shortstack83

I think I would have to disagree with any nurse, male or female, that thinks nursing is just for women. I think the idea of male nurses is GREAT! And I have to say, I have never met a male nurse lacking compassion. Ever. In fact, I've seen way more female nurses without it, and a bad attitude to boot (whatever the reasons may be, whether justified or not)!! I think your passion for helping people will carry you very far, and you can do anything you put your mind to doing. The original poster said that nursing school taught her everything except the "real world of nursing"....Unfortunately, that is the scope of nursing school, because the school is not in "the real world". It can can only simulate "real world" experiences in an attempt to show you the "real" side of nursing while at the same time guiding you around because you are still only a student. From which you must take what you can and be proactive to gain the best learning experience possible. All this you already know as a recent grad. But the question about experiencing advanced nursing, or moving on to be a NP or PT is kinda like a Catch22....On the one hand you could start out with nursing to gain experience, which will be very valuable if/when you advance your degree for NP or PT...On the other hand, if you go ahead and keep going to school for your NP/PT, then you could have all your schooling done in one long shot. In the first situation you gain valuable experience you will need to be a NP, but you risk not wanting to or being able to go back to school for the higher degree in a few years, and are susceptible to burn out from nursing, like so many young RN's on here, before you even get to do what you really want to do. ((OR you could not have that problem at all; you could take a few yrs of nursing, then take that experience with you on your journey to the NP/PT)) In the second situation you go ahead for the NP/PT, and you finish your schooling in one fell swoop, unless you just wanted to keep going to school afterwards for other certifications/degrees/life enhancements. But you might miss out on other things that you wanted to do in life because you have spent so many years in school, or you miss out on valuable work experience that would aid you in getting this degree. ((OR you may not have any trouble at all; you could get your NP without needing the working experience and then keep going, all the while not missing out on anything and then wind up feeling fulfilled and satisfied)) Your decision would have to be made based on what you wanted out of life. Sit down and make a list of the MOST important things to you, not just for the "right now" but also for the "maybe one day". Some people plan for the destination, and some plan for the journey. I say plan for both, because you always need to know where you are going and how you are going to get there. ;-)