationship, and beginning a new degree. I was very anxious during the first two classes until I understood how they format the classes and homework. There is a lot of writing involved, but that doesn’t really bother me. Writing is one of the things I enjoy, even if it is a term paper instead of an article.
As far as my job goes, the old boss is gone, and now I am the boss. Of course life gets busier as soon as you start a project. Work has calmed down and life has gone on. Class by class I get closer to the finish line. But what about the whole reason that I began this journey? It has resolved itself. Do I continue in informatics, or do I change the direction of my degree to management? So many questions, so much is unknown. I have thought long and hard about my school and career future.
I have not talked about going to school with my co-workers, I have kept it on the down low. In the beginning, the reason was because I didn’t want my “at the time” boss to know. Now I don’t want them to know that I may be leaving in the next year or two. Either way, my advice to myself is to do what I need to do for myself. It doesn’t matter what anyone thinks, or expects.
If you are thinking about going back to school, take a step forward and invest in yourself. Do it for yourself, and don’t let obstacles like age get in your way. We don’t know what tomorrow brings, and God leads us down the road that we need to be on. Tell us your school story!
The MSN, regardless of specialty, opens doors to positions (in my hospital at least) that aren’t options for BSN nurses. I think it depends on where you work and what you want to do with the degree. Keep your head up! If you find yourself losing interest in informatics, ask your mentor if you can switch to management!
Thank you for the encouragement! So much negative comments about going back to school. I'm not bored with Informatics, just wary of options upon graduation.
Well done going back to study. Whatever age you go back it is tough and like you said it is like the universe sees your plate is full and heaps a bit more on ? I did my MHA in 2 years and while I am still in the same job as I was when I started I have not been actively looking for new positions. It is something I will focus on soon however my heart is with my organisation as I have been there for 10 years in about 6 different roles.
I would suggest that you start reaching out to your network and see what opportunities you can available of. It sounds like you really care for the team you manage but you need to care for your career advancement too.
Thank you for the kind words, you actually got what I was trying to say. I have reached out to the informatic nurse at my hospital, and she has been great. I guess it's scary stepping out into something new, especially after going through all the schooling and paying for it.
I agree that getting your MSN degree is the way to go and can open a lot of doors for you. However, be careful about where you get your degree as not all schools are created equal. I am the Director of Nursing at an ambulatory surgical center (I have worked at several throughout my career) with full HR functions. I know that I, as well as several other my colleagues in the HR/management realm will often not honor a WGU degree or other online degrees due to them being online only programs with no clinical time. This goes for BSN and MSN degrees. I am always a proponent of continuing education for all my staff, you just have to be very careful what you are getting yourself into before you take time getting a degree that could possibly not be honored.
I agree that getting your MSN degree is the way to go and can open a lot of doors for you. However, be careful about where you get your degree as not all schools are created equal. I am the Director of Nursing at an ambulatory surgical center (I have worked at several throughout my career) with full HR functions. I know that I, as well as several other my colleagues in the HR/management realm will often not honor a WGU degree or other online degrees due to them being online only programs with no clinical time. This goes for BSN and MSN degrees. I am always a proponent of continuing education for all my staff, you just have to be very careful what you are getting yourself into before you take time getting a degree that could possibly not be honored.
I believe that if a school is real and accredited then it should be accepted. AND the BSN does require time away from the computer and so does the MSN. The curriculum meets the standards. I don't think your bias is justified.
...I know that I, as well as several other my colleagues in the HR/management realm will often not honor a WGU degree or other online degrees due to them being online only programs with no clinical time. This goes for BSN and MSN degrees. ...
So you would dismiss someone like myself who has been an RN with an ADN for years with oodles of real world honest to goodness clinical experience because I chose to go online to finish my BSN? Shrug. Your loss as an employer as I bring a lot to any position I have ever worked. Including the common sense to see a huge cost savings from Pretty Pricey Local University that just raised tuition to $975.00 a credit hour ?
I agree that getting your MSN degree is the way to go and can open a lot of doors for you. However, be careful about where you get your degree as not all schools are created equal. I am the Director of Nursing at an ambulatory surgical center (I have worked at several throughout my career) with full HR functions. I know that I, as well as several other my colleagues in the HR/management realm will often not honor a WGU degree or other online degrees due to them being online only programs with no clinical time. This goes for BSN and MSN degrees. I am always a proponent of continuing education for all my staff, you just have to be very careful what you are getting yourself into before you take time getting a degree that could possibly not be honored.
some brick and mortar MSNs don't require clinical time outside of advanced assessment...and are CCNE accredited like WGU. Quite a few state universities actually...I've never had a problem getting a job with my MSN from WGU and my BSN from IU. I do HR functions as well and while I look at the degree and its source (school) and allow it some weight, I do look at experience as well. If not, you may pass up a perfectly good candidate because of perceived educational presentation. Quite a few brick and mortars are mostly online as well, due to limited staff and classroom space. Just some food for thought
I will soon finish RN to BSN at WGU and plan to continue for MSN. I am 60 years old. WGU is an excellent school and very affordable. To imply that on- line education is inferior is old fashioned thinking.
I will soon finish RN to BSN at WGU and plan to continue for MSN. I am 60 years old. WGU is an excellent school and very affordable. To imply that on- line education is inferior is old fashioned thinking.
I know that I, as well as several other my colleagues in the HR/management realm will often not honor a WGU degree or other online degrees due to them being online only programs with no clinical time.
Well, that's a bit myopic. Why would an experienced nurse going back for his/her BSN need clinical time?
I did my MSN through WGU. Even if I never directly use it, my employer has a pay differential for it, so it already paid for itself. I’m enjoying bed side for now, but I know it’s not something I can probably do until retirement. It’ll be a nice selling point (I hope).
I believe that "the key" to being hired after getting a Masters (NP or otherwise) is to be flexible and persistent. That is to say you "may" have to move to a different state for a few years to build your experience base or perhaps work in a different type of institution. If you "box yourself in" to one metro area (or even region) your options are much more limited. This is especially the case if you live in a rural area or are pursuing a highly specialized degree like informatics. I also believe that if you can supplement your degree with some additional coding/computer courses that this is beneficial given that many informatics nurses that I've met are really not "technical" people. While the job that you do is more holistic, and "systems" oriented it does benefit from understanding the "nuts and bolts" of software, and computer systems to at least a moderate degree. Such knowledge may for example help you to quickly understand that a problem experienced is due to "server processing capacity" or that the end user computers have insufficient processors (due to being outdated) or insufficient RAM to handle the "latest and greatest" upgrade or software system. These sorts of insights that might be second nature to an experienced programmer, (but not necessarily so to someone who has spent most of their life as an RN) can save a company many millions and prevent catastrophic system crashes.
Brenda F. Johnson, MSN
60 Articles; 326 Posts
Thank you for the encouragement! So much negative comments about going back to school. I'm not bored with Informatics, just wary of options upon graduation.