Is nursing for me? I just need to "talk" through it...

[chaplainjanie]

My mom is a RRT and has been in the same hospital my whole life and in ICU for at least fifteen years. I used to go in with her on days off when she had to run errands, and I just loved being in the hospital. Even as a kid/teenager, I loved the energy of the hospital.

I loved biology but not many other math/sciences... but I did "okay" in them. In college I studied history and religion but did well enough in Bio101 that my prof actually said, "Janie, have you ever thought about nursing school?" I laughed at her because I was an artsy type. But to be honest, I had thought about it, and I have been thinking about it for like ten years.

After college I went to seminary and found the love for hospital chaplaincy. I did a residency for a couple of years (our residencies are comparable to what doctors do in structure) and its the only job I've ever loved. I was literally excited to go to work every day. I was in the minority in my department in my interest in medical issues. I observed surgeries and lots and lots of traumas. My very favorite place was CVICU... I just meshed with the staff there and they were real teachers at heart. They entertained lots of questions. :) I even talked to my boss (in the pastoral care dept) about nursing school and he was encouraging.

I also had/have interest in ED nursing, critical care in general, mother/baby, along with palliative care/hospice. I'm not sure if the latter is as much because of medical interest but just because, as a chaplain, it was an easy fit for us.

Then I had my daughter and developed a pretty serious case of postpartum depression/anxiety/OCD. I couldn't return to my residency when it was time because our intense, large, urban hospital was often a trigger for my anxiety. It also didn't make sense financially and I had completed enough units to be board certified, etc.

Now that I'm ready to return to work as a chaplain, there are no jobs to be found. I'm competing against literally hundreds of people for the open positions that surface right now. Some hospitals are cutting their pastoral care departments completely and others are just not filling vacant positions.

SO... we're super poor right now. We didn't plan on me staying at home. I need to work but there is little that will make it worth my while. Plus, I don't want to be away from my family for just any old job... I want it to be something that I love and something that matters. Nursing has been in the back of my mind for a decade now and its kind of on my bucket list. I'm afraid I'll regret NOT doing it one day. I can always return to chaplaincy if the opportunity presents itself and hopefully I'll be a better chaplain... but I also want to be able to help people in tangible ways... more than just being a great listener/counselor/pastor/etc. (Not that that's not a valid way of helping, but for ME I want to meet people's immediate needs.)

I regret not doing this years ago.

Now I'm looking at an ASN program because I don't think I can handle the intensity of an ABSN with a toddler at home. Plus, we can't afford FT daycare.

Sorry this is long, but I'd love input on this.

Thanks,

Janie :)

[NACovey]

Wow it sounds like you've had quite a ride. In my opinion, I say go for it. I don't have the background like you do (no children, no degree yet) but it sounds like, for right now, that nursing school would be the best option.

And by the sounds of you getting too stressed out about a bachelors program, then def go for the ADN. You can always bridge over at a later date if you want.

And while you are in the program you can still be looking for a job as a chaplain if you would have the time to do that with the kiddo.

I say go for it. It wouldn't take long and you would have more job options. Can only go up from there!

[Moogie]

Hi, Janie! Welcome to AllNurses!

Many health care chaplains that I know have taken the opposite career path---they started out as nurses and ended up going into the ministry. I thought about doing that but discovered the same thing you did---that hospital chaplain jobs are very hard to find because there are so many applicants and many hospitals are cutting their pastoral care departments.

For the most part, I think it's a good idea to get as much education as possible in one's entry level nursing program but you're right about the stress in an ABSN program. Nursing programs at every level are stressful but it seems that many ABSN programs are even more so than other programs. An ADN program is rigorous, but it's not as compacted as an ABSN. Many ADN programs offer more flexibility than do other programs. You probably already have most of the pre-requisites for an ADN program so you would not have to worry about taking much more than your nursing courses.

Don't discount a traditional BSN, especially if there's a state school nearby. State schools are much less expensive than private schools and, with wait lists, you could find that you could get done more quickly in a traditional BSN program. Again, you might not have to worry about electives or many pre-requisites other than your sciences.

You sound like you're very motivated for nursing and that it would be a good fit for you. You have a great deal of insight and yes, you would regret this if you don't do it. And you know, if you would go back to the ministry, you would be a better chaplain (or parish pastor) for having gone to nursing school.

My husband is a pastor and did several years of military chaplaincy. He's taken several credits of CPE and when he was assigned to CVICU, he was the only one to refuse to watch surgery. It is NOT his thing! But it sounds like it may be perfect for you.

Good luck and Godspeed!

[chaplainjanie]

Hi, Janie! Welcome to AllNurses!

...

Good luck and Godspeed!

Oh my goodness, can we be friends? :)

I cried when I watched a surgery. I'm sure that sounds super cheesy here, but I did. I'll never forget the first time I saw a real, live beating heart inside someone. It was miraculous and awesome.

Thanks for the info on the BSN, also. I may take a look at a local University and see how that would go. That's not a bad idea at all.

Thanks again! :)