Lily333

Yes agreed that you will probably have the best chance of getting a job where you have done your placement...We will be qualified to work anywhere but sometimes it is about connections, plus you will have had the opportunity to show that you're a good worker. Good point about getting experience within the Ontario healthcare system...I'm from Ottawa and will most likely want to move back there to work, so it would probably make more sense for me to go to school in Toronto...I'm leaning in that direction...BC is beautiful though!

Oh nice! I did my masters at Carleton...is UBC your first choice? I'm debating between UBC and U of T...

Thanks for the info - good to know! Are there any applicants from Ontario?

Thanks @isla88! I'm hoping so! I finished a bachelor and masters and psych...I applied to U of T last year and got in but then went a different route and then within a couple months realized my passion truly was nursing...so here I am again hoping they will accept me a second time! I'm actually working on finishing the third part of BIOL 235 right now...so much material but will be really helpful for nursing school I think! Good luck at U of O! :)

Thanks @isla88 and congrats! Ottawa was my top choice because it's where I live, but I was rejected because of BIOL 235 not being sufficient...so I'm waiting to hear from Toronto Queens and UBC!

Hi isla88, Is it BIOL235 that you need to finish by April 15? If so, did you take BIOL230 as well or another Anatomy course? I'm confused about them not accepting BIOL 235...

Hi, Thanks for your reply. I am in Canada. I am aware that there are many nurses academia and doing research. It's just that with my PhD, I would do strictly research and would not have any clinical component to my career. If I went into nursing, I wouldn't rule out potentially working as a clinical research coordinator or assistant, but would not ultimately want to get a PhD and go into academia. One of the reasons I am drawn to nursing as a career is because there are so many choices of what you can do. I was just trying to be realistic that as a floor nurse at least my first couple years I may need to work night shifts...maybe I'm wrong about that...I was thinking it probably all ends up what is needed and what shifts are preferred by other nurses on the unit I would end up? Anyways, thanks for the examples of different jobs...although there are some differences between US and Canada, there are definitely also similarities.

I was accepted into nursing (accelerated programs) for this year as well as a PhD in Population Health. After much debating, I chose the PhD in Population Health. Although the idea of nursing really excited me, the decision mostly came down to thinking of future lifestyle (in terms of not having to work night shifts, lower stress). The PhD is a great opportunity for research in childhood obesity and physical activity with a supervisor who is supportive and the top in his field. That being said, I have been exposed to nursing alot in the past couple of months because of my aunt being hospitalized, and I still feel very drawn to it as a career. I am aware that I would be more stressed constantly working with people but I figure it's worth it if you feel passionate about it. I know that it is stressful in terms of constant understaffing, but still feel like I would feel really satisfied with even being able to improve a patient's stay/care in some minor way. I worked clinically in the past (I have an MSc in Psychology with a Specialization in Neuroscience) and worked doing psych assessments and as a therapist with children with autism, and I miss the clinical work. My big dilemma is whether I should drop the PhD program and pursue my BScN (and possibly MSN Nurse Practitioner stream after getting a few years of experience as a floor nurse), or should I do my PhD and take my BScN afterwards? Would this reversed order even make sense? There are a couple of nurses who are now taking the PhD in Population Health in order to get into research and potentially health policy work, but I have never seen anyone do the reverse. I do not want to completely rule out doing research in the future, but I would like to also have some clinical component to my career. I'm not sure if it is worth doing the PhD if I am pretty sure that I don't want to go into academia...it's just that I have a great opportunity that I am worried about giving up... My heart says "nursing" and my brain says "health research" Any help would be much appreciated!! Thanks!

Hi everyone, I am looking for some advice from nurses out there. I have a Masters (MSc) in Psychology (research not clinical) and I am working right now doing assessments in a pediatric hospital autism program. I have applied to 2 programs for the fall 1) Accelerated Nursing programs (applied to both BSc and MSc direct entry programs) 2) PhD in Population Health (research in child obesity and physical activity) They are obviously 2 very different programs and appeal to me for different reasons. I am torn between the 2 programs. Nursing excites me, but I am also worried that I dont know what I am getting myself into with respect to handling the stress and shift work. Also, it would somewhat be starting new for me, whereas with the phD I would be building from the education I already have. In my current job, I spend about half my time with children and families and the other half at my desk writing reports. Although I find I get anxious when first going to greet parents for the first time, I interact well with people and enjoy the kids. On the other hand, I like that I get a break to myself at my desk. I realize that nursing would be "hands on" all the time vs. a PhD, I would spend alot of time writing alone at my desk. I am passionate about nursing, but afraid that I will get into it not knowing what it is truly like. I don't want to regret my decision, either route I take. I would really appreciate any advice! Thank you