Hospice nurse or pastoral counselor?

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I hope you can help me. I am in my mid-forties and am looking to making a career change. I have a bachelor's degree in biology and am currently working in the chemical industry. I am very involved in my church and am considering going back to school for a Master's Degree in

Pastoral Counseling. I have visited the college and know I would love the program and how it integrates spirituality and psychology. My main concern is that it will take about 6 years to finish and to be completely licensed. In addition, the cost is quite high and starting salaries are only in the mid $30,000.00 range. I'm not sure if it easy it is to get a job as a full-time pastoral counselor.

On the other hand, I have completed all the pre-requisites to enter an Accelerated BSN program in my state. I could be a nurse in 16 months and I do like medical science. It sounds like a lot of hospice nurses connect spiritually with their patients, and I might feel more useful helping patients in a practical way. Not to mention more job prospects and job security along with higher pay. After lurking on this web-site, what I would dread would be "paying my dues" with 12-hour night shifts in a medical-surgical ward (most likely), being overwhelmed, exhausted, and disrespected. Besides that, I am not getting any younger and the physical nature of nursing might be too much (even though I am in good physical shape).

I have always had an interest in the dying and have helped my relatives in making that transition. I also have a fascination with "near death experiences." I know I would feel fulfilled if I could help someone achieve a "good death."

I appreciate any advice you could give me.

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i find hospice extremely fulfilling.

if you go the nsg route, chances are you will have to do your time in med/surg or oncology before working hospice.

once in hospice, 'our' perceptions of what a good death is, becomes irrelevant.

many pts do not embrace the spiritual aspects of dying.

and we certainly cannot force them to confront anything they are not willing to do.

frankly, there will be many pts who would just prefer to remain snowed until they die.

if you're considering doing home hospice, i'm not sure how much time you would have to utilize the spiritual aspects of care.

still, even if the pt isn't receptive to any spiritual intervention, there is still many parts of hospice nsg that remain awe-inspiring.

if you can meet and accept the pt where they are in their journey, you'll be fine.

best of everything.

leslie

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Specializes in Critical Care, Progressive Care.
what I would dread would be "paying my dues" with 12-hour night shifts in a medical-surgical ward (most likely), being overwhelmed, exhausted, and disrespected. Besides that, I am not getting any younger and the physical nature of nursing might be too much (even though I am in good physical shape).

I am also in my 40's - and i am in an accelerated MSN program for non-nurses.

My time spent in acute care has been physically and emotionally hard, but it has been the most fulfilling thing I have done. I am exhausted. Sometimes I feel overwhelmed. I am respected. 12 hours goes by mighty quick in the hospital.

I think the spiritual part of nursing often comes from attending to the physical needs of my patients. Giving physical care, giving meds that heal and reduce pain, teaching people about their disease and how they can live with it or die with it - this is a spiritual practice for me.

Why would it take 6 years to be a spiritual counselor? If you have a BS you should be able to get an MDiv in 3 years.

Good luck on your journey.

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Thank you both czyja and earle58 for your responses. It has given me a lot to consider.

Why would it take 6 years to be a spiritual counselor? If you have a BS you should be able to get an MDiv in 3 years.

Most people attend the program part-time at night. It is a Master's degree in Pastoral Counseling. It would take me 4 years to get my Master's, another year to finish all the classes required for licensing, and another year or so of supervised practice to obtain all the licensing requirements. I can't believe the pay is so little for all that work!

I have a lot of admiration, appreciation, and respect for nurses, but I'm just not sure if I am suited to be one.

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Specializes in Cardiology, Med-surg, ER, hospice.

I've been a nurse for 25 years. I have a heart for spiritual counseling and find that nursing is really lacking in that area. I struggle to be able to really find a connection and my "niche," when the profession is so task oriented.

I am currently working on my grad. degree as a family nurse practitioner and would love to find a certification for counseling so I could hang my own shingle and do that on the side or something.

Hospice? Yes, I've done that too. I have to agree with a previous poster, that many patients/families are not willing to "go there" as far as healthy spiritual concepts (ie: Faith). But, my own faith has grown through the process of being a nurse too.

God Bless you on your journey!

~Ann

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