Torn between a Nursing or Nutrition degree because of my beliefs regarding medicine?

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I am a 21 year old female and I've been taking prerequisites for Nursing. At first, I was really passionate about it until I realized that I don't really believe in pushing pills and injecting needles in people. I am adamant about proper nutrition and exercise, eating organic fruits and veggies, and eastern medicine practices such as acupuncture and aromatherapy. I feel that we can heal our bodies much better naturally, and I am sadden by the way the medical system pushes drugs on people to make money. Also, I wrote a paper on the medical system in one of my classes and was really disgusted by a lot of the things I was finding in my research. My professor was really impressed with my paper and it prompted him to talk to me about it. He said that he used to work in a hospital a few years ago, and he knew of coworkers (I'm not sure if they were nurses or doctors or what) who "erased" evidence of medical errors when patients died! And never informed their families that it was a medical error! I knew I could never participate in that, directly or indirectly. :mad:

So I searched and searched for any types of holistic, natural Nursing programs. There is only ONE in the entire country, in New York City, and its expensive. The program sounds amazing and it awards Nurses with the Bachelor of Science in Nursing but they have background in all types of Eastern and alternative healing methods.

I decided maybe it would be better for me to just "go for the gold" and become a Naturopathic Physician. However, to do this I must have a bachelors degree first. I am torn between continuing to major in Nursing, and TRY and deal with having to give people drugs and injections, or major in Nutrition where I would feel more comfortable. The drawback to the Nutrition degree, is that it has little room for advancement and Nursing has many different paths you can take.

I also heard that there are classes that Nurses can take to learn more about alternative medicine and healing, but I don't know much about that. What should I do?? I've wasted enough time over this already.

Thanks! :redbeathe

nutritionists can do most anything they want....dietician is the protected title. and, yes, all I was pointing out was that the statement was WRONG! many celiacs are self dx, do you know that the average time from onset of OBVIOUS symptoms to dx is ELEVEN years? and the best "test" is the diet, used to be the only test. You do not need a doc for that.

While all those things are true, they fall under the scope of professional health care. Nutritionists are not qualified to diagnose celiac's disease, genetic mutations, schizophrenia, or depression, nor are they qualified to treat those things. I have the mutation that keeps me from methylating folic acid. I was diagnosed by a blood test ordered by my physician and treated by prescription pills.

I know you were just addressing the statement you quoted and were not diminishing the role of health care, but I just wanted to point out to OP that even in those cases, "unethical" doctors and nurses are the vehicle to point which direction nutritionists should take with patients.

Specializes in Psych/Mental Health.
nutritionists can do most anything they want....dietician is the protected title. and, yes, all I was pointing out was that the statement was WRONG! many celiacs are self dx, do you know that the average time from onset of OBVIOUS symptoms to dx is ELEVEN years? and the best "test" is the diet, used to be the only test. You do not need a doc for that.

So majority of the people with genetically predisposed illnesses can heal themselves with nutrition and diet alone? And that no medical/nursing intervention is needed?

I was not trying to down talk the role of nutrition and diet. I was merely saying that in many complex cases they, alone, are not sufficient.

Your first sentence is a purposeful misconstruing of my correction of your blanket statement.

and the third is very true. The second is what it appeared you were attempting to do. .

So majority of the people with genetically predisposed illnesses can heal themselves with nutrition and diet alone? And that no medical/nursing intervention is needed?

I was not trying to down talk the role of nutrition and diet. I was merely saying that in many complex cases they, alone, are not sufficient.

Specializes in Psych/Mental Health.
Your first sentence is a purposeful misconstruing of my correction of your blanket statement.

and the third is very true. The second is what it appeared you were attempting to do. .

It wasn't a blanket statement, but feel free to interpret it any way you want.

To the OP,

It doesn't sound like you want to be a nurse so I don't see the point in getting a BSN just to go into a naturopathic physician program. If what you need is a bachelors degree, then get a degree in something that interests you and that you believe in. Sure, there are more opportunities with a nursing degree but that only makes sense if you want to be a nurse and want to work in the profession. Doesn't sound like you want that, even as a back up plan. So just get a degree in something else where you won't feel like you've compromised your beliefs or yourself.

My stepsister is on the same path as you and she has a bachelors degree in psychology. She has been working with a non-profit helping troubled youth while she completes the other courses she needs and has also become a doula on the side. It's going to take her a while longer before she can apply to a naturopathic physician program but that is her calling. If it's yours, then go for it and don't worry about the time you have "wasted". Make a plan and follow it.

genetically predisposed to mental illness or cancer, no amount of healthy eating/exercise would help

that is pretty blanket, to me!

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