Need Advice.....ANimal Nursing or Continue RN Nursing???

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Specializes in ARMY MEDIC.

Here we go again.....Literally. Im sure you all have heard this time and time again. I have seen the postings as well as great advice given which is why I am here...............here goes..............

So I have failed out of nursing school officially in my last semester (2 points from passing). I have gone through the shame, embarrassment, depression due to the realization that I have to start again. I am really going through it right now because I am torn. I have quite a few options. Each time I think I know which one I want to follow, something happens that sways me the other direction. I was origionally going to school for Veterinary Medicine, I was deployed (im in the military) as a medic, and I liked what I was doing so I decided to continue on in the human healthcare field and go to Nursing school. I am somewhat jaded because I dont feel as though I was taught very well at the school I attended, but as an adult I know that you get what you take out of school. I am not willing to blame the school for my short comings, but that does not stop me from being burnt out as far as being a nursing student. I have the option of applying to a hospital based program that takes transfer credits including nursing credits (almost unheard of at most schools of nursing) and being done in a year, doing an online program like excelsier, or going to a vet tech program to be an "Animal Nurse/vet tech." (I never knew there was such a thing until I did some reading). I know that logically I should continue and not let one bad experience steer me off the track to becoming a great nurse, but I am so burnt out of the nursing school experience that I dont know If I can muster the motivation to keep at it.................PLEASE HELP!!!! NEED ADVICE

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I understand where you are coming from. I started out in an RN program many years ago. My mom was sick my grades fell drastically rather than flunk out I dropped out. Took care of mom until she got better. I was out of sequence with my nursing courses so I went to and LPN Diploma program. Worked as an LPN for 22 years, finally got back to the RN program after I had married and raised a family. I have had my RN now for 2 years and I am so happy that I saw it through. If Nursing is what you want to do don't let one setback stop you. There are patients that need great nurses. That doesn't mean that made straight A's in school. It means the ones that have heart and determination and stay the course. If you need a break take one but get back to it! :)

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Specializes in ICU, Step-down, CCU.

I am not knocking vet tech's at all, so let me start there. I did vet tech years ago, I was accepted into Veterinary school but passed to pursue a different career. Anyway, coming back almost full circle now, I am on the human side in nursing school.

Vet tech income potential is limited, you will cap out and most veterinarians will not pay for advanced vet tech training. Why? well they can hire a new grad veterinarian for $40K that is already trained and theoretically qualified. Therefore, the income potential and career advancement as a vet tech is limited. Now, if you get yourself aligned with a specialist or a large (mega-practice) you may do better, but to be honest most vet tech's I knew lasted 5-10 years then moved on to vet pharmacology sales or just got married, had kids and retired.

As mentioned, taking a break and returning with your passion to be a RN is probably your best bet.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

If it wasn't for the lack of income potential I'd have been a vet tech. :( FWIW I found the courses as challenging as nursing school so I wouldn't recommend it if someone thinks it will be easier.

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Specializes in Army Medic.

Have you thought about requesting the M6 ASI through the military? Are you an Army Medic? If so, it's a good way to become an LVN over at Ft. Sam Houston - which may help you with transitioning over into RN. Carrying the ASI guarantee's you more work within hospital settings, doing the things most civilian RN's do on a regular basis. Remember that medics in the Army get a lot more autonomy than civilian nurses, and the higher your training qualification, the more that holds true.

How did you feel nursing school stacked up against the Combat Medic training? I recall mine being fairly intense - the EMT-B cert. coupled with regular training and 3 hours of sleep every night really took it's toll! On the other hand, it's something you strictly focus on day in and day out - and having a Drill SGT. as a mentor to keep you on track could be helpful (with regards to obtaining your M6 ASI).

All that being said, I know a lot of Vet Techs and they love their jobs - but I think it's an entirely different ball game, and I'm told the training is almost as difficult as it is on the RN side. You probably run a better chance of passing your second attempt at nursing school than having to learn the differences in physiology between animals and humans. There is also a lot more room for educational development as an RN (going on to become an NP, etc...)

Don't let failure bring you down - use that warrior spirit to overcome and complete what you think you should be doing.

A quote that helped me a lot during tougher times in my military career:

"The greatest test of courage on earth is to bear defeat without losing heart." Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll

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Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

There is absolutely no way that I could ever take care of sick or injured animals. Like some people can't take care of sick children, I can't take care of animals. There is no way I could do it.

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Specializes in ARMY MEDIC.
If it wasn't for the lack of income potential I'd have been a vet tech. :( FWIW I found the courses as challenging as nursing school so I wouldn't recommend it if someone thinks it will be easier.

I definitely dont think it would be easier, (veterinary school sure wasnt LOL). Just an option I thought about pursuing.

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Specializes in ARMY MEDIC.
Have you thought about requesting the M6 ASI through the military? Are you an Army Medic? If so, it's a good way to become an LVN over at Ft. Sam Houston - which may help you with transitioning over into RN. Carrying the ASI guarantee's you more work within hospital settings, doing the things most civilian RN's do on a regular basis. Remember that medics in the Army get a lot more autonomy than civilian nurses, and the higher your training qualification, the more that holds true.

How did you feel nursing school stacked up against the Combat Medic training? I recall mine being fairly intense - the EMT-B cert. coupled with regular training and 3 hours of sleep every night really took it's toll! On the other hand, it's something you strictly focus on day in and day out - and having a Drill SGT. as a mentor to keep you on track could be helpful (with regards to obtaining your M6 ASI).

All that being said, I know a lot of Vet Techs and they love their jobs - but I think it's an entirely different ball game, and I'm told the training is almost as difficult as it is on the RN side. You probably run a better chance of passing your second attempt at nursing school than having to learn the differences in physiology between animals and humans. There is also a lot more room for educational development as an RN (going on to become an NP, etc...)

Don't let failure bring you down - use that warrior spirit to overcome and complete what you think you should be doing.

A quote that helped me a lot during tougher times in my military career:

"The greatest test of courage on earth is to bear defeat without losing heart." Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll

Thank you so much for the great advice, I am an ARMY medic, and you are right, the training was tough, but as you said, its in a different environment, you are almost forced to focus soley on training, not as many distractions as in a civilian school. As for the M6 school, it is also something I have considered, but I would have to put in for a waiver because of my rank (SSG). That quote is outstanding words to live by, as I said thanks for the great advice.

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Specializes in ARMY MEDIC.
I am not knocking vet tech's at all, so let me start there. I did vet tech years ago, I was accepted into Veterinary school but passed to pursue a different career. Anyway, coming back almost full circle now, I am on the human side in nursing school.

Vet tech income potential is limited, you will cap out and most veterinarians will not pay for advanced vet tech training. Why? well they can hire a new grad veterinarian for $40K that is already trained and theoretically qualified. Therefore, the income potential and career advancement as a vet tech is limited. Now, if you get yourself aligned with a specialist or a large (mega-practice) you may do better, but to be honest most vet tech's I knew lasted 5-10 years then moved on to vet pharmacology sales or just got married, had kids and retired.

As mentioned, taking a break and returning with your passion to be a RN is probably your best bet.

thanks for the great advice, I had did a little research previously but wasnt sure about the income thing and it seems as though (as you stated) the income potential is extremely limited. Although, income is not the main reason I would go into it, it sure is a huge concern and RN seems to have way more possibilities. As I said, thanks, it is good to get this kind of advice from a person who has actually gone to school to be a vet tech (experience)

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Specializes in ARMY MEDIC.
I understand where you are coming from. I started out in an RN program many years ago. My mom was sick my grades fell drastically rather than flunk out I dropped out. Took care of mom until she got better. I was out of sequence with my nursing courses so I went to and LPN Diploma program. Worked as an LPN for 22 years, finally got back to the RN program after I had married and raised a family. I have had my RN now for 2 years and I am so happy that I saw it through. If Nursing is what you want to do don't let one setback stop you. There are patients that need great nurses. That doesn't mean that made straight A's in school. It means the ones that have heart and determination and stay the course. If you need a break take one but get back to it! :)

I appreciate the great advice, as you can tell it is easy to become discouraged. It is easy to focus on failure alone as opposed to learning from it. I am going to apply to other schools and stick it out, I know that it will pay off in the end, its just that the end is so far away............

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Specializes in Army Medic.
Thank you so much for the great advice, I am an ARMY medic, and you are right, the training was tough, but as you said, its in a different environment, you are almost forced to focus soley on training, not as many distractions as in a civilian school. As for the M6 school, it is also something I have considered, but I would have to put in for a waiver because of my rank (SSG). That quote is outstanding words to live by, as I said thanks for the great advice.

If you're a SSG look into F6 - Flight Medic. :)

You get the same LVN training, and then some. It requires at least an E5 pay grade to even apply to. I never got a chance to look further into it - but it was my utlimate goal after completing RIP and SOCOM. Unfortunately I was wounded before making it to NCO.

There are not a lot of people who know about it to begin with. When I inquired in AIT through my Drill SGT's - who were all Combat Medics, none of them knew what it was.

There are other specialty ASI's as well that require at least an E5 rank.

Unfortunately it's been a few years since I've been enlisted - and I cannot find the exact numeration for the ASI that makes you a flight medic - but these are what I could find:

(1) M3--Dialysis (skill level 1-4 only).

(2) M6—-Practical/Vocational Nurse (skill level 1-4 only).

(3) N1-- Aircraft Crewmember Standardization Instruction (skill level 2-3).

(4) N3—-Occupational Therapy (skill level 1-4 only).

(5) N9—-Physical Therapy (skill level 1-4 only).

(6) P1—-Orthopedics (skill level 1-4 only).

(7) P2—-Ear, Nose, and Throat and Hearing Readiness (skill level 1-4 only).

(8) P3—-Optometry/Ophthamology (skill level 1-4 only).

(9) W1--Special Operations Combat Medic (SOCOM) (skill level 1-4 only).

(10) W2--Civil Affairs Medical SGT (skill level 1-4 only).

(11) W4--Civil Affairs Trauma Medical SGT (skill level 2-4 only).

(12) Y2—-Transition (personnel only).

(13) Y6—-Cardiovascular (skill level 1-4 only).

(14) Y8--Immunization/Allergy.

Either way, even applying for the M6 isn't such a bad idea. The Army is especially good to their medics because of the high burn out rate in the field. I don't know how well you know your Top or XO, but isn't that who you'd need a recommendation from to get into the program?

There are other programs as well, such as becoming a CRN or EMT-P offered.

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Specializes in ARMY MEDIC.

I will definitely look into some of the things you mentioned. It is worth a try, I do know that some things (specialties, ASI's) are harder to get into for those of us that are in the reserve component. Once again, thanks for the advice, I definitely needed a few choices to jog my memory.

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