tishluvnc

Thank You.

Ah ha! but they say opportunities are wonderful for home health aids and cna's, but wow no pay. I've done it for years while trying to get a BA. I'm proud I will be finished with my degree in 4 months, but now have no idea where to go with a degree in social science. I would have thought a degree in IT would be excellent. Everyone has a story.

I'm also about to graduate with a Bachlor in Sociology with a minor in substance abuse. I'm contemplating nursing also. I'm a cna I (home health aide). Can't decide (lpn)quickest, (ADN) 3 years, or (BSN) have 7 prereques so it will take me 2 years part time plus two years for the nursing program. Im also in debt from my ba, so I think I'm going to take my time and work for two years, save money and do BSN. Good luck with what you choose.

I feel your confusion. I got into cna just because it was easy to obtain a job. I've been in home health for years. Long enough to do half a degree in medical office administration, one semester in a BSW program, and now about to graduate with a BA in sociology with a minor in substance abuse. I agree that shadowing is the key. I know I wanted to stay in the medical field, but I was fearful of nursing. Friends pointed me that way years ago. I went the easy way and now realize social work may not be the thing either. I actually had the chance to spend 2 months shadowing lcsw mental health social workers in a mental health agency and they spent too much time on the phone for me in a dim lit room behind a computer linking services and trying to get patients approved for service. Psychology in interesting I've taken Intro and Human development. Reciently, I visited another LCSW at a treatment clinic and asked her some questions. She advised me to go into nursing if I was thinking about it. She told me there are more opportunitie. Also my cna agency employ social workers to do mental health therapy. I asked the coordinator and she advised me against mental health because of budget cuts. Every nurse I talk to tell me to go for it because I have the personality. Either way I've used 2 years of my life studying issues that are important, but I love science and health. I've realized that I can spend another 4 years pursuing a MSW partime and another 2 trying to get my LCSW after an internship and taking a state test. Then I believe you only can counsel in the state you took the test in. Afterwards, you make less than a rn comming out of ADN program. So don't feel bad, at least you still have time. Please don't waste it!

The only part of social work I feel I would like is the counseling. I could be wrong, I shadowed a lcsw at a mental health agency and they all seemed to sit behind a desk most of the day. Some of them did home visits, I thought the environment was so quiet and boaring. The university Im graduating from has a good BSN program and I actually flirted with the idear in my junior year, but chickened out and took the easy way out! My next move is my last, gotta get it right. Thanks!

Hello all nurses, I'm very interested in health and wellness. I can vision myself providing a patient one-on-one counseling on their disease or condition. I can also see myself educating teens on health issues or working with the elderly. I'm extreamly interested in the human body and health. I have always pictured myslef working in a clinic, private practice, or hospital. However, I'm not sure how available are jobs like this in the work force. I have been told that this is the job of public health nurses. Therfore, the role of a health educator is limited in health care. I am 3 classes away from graduating with a BA in sociology with a minor in substance abuse. I thought I wanted to be a medical and public health social worker, but I'm not so sure now. I want to study more health, disease, and wellness. I looked at the MSW program and the focus is on inequalities, social problems, stats, and human behavior (just like sociology). If I do the MSW I will be missing the health and wellness. So, I'm thinking BSN or MPH. Is it true that getting a MPH is limiting? I also hear that with budget cuts the field may not do as well. I really don't know my next step. I am a cna I who is contemplating cna II this summer or just finding a job after graduation that just pays the bills. Im looking into nursing LPN (quicker), BSN (makes more sense), MSW (matches my undergrad) or online MPH (unsure about availability of jobs). Any advice? I'm a non traditional student who has responsibilities.

You sound some what like me, though I have to say that life over a period of time can change you somewhat. I still donot like to be the center of attention but I have learned that people take advantage of some people. If you looked like a person that would have told her off she probably whould have not said anything at all. I'm also trying to be more assertive, because I've learned if you don't some people will take it for a weakness. Once I get fed up with something I have no problem with speaking my mind, but it takes alot. I'm sure your a nice person and I wouldn't listen to negitive comments. I know someone with your personality find it difficult. Like me you try to please everyone and get along with anyone you touch. You have the perfect attitude for caring!

You go boy!!!!!!! CONGRATS!

So glad you like the profession you decided to enter, it gives me more inspiration to push on. I'm also non traditional student so by the time i'm done If I decide to continue with nursing I will be 37. Love your excitement. I'm a cna and can agree with you I have always loved talking to my older patients. I have also cared for children with CP they were the sweetest children.

This thread really gave me inspiration, I've read them all! Keep them comming. I'm a cna who is about to graduate with a sociology degree and is trying to decide between nursing or social work. Every nurse LPN or RN tell me to go for it and the social workers do too! Great inspiration for us late bloomers.

This is also an issue of mine. I'm single with a four year old and can't see how I can manage nursing school. One clinical spot is almost 45 miniuts away straight shot. My mother has been my hubby and she has blessed me to finish up a degree in sociology with a minor in substance abuse, but now I have to beging to do it myself. I'm contemplating taking my pre-reqs for BSN one class at a time while I use my education is medical office to switch from cna to an administration assistant. I'm tired of cna and I don't want to do social human services. By that time my daughter will be 6. My othe two kids will be 19 and 17, yea I bumped my head. Gotta love her, but it does confuse things and make things harder.

Sorry your fate is like many threads I have read. I'm not a nurse but a cna who work in home health that is contemplating going into further into nursing or social work. Your post makes me think twice. I always see threads that say go into something else because there are no jobs here. But what will you do if your heart is in one place. I have studied 2 years of sociology and feel like I've cheated myself. I began my studies going into medical office, then I had the bright idea at 22 to change to social work. Now I realized that I love the study of health and biology. I ask you what else is there? Giving up is not good, you have invested so much into it and it will pay off eventually. I feel if you have enjoyed what you've studied then your lucky. Business majors are always in demand but I couldn't see myself aspiring to work on budgets and finances etc. yuck! Truthfully, it's a hard call. We don't know when we pick these majors if there is going to be a job out there for us or not. I choose social work thinking about medical and public health social work only for a social worker to tell me there are few jobs, need a master and of coorifice high burn out. I feel your pain, I love cna but depending on your case it can be hard work and no money. Hope you find something soon!

O.k I am thinking about continuing my nursing career. I have been a cna for years and after a ba in sociology with a minor in substance abuse. I feel academically a MSW material doesn't excite me like science does. My dream would be a public health nurse or substance abuse nurse. I live approx 25 min from fayetteville tech, bladen county tech, and robeson community college. Hands down, I know ftcc is the best, but they require two chemistry and two bio and they are probably harder to get into. The other colleges only require a and p and micro. I have already completed the social science, computer, and liberart portion of the degree. I graduated from UNCP and love the school, but it's 45 min away. Does it matter which cc I attend to get a ADN before I go back to UNCP for the BSN? Or hands down do all I could to get my bsn first which consist of 2 chem, micro, college algebra, and 2 a and p? I'm pretty sure they all use nursing facilities around the fayetteville, lumberton, and laurinburg area to do clinicles. One program for LPN actually does some clinical in South Carolina. What should I consider. Fayetteville state university is around the corner, but I would have to take stats over and two spanish classes ohhh no. I have been in school for 4 years and need to work full time while I do my prereq one at a time. It will take me a little longer to get the BSN, and the university is farther. Would an adn or BSN make a diffence? I know nurses have to start out almost the same in order to get your skills up to par?

It doesn't shock me. I've heard bad things about working there as a nurse. I had my children there and everything was o.k., but I don't think they treat their nurses good. An ER nurse did tell me that if you can make it there you can make it anywhere!

I'm also in the same boat. I'm finishing up a BA degree in sociology and wondeing my next step. Every since I've taken courses in medical terminology, human biology, and human development I would love to have a career that focus on health and medicine. My only concern to is my 4 year old daughter. As a single mother I will have to put her in day care some crazy hours. But you are right you will have to deal with parents or patients. I'm a cna so I know I like patients, but I also hate the long hours. But like another post stated do you really want to wast time getting a degree your not passionate about? I have spent two years studing sociology and I feel I cheated my self. I'm praying that God will also do some divine intervention, but I also plan on shadowing this summer. Good luck with your decision, no one feels they make enough or appreciated enough social workers, nurses, teachers, or police officers. What are you to do. I'm going to study what I love anatomy and physiology one class at a time and hope my divine intervention comes. If not i can always go back for a master degree later.