In field since 2003, questioning a move up in health care

[Louu]

Hello,

I have been in the health care field since 2003. Since then I have been working as a CNA & Med Aide. I really want to step up my career though & further my education. I am 30years old & feel it is really time to make my move.

My experience is working with brain & spinal cord injuries, intellectual disabilities, Alzheimer's, dementia, Parkinson's, on a PCU floor in a hospital & ICU. Currently I am working in an acute rehab facility with individuals needing to gain strength in order to go back home (kind of the in-between spot from hospital to home). I truly have loved each one of my positions, the knowledge gained, individuals I have helped, & aspects.

The place that I am currently working at does hire LPN/LVN's and have no plans to discontinue that. Which now has me thinking about attempting to enter the LPN program at a college here in my town.

My fear of becoming a nurse of any kind is getting through the schooling. I recently just withdrew from LMT school (licensed massage therapist), which I loved; yet my withdraw was due to wanting something I personally feel is more stable in the area I live. My grades were very good in the program, example I received an 'A' grade in anatomy in physiology & overall GPA of 3.7 I also have not been in school for 11years, so for me that was pretty good.

I am open to options & thinking outside of the box. What if any advice can any of you offer to me on fields that I could get into that may not be as intimidating as nursing (LPN or RN). As much as I would love to get into the nursing, I am afraid of getting through the schooling.

I am also looking into getting a degree for Professional Health Studies (PHSAS). What opinions does anyone have on that? It would be a degree I can obtain while waiting to get into nursing or any other health care career program.

I really need a change & feel that with my passion I have for others I need to do this. I do not want to leave because feeling I have no other options.

All of your advice is greatly appreciated. I am just very confused & in need of advice, input, & opinions.

Thank you.

[HazelLPN, LPN]

Education is one of the few things in life that nobody can take away from you. If you wish to be a nurse, my advice is to get your BSN as it will give you the most options in your career in nursing.

I don't know anything about a degree in Professional Health studies, and I would be very skeptical about any FOR PROFIT college. Many of these places prey on adult students who have misgivings about their ability to return to school. They often leave students with a lot of debt and have low graduation rates and leave them with questionable credentials. Stick with a state school or non profit school.

Best to you,

Mrs H.

[Fiona59]

Personally, if I had to do it over again, I'd skip nursing and go for the diploma in Health Records Technology. Better hours, no uniforms, no relatives and no bodily fluids AND in my area they belong to a stronger union and make more than LPNs.

Only you know what you want to achieve.

But if it's any consolation, over the years I've met people who started out wanting to be Massage Therapists and either left the course before completion or found out after graduation the work just wasn't there.