Older student trying to find the right fit

[supermom44]

Hi! first I must say I enjoy this site I've learned so much from you all, Thank you!

I'm a non-traditional student (age 52) my kids are all grown and I decided to go back to school. I'll be graduating in May 2016 with my BSN and I don't know where I want to do my capstone or where I want to work after graduation. I'm at the retiring age, but had the opportunity to get my degree and have a better future, so I chose nursing.

Nursing school has been very stressful for me! all the assignments, papers, care plans, exams, simulations, discussion posts, medical concepts, etc !!! I've developed anxiety issues and chronic head aches from the stress combined with going through menopause. I hate the stress that nursing school brings but enjoy some of the clinical experiences.

I want to be a nurse so I can give back and make life a little better for others. But, I don't want to work in a high acuity, high stress, long hours, back breaking area (ER, OR, Med-Surg, ICU, L&D...) hence, I'm considering home health, school nurse, postpartum or PACU. I've spent a day with a school nurse and a few days in a mother baby unit/lactation and enjoyed them both.

I need to chose my capstone and I'm considering school nursing, PACU or Home Health. (Our program won't allow postpartum because I've already had that area as a clinical experience).

My question is, what do you think would be a good fit for someone my age, being an introvert,I like routine and structure, very organized, love kids (I raised 4)...I like the hours and summers off that come with being a school nurse, it would allow me to travel with my hubby and visit see my kids. The down side is the income is very low $35K a year and I'm afraid I'll be bored. I like the autonomy that being a home health allows, but I'm afraid the patient acuity may be too much for me. I'd appreciate your thoughts...

[caliotter3]

Extended care home health rather than intermittent visit home health would give you the routine, stable work that you might be more comfortable with as you start out. You can branch out into visit work down the line should you find extended care to be too​ routine after some time on the job. That is it in two sentences. You can find more detail from different perspectives by doing some reading in both the home health and 'private duty' forums.

[ontnursec]

I was a mature student, though my kids are still young. I had a clinical rotation in home health and loved it! That being said, I did my pre-grad (in my program it was called that, we had capstone project in final year but it was a research project), in med-surg and I think it was very helpful for me to really practice time management and get exposed to a variety of skills.

[michigansapphire]

I'm an introvert working in home health :)

I enjoy the work, but it is rough sometimes to have to be "on" and meet many new people every day.