rtin05

I am a respiratory therapy student but plan to continue my education this summer to complete my nursing degree. I have heard of several hospitals that are going to total care nursing where the nurses do all patient care and they do not use aids. I was wondering how this is affecting nursing and what your opinions are on the subject. I am not in the field yet but I don't personally think I want to work in a hospital where they practice total care nursing.

Epona, I am with you. I will be graduating in May from the respiratory therapy program. I had started nursing school before deciding to finish respiratory and now have the opportunity to go back and finish up my nursing degree by Dec. 2008. I have always wanted to be a nurse and tried to get into a program but missed it by a few points so I went into RT. Then I transferred out to another school and thought I would try nursing school again so I got in but left after the first semester to finish the RT thing since I only had a year left. Now they tell me I can come back in and finish but I am torn over what to do. One day I think that I am definately done once I graduate in May but then the next something tells me to finish nursing. I have read many horror stories on this site to the point that I am almost convinced that I don't want to finish it. I do come here to find out what it is like from other nurses and I am glad to see some of the stories but it does make me think do I really want to do this. Best of luck.

I feel like I keep getting pulled as well and don't know why. I will graduate in May 2007 from the respiratory therapy program but I have an opportunity to go back into the nursing program in June to finish up my RN degree in Dec 2008. I have already done all of the pre-reqs and even the first semester of nursing school. I really enjoy RT but there are not many job options around my local area and I would have to drive at least 2 hours to a bigger city. I have always wanted to be a nurse (since I was little) but I don't think I would want to be a med/surg nurse. But then again, once I started it I might be ok with it. I am so torn about what to do. I keep coming to this site to better understand nursing and usually get scared off by some of the negative posts about nursing and think, NO, I will just do RT. Then something pulls me toward nursing again. I am afraid that if I don't (I will be 40 in Feb.) that I will always wonder "What if". I am just really torn but my hubby says that if I am going to do it now would be the time while although I am tired of school, I am still in the school mode. I have to decide soon because I have to submit my request to be allowed back into the program. Best of luck to you. Tammy

Hello. I am a 2nd year respiratory therapy student who is thinking of starting back into the RN program and finish becoming an RN this Summer. I was curious to see what you enjoy the most and the least about being a nurse. If you could do it over again, would you still become a nurse? Thanks for your help. Tammy

Hello, my name is Tammy and I live in Independence, KS just about 40 miles north of Bartlesville, OK or 80 miles north of Tulsa. I am currently a second year respiratory therapy student and will graduate in May but my plans are to go back into the nursing program starting in June and will finish in December of 2008. I have already had one semester of nursing and have done all of my pre-reqs. I have tossed RT and RN around trying to figure out which way I wanted to go for sure but I think I will finish nursing as there are so many more opportunities for nurses. I am also running into the problem of living in a small rural area and the open market for RT's is very small. I have contacted Jane Phillips Medical Center in Bartlesville about maybe working there when I am done. Has anyone ever heard of how JPMC is or how it is to work there? I am interested in working L & D but would also love a NICU of which I would have to drive to Tulsa for. Nice to meet you all.

Hi, I am a second year respiratory therapy student and I will graduate in May 2007. I love the respiratory area but due to living in a rural area, the opportunities for RT's are very slim. I have contemplated going back and finishing up my nursing degree as well after May. I only have a year and a half left of that program as I have already done one semester of it and all of the pre-reqs. As it is now, my husband has a young son here and doesn't want to move so I am looking at about a 2 hour drive to and from a job for RT on top of a 12 hour shift. Therefore, I thought of returning to nursing school because of the diverse areas of opportunity. But after reading alot of negative posts on this board and also from nurses I work around during clinicals, I wonder if nursing would not even be a good choice for me. It seems nursing has gotten away from just caring for patients because of the things you have to do to cover your own rear, the hours, overworked, etc. I don't mean to upset anyone because I can't really put into words what I am trying to say and it kind of sounds bad when you read it. I read and hear of so many nurses who don't like nursing now that they are in the field. I may just stick with RT and figure out how to work the commute thing. I have also thought of getting out of the medical field all together and going back to the administrative field. I am just confused what to do anymore. Thanks for listening to me babble!

In our program you must maintain an 80% in order to continue. This next semester we will have to buy a skills and assessment program that we will also have to pass all of the tests on in order to continue in the program. Also we are not allowed to take home our tests and if you should happen to "accidentally" do so then you are automatically given a zero for that paper no matter what. It is seen as academic dishonesty. They want you to succeed but you have to be willing to succeed. I see this as a way of weeding out people. Alot of people didn't make it through the summer semester this year. They tell us up front that for the next couple of years it is nothing but school and they try to warn us how much is involved. I have seen alot of kids in the class that are slackers and try to get by not studying and so forth. I see it as a way of weeding these people out.

What part of SE KS are you from? I live in Independence and I am a student. I was studying to be a respiratory therapist but I am thinking of switching to nursing. I know that there are not many places close for me as an RT and was looking at having to drive to Tulsa which is an hour and a half. I am hoping to find a nursing position closer to home. Good luck on your search.

Hi All, I am a student and trying to find where I want to work. I have always thought about neonatal or labor and delivery but still trying to decide. I thought it would be interesting to find out where everyone works and what area you enjoy the most and why. Thanks for your responses.

Hi all. After much (much, much) soul searching I think I am going to apply to the nursing program again. I have spent the last year in Respiratory Therapy but have always wanted to be a nurse. I have met someone new (I am divorced) and I have a 14 year old son at home so I have really thought about holidays, weekends, etc but we will have to adjust around that. My step father was a healthy man and worked all of the time until he suddenly got sick and now can't work so my mother had to go to work and be the sole provider. She didn't have any college and is a CNA at a nursing home. Heaven forbid but I keep thinking about that or somehow losing my finance' and needing to support myself or whatever. I hope I can stay motivated enough to finish school and see this thing through. I know I will be fine once I am out of school but I am getting tired of school (I have spent 2 yrs -1 pre-reqs and 1 RT). Any advice or tips you all have would be appreciated. Thanks.

Hello to all. I am trying to decide if I really want to go to nursing school and need some input. I have always wanted to be in the health field and specifically nursing. I started school and started taking pre-reqs for nursing. I applied for nursing school but did not get in (found out later I missed it by 5 points) so I applied for respiratory therapy instead and was accepted. Ihave spent the last year in RT school but have now moved and RT is not what I want to do. I am now thinking of reapplying to the nursing program but I am unsure. I feel I could get accepted because I have the pre-reqs done. I have done clerical work for 20 years before going to school after raising my children. I have now met a wonderful man and he says it is strictly up to me to go to nursing school or business school. I love being home with him on evenings, weekends, holidays, etc. but then think of the long picture and wonder what if something ever happended to this relationship (heaven forbid), would I regret not going. My question I guess really is if you all had to do it all over again would you still choose nursing? RT school ended my last marriage as he did not support me on school so that scares me now. I know how much support is needed and I know my boyfriend will support me whatever I decide and so will my 14 year old. Thanks for your advice in advance.