Okay to start this discussion I would like to first explain and introduce myself. I'm a 22 year old male Firefighter who has been on the job for about a year and a half now. As everyone probably knows, firefighters are required to be at least EMTS. Ever since I start my schooling to become an AEMT I have throughly enjoyed the medical side and the one thing that I just love the most about my job is seeing a young patient who for example is so scared of something EMS related that you are there to show them compassion and to calm there nerves and show them that there is nothing to worry about. I can't begin to explain how heart warming this brings me and enjoyment/satisfaction. I can't say I feel the same about the fire side. I can go into a whole discussion explaining why I dislike the fire side but this is not what I am here for other then to try to purse what I love so I can enjoy something I am going to love doing. A little more about myself, I am what you call a fitness freak and by freak I mean like I take care of myself like its no tomorrow. I workout 6 days a week, Meal plan/Prep my food for the week and I take fish oil Pill and flaxseed oil Pill for my health. Now you can easily see that my ultimate passion would be something fitness related like opening up a gym or getting some form or degree in fitness but there is just no good use in any of that in todays world. Now to my main issue, I have been throughly considering going to college for a nursing degree but the only thing that is holding me back are (and I will list them)
1. Working long hours to the point that I won't be able to workout anymore
2. I love the aspect of nursing but what i dislike is the bathing patients and helping them pee. Thats the only things that just thoroughly don't interest me.
3. Worried that my loan debt will be too much or more then what I will make
Now a few weeks back I thought I found the career I wanted which was a CRNA until I realized the amount of schooling that it requires and the amount of loan debt I will be in and that just does not seem worth it in my view. I'm just trying to find a career that will not take up more then 6 years of my life that will pay decent (not looking to make 100k plus a year) and has a decent retirement. I love the medical field and I have had nurses and doctors in my family but for me I just don't wanna be in school for more then 8 years to finally start my career cause as you can probably tell I wanna eventually quit the fire department and have a career that I will love more then anything and thats why I was looking into cardiovascular nurse but i'm just not quite sure what I wanna do in the medical field per say. I was also looking into becoming a PA but then I heard that this career field would be a bad choice and is far from worth it. I am still living at home with my parents which still makes me feel like a huge bum and is causing me so much stress. I just wanna move out and get my career started but as you can tell I am stuck and I am hoping anyone can give me some advice. I would appreciate anything. Thanks everyone!
I can't begin to tell you how insightful your post was because it not only made me rethink my degree route but most likely helped me choose my path cause from what I understand a PA works under a doctors scope while a NP is more free. In my eyes that seems more like the job for me since I do not want to have to worry about working under someone to the point that every little thing I do might be wrong while I understand a NP still works under a doctor, I believe they have more freedom compared to a PA (correct me if I am wrong.)
Honestly when I said i did not want to deal with the poop,pee and baths was because I felt like thats all nurses did and yes that was very naive of me but I am glad I had some great posts here explain thats not all nurses do. Of course it will suck like you said dealing with it but at least some point down my career I can advance and hopefully not deal with it as much.
My question for you would be do you recommended me just getting my associates in nursing first and find a job at a hospital and look into some scholarship programs they might have that could possibly help me reach my secondary goal of getting my bachelors in nursing? Also can you please explain to me what would be the difference between 2 year nurse vs a 4 year nurse?
Im planning on hopefully attending Gordon State College here in Georgia for my Associates in Nursing cause I think it will be the cheapest route. Correct me if I am wrong but wouldn't the cheaper route be to become a NP other then a PA and no I am not looking to find the easy way out, Im just trying to compare the two. Thanks!!
Thank you for your advice and yes I am most likely going to accept the route of becoming a nurse since I believe that will be the most efficient route for me. It seems that it will accommodate my fitness schedule fairly well while still being able to enjoy my healthcare job. I know sometimes its hard to find something in the world that has the best of both worlds but I believe the nursing comes close to it.
Thanks for your advice and honestly its sad to think about how the younger generation today is become more sick with chronic illness then we as people are used too.
I haven't met a physical therapist that regretted their decision. They out earn me and have a better schedule.
I agree with this post. You will work hard in school for this degree as well, but once completed, I believe the work is more suited to you. In addition, you can specialize in sports medicine etc...which I can see you being very good at. You can start slow as a PT tech and get your feet wet before investing in the degree. If you love it, you can go for your masters or PhD as well.
I got my BSN with 20k of debt. Be a good student, get scholarships, pell grant, and don't go to a private school. I think he ER tech idea is a great one. My techs had more mad skills than I did. If you can pull off your heart burn for kindness in patient care and reduction of fear in the ER you would be a super star.
If you like medicine the PA MD, DO or any other ancillary medical profession may be the ticket. Even PTs are required to have an extensive education MS or Ph.D to practice. Nursing is not medicine and when we forget that it becomes very confusing and we loose our way as a profession. I loved cardiovascular care but as a BSN the minimum requirement to be a nurse will take you in the neighborhood of 4 years. After that you have two more years of experience and formal education to sit for the CCRN and the specialty in vascular nursing certification. If you want to be a nurse or have a position in the medical field you will be called to always be in school. It is a life long learning process. You will be urged to earn the next higher degree and then the next.
Patients need to get up and walk, they need to urinate they need to have bowel movements and they need a bath. That is part of the job of being a nurse. If you really want to help people...you may want to think about what all that takes. It's a hard choice and even if you are sure think again and again. Taking care of yourself is the most important thing you can do and it does not take being a weight lifter...just paying attention. What is your calling and will you be able to do what you are called to do. Most nurses are in "paper work" up to their eyeballs.
I greatly appreciate you believing me and giving me good advice. I can honestly say that my main concern is truly the debt cause I would like to believe that it is anyone's concern. I really appreciate your advice and will most certainly look into everything you have posted. I'm planning on tommorrow going to my local hospital to shadow a PA and a physcial Thearpist.
I will keep looking into the fitness industry but as of right now I cannot really find a degree/career that truly interset me other then opening up a gym but that is a dime in a dozen.
shadow a PT in an out-patient setting. Although important, I think the in-patient side wouldn't be as challenging for you. Look into sports medicine if you have a practice near you. This is what I was thinking would be more up your alley as far as your interest in fitness and medicine is concerned. Good luck! You will do fine.
From what I have been reading from you is all about physcial thearpy which is not a problem with me by any means. The only thing about sports medicine is becoming a doctor. I'm not trying to sound rude when I say this but I just can't see myself doing just about 12 years of schooling or more to become a sports medicine doctor. Yes of course it is a very intriguing field to me and I would not mind doing it in the slightest, it's just the amount of schooling that it requires. Not sure if I want to be in school for that long and I really hope I do not sound lazy cause those are not my intentions by any means. Also the physcial thearpy was once thought about but I am not quite sure I still wanna do physcial thearpy. I'm not saying it's not a rewarding career or a waste a time cause it is most definitely a good career but I'm not sure if it is worth it to me. Not trying to sound rude but I have been hearing that majority of places require atleast a doctorate in that field.
Online study is a great start especially for the general education classes and even some of the nursing education classes. Depending on the school you choose, you would most likely be able to continue into the nursing program from there. State schools us the on line venue as a normal course of education. It save a tremendous amount of time in travel and parking.
You can use that time for studying instead. Furthermore no matter what you chose you are going to need the basics so get on the train and you'll be there in no time. Schools also have great counselors and advisers. I applaud you for reaching out and asking the hard questions. Keep asking and you will piece it together.
I really think the OP needs to look at something other than nursing if he has an aversion to actually having to provide personal care. That is the foundation of being a good nurse.
Thank you for your kind response and I wouldn't say I dislike the patient care per say but I throughly enjoy the doctor aspect of diagnosing patients but I also don't want to be in school for 12 plus years. Yes that sounds lazy and pathetic but I'm not here to lie to anyone cause I would be doing you all a dishonor and I'm not like that. I'm throughly thinking about going the PA route cause I believe this will be my only option for a field I can enjoy after 6 years of schooling. I just need to go an shadow a PA to fully understand it better.
italianlifter
18 Posts
Hello StudentNurse365,
I can't begin to tell you how insightful your post was because it not only made me rethink my degree route but most likely helped me choose my path cause from what I understand a PA works under a doctors scope while a NP is more free. In my eyes that seems more like the job for me since I do not want to have to worry about working under someone to the point that every little thing I do might be wrong while I understand a NP still works under a doctor, I believe they have more freedom compared to a PA (correct me if I am wrong.)
Honestly when I said i did not want to deal with the poop,pee and baths was because I felt like thats all nurses did and yes that was very naive of me but I am glad I had some great posts here explain thats not all nurses do. Of course it will suck like you said dealing with it but at least some point down my career I can advance and hopefully not deal with it as much.
My question for you would be do you recommended me just getting my associates in nursing first and find a job at a hospital and look into some scholarship programs they might have that could possibly help me reach my secondary goal of getting my bachelors in nursing? Also can you please explain to me what would be the difference between 2 year nurse vs a 4 year nurse?
Im planning on hopefully attending Gordon State College here in Georgia for my Associates in Nursing cause I think it will be the cheapest route. Correct me if I am wrong but wouldn't the cheaper route be to become a NP other then a PA and no I am not looking to find the easy way out, Im just trying to compare the two. Thanks!!