mjenk

Thank you all so much for your replies! I am still wondering if it will be right for me. I am going to see if I can shadow someone as I think you are right , that is the only way to know for sure.

So I am enrolled in another pre-nursing course. I am really confused still abou tmy decision to try to become a nurse. It seems a natural path for me- I have agreat interest in anatomy and physiology- especially cardiac....but I am wondering what exactly is entailed in nursing school...what happens after graduation. I am not good with urine and feces....the smell, etc. I know that is proabably the worst thing for awould-be nurse to admit. I am wondering is it all bedpans and bathing? I also have a young family, is it true that in the beginning you are always working nights, weekends and holidays? It seems alot of nurses input is that it is SO hard, so stressful, so demanding and the hours are terrible for a long long time. It is starting to scare me.

Thanks for all the great info. It really helped a lot. I have been out of the workforce for ten years so I think my transition will not be as "easy" (I know it wasn't) as yours- (my background is mostly obese patients and elders - with no hospital rehab experience) but still my love is cardiac physiology and helping people so I think if I can make it through nursing school I will be ok! I think because it is closer and less expensive I will go thru the AS program and go from there. I hope that will still be a good choice even though I am sure I will have to further my education at some point. (Is it wise to do this and gain some experience working, or should I wait it out , pay more $ for school, take the prereq's and start a year later(2011) for the BSN?) I am in MA and I am not sure how things will work here. I plan to speak to the head of the nursing dept. to find out if I can move toward this specialty throughout my schooling and gain some experience along the way. Thanks again- you have been so very helpful in my decision!

Thanks so much for your response! So...if I can ask some more questions....what is your schedule like? Did u have to put in a lot of night and weekends in the beginning? How long did it take to get where you wanted- just the 1.5 years?What area exactly do you work in now? Did you ever have to work in telemetry? Are you doing (did you have to do) any bedpans, etc. That is what scares/bothers me the most. There is a BSN program near me- a bit more expensive then the AS RN program at our community college. With the BSN I need more of the pre-req.s to even apply and that would take another year at least. The AS program, I could get the 2 pre-req's I need and start in the Fall. DO you think I should go for the BSN or do RN to BSN later? DO I need aBSN to work in cardiac? Was your program geared toward cardiac nursing or do you learn most on the job? I only have one EKG class under my belt and I feel like I've already lost the knowledge because I haven't ever used it. How was nursing school? What are your likes/dislikes about your job? DO you miss being an EP? What type of salary difference is there? SO many questions! I'm going to look for your previous posts- thank you!!! I just want to make the right decision for me and for my family....

Thanks for your positive words! I guess that's the scariest part...how will I work nights and weekends with a family? (My husband works evenings as well). I think that will be the hardest part to juggle- if even possible. I have a lot of thinking to do! Thanks again! Any other input is always welcome!

I am 41 years old. This is my story. I graduated 1995 with a BS in Exercise Science- I worked in the field for a few years- and LOVED it (retreat for obese women, personal trainer, fitness club director). I got married and had three wonderful children. SO, I have been a stay at home mom for ten years. My youngest will start Kindergarten this Fall. I want desperately to go back to work, but realize after being away for so long, I need to go back to school if I want any sort of job satisfaction/money. Fitness/Health jobs are scarce and do not pay well- I found this out only after starting a Masters program in Exercise Physiology. The job prospects made me leave the program. So...I tried to figure out what I could do...I ended up at a local community college for Echocardiography- after speaking with the department head, realized the program was not accredited and didnt even know if it would continue. So, again I was left confused about which direction to go in...I thought about Physical Therapist Assistant, because of my EP background, but the market here is a bit saturated and I still keep coming back to my love of cardiac physiology. I had originally wanted to work as an EP in a cardiac rehab facility. SO after researching a bit, I came across cardiac rehab nursing. It looked as though I could specialize , still work in my area of interest, (or even go hardcore cardiac nursing, cath lab, etc.- all interest me). SO I got excited at the idea of it all. This is my problem...I am so scared about returning to school for this profession. I have taken recent masters level and undergrad. courses in Med. Physiology, re-took A&P because mine was "too old to be accepted", Medical Terminology, Exercise for SPecial POopulations, EKG interpretation... I got A's in every class. My problem is that taking these courses- one or two at a time resulted in extreme stress for me( had to get an A type person) and it was very difficult to tend to my kids and study, be a wife, etc...I was able to spit out the info in order to get a good grade, but I feel as though I didnt retain a thing!! This makes me nervous when it comes to nursing, as I know RETAINING the info is a must. What is wrong with me? Do you retain more as you work on the job? How do you remember EVERYTHING?! My next concern is that I have a family and I am not sure if as a new grad I will be forced to to 2nd or 3rd shift- this wont work for me- my kids are still young. (11,9, and 5) My husband owns a restaurant and it is a mom/pop operation. We do everything for very little money. He is gone alot in the evening as he cooks and runs the place, so I need a daytime job- one that pays well. I am also worried that since I want to specialize I will be stuck working every floor for ten years before I can work where I want. I love helping others, I have a strong interest in cardiac physiology and cardiac rehab. Is this the career for me? Can I do this and still be here for my family? After spending money and switching majors, I need to be sure this is it. My worst fear is to spend the money and get half way through and change my mind or see it isnt for me. Any advice/help/info is greatly appreciated!!

I am wondering what you have decided....I am in the same predicament! I am considering nursing- I would like to go into Cardiac rehab, but I am also very interested in cardiac sonography. It is hard because there is mixed info out there. Some say to go into general sonography and specialize later, others say echo makes more money , some say i would have to work years and years on different floors as a nurse before I could specialize with something like cardiac rehab. I am 41 years old so I dont take this decision lightly. I cant afford to go to school and not bein the right program! Also, money is not the only factor, but it IS a factor. Of course after taking ten years off to raise a family I have much catching up to do financially!! ANy help, advice, input is greatly appreciated. Oh, also with echo tech I am worried i will not find a job- maybe more jobs in general(ob/gyn) ???

Hi there. POsted as a reply on another post by accident! Need help/advice. My degree is in Exercise Physiology, looking to go back to school after taking ten years to raise a family. Want desperately to get back into the work force. Wondering if anyone has any info on how to get into cardiac rehab nursing. I think EP's do not get paid great and the nursing just seems so much more specialized. Looking for any advice. What made anyone switch from EP to nursing? Is it hard to specialize once you have graduated? I really love cardiac physiology and after care. I have heard from some nurses that you have to work the floor everywhere for years before youcan request a specialization like cardiac rehab. Is this true? I dont want to graduate nursing school and have to pay ten plus years of "dues" before I can do what I want! ANy advice/info would be appreciated as I want to get all the info I can before choosing a program. Cardiovascular Tech also interests me but there are no programs in my area. My other option is to get my masters in EP, but it is much more expensive than nursing school. Thanks in advance for any input!!

I have a different question for those of you in nursing that were in EP...I am trying to break back into the workforce after taking time off to raise a family (about ten years!) My degree is in Exercise Science and I worked in the field for a few wonderful years....now I know I will need to continue my education to get a good job and make some money...I really want to be involved in cardiac rehab. I am looking at a masters in EP or go back for nursing and try to specialize in cardiac rehab. Nursing school is MUCH cheaper and I think the salaries are higher, and wondering what job outlook is for EP's- never see jobs posted here(I'm in MA). Any input, advice would be appreciated...what made you switch from EP to Nursing? Thank you!