TexTart

I wanted feedback on what I asked. I got it, and I am not challenging that it's something I shouldn't include, it's pretty unanimous. But I mean, if I said "y'all" when asking for advice, would you not be frustrated if someone said "don't write like you talk"? I included the other information because it's my psych experience and motivates me to do what I do. And to illustrate I am adept enough at producing scientific literature to not need extensive focus on drafting a paper, not to illustrate how I'm hot stuff or whatever you may imply.

This is just background information guys. Not an intro to my essay. Although, since we're on the topic, both my parents were addicts and I left home because of that, also having not been educated since the age of 12 due to the lifestyle we lived... I did not drop out of high school due to whatever most people might imagine when they notice I did not get a diploma. It also fuels me to work with addicts now, which I have done, and received a five figure grant for doing research on. But if I'm reading you guys right that's probably too personal and not very professional -- that's what I'm asking here, nothing more or less, not a critique on my wording or whatever. Just that some of the information would be frowned upon and not necessarily as relevant as I view it. Thanks for the input!!!

Thank you for your opinion.. but I feel compelled to add that my post was not to be regarded as an example of what my essay would look like. It's informal correspondence. Casual, like a conversation. My apologies for not including APA formatted citations. I have a bachelors in psych and would like a larger scope of practice within this field, having worked as a case worker and more or less did exactly what I did in the sex store: what problem do you have? These are options that could address this problem. Which would you choose? Repeat until an acceptable level of function is reached. I have no question about including that information, it's relevant and speaks to my experience, but working with an NP during intake was mostly observation and I feel there's little I can offer in the way of personal development by just parroting what I saw. I am open to correction on that, if you have another view. Thanks again.

When I was 18, I left home and got a job working as a caregiver and I lived in my patient's home. I gave bed baths, provided meds, and assisted with ADLs for 2.5 years. Someone came in for me while I was in class, otherwise I did this round the clock while paying my way through my associates degree. I worked in several non-nursing helping capacities later on (alternative medicine and psych). Now I'm preparing to apply to PMHNP programs. The main issue that kept me away from nursing was that my mom and sister were both nurses, hated it, constantly brought home tales of woe and became very bitter, overworked people until they left the profession. I didn't even think of it as an option until I learned about the PMHNP role working with one at 28. Because I'm looking at direct entry, the prompts advise writing a personal statement that illustrates how I began to be interested in this field and why nursing now and honestly.......... here goes.... Straight out of caregiving, I worked in a sex store. Yes, many of my customers laughed too. Anything member shaped is funny. But the reality is, most of them needed instruction, help problem solving, and someone to confide in. SO many were uninformed or got caught up in stigma and what they learned in Mediaography and it was seriously impacting their relationships. For four years I aided people with very personal concerns. I often learned more about people than I really wanted to know LOL but I loved being a knowledgeable authority, and being trusted to help them work through very sensitive concerns that they wouldn't bring to their closest friends. Someone suggested I be sure to include the sex store experience because it would stand out. But I'm concerned it would stand out in a frivolous way compared to my caregiving experience. Also, I'm not sure if I should include the family influences on my choice to be a nurse, or not, as it were. Being a PMHNP and an ER nurse (my family members) are very different roles with similarities in early education and I'd like to demonstrate that I know that. Thoughts?

Not a bad tactic, I had not actually considered that because I'm not even in school yet If anybody out there is doing this, we'd love to hear from you!

I have a background in residential psych and I'd like to go for an MSN. I intend to continue in addictions (or maybe eating disorders) and I can see the benefit of being both FNP and PMHNP for these areas. Would it actually be worth it to have both?