Wartocin

So, maybe I AM in my 30s, but I've been without parents since I was young. Can I still claim orphan status and get some help since I'm struggling and tired of looking to myself for life answers I can't find? Thanks if you've got anything to offer. Would you suggest taking what you are most passionate about or interested in and making it into a career somehow (even if the path is not straightforward and may lead you to failure and/or low pay), OR would you suggest taking the most practical route to a "sure bet" career with good pay and lots of jobs, and hope to do your other interests as volunteer work or in spare time or retirement?

I really have to disagree that the way you're feeling right now means that you will hate nursing, or that you made the wrong choice. You sound very much like me throughout school, during my first year of nursing, and then later when I found myself in an area that was a very bad fit for me (ICU). I have always been academic, loved learning, had passion for science and loved the idea of using it to help people with something so fundamental as their health. But the reality is that, when you get into your first job (and even now as a PCT), you will find that all of that science and academic stuff feels far away and you will be very uncomfortable, scared, overwhelmed. You are going to feel like you've made the wrong choice. You will come home and cry a lot. I did, anyway. But, I think that very likely, you are a conscientious and sensitive person. I make this assumption because you sound like me, and I think that those terms describe me. I have had a lot of successful years in nursing now and I haven't come home in tears for a long time. I am thankful that I chose a career that provides a decent income and a lot of job opportunities, and I have been able to support my family. There are so many different roles you can have that I really think you will find one that fits. But don't make that decision after 3 shifts. Let yourself cry after work when you need. Take care of yourself in any ways you can. Remember that you just need to do your best, to be conscientious and aware, and ask for help when you need it. You will probably find that when you start to talk with people, you are not alone in your fear and doubts. But I think you'll be ok.

Not sure if this fits entirely with this thread, but would you say that, if I already have a BSN, getting an MPH would open a lot more doors? I struggle with searching for "public health nurse" jobs to find that this is always equated with a nurse who does home visits. I am more interested in policy and education, but I have no experience in this. All 15 years of my nursing experience has been clinical (acute care and outpatient). I am wondering how difficult it will be to get out of this trajectory. I am considering the NP route, as this is the closest fit with my experience, but not, I'm afraid, with my interests. I'm also afraid that there are too many NPs being "produced." Sort of desperate for guidance! Thanks if you have any.

Thank you both so much for taking the time to comment on my post. I know that these sorts of alternative positions are out there, but I just don't know where to begin with learning about the specifics, understanding what the roles entail, and knowing what I could do to find myself in such a position. Like I said, I've always done direct patient care in acute settings. I am already $15,000 in to the NP education, so it pains me to consider that wasted. But, I suppose putting much, much more money into a degree that, in the end, doesn't fit would be a bigger pain. I don't know how to determine whether to keep going and hope to find a way to use the degree in a role that I am able to thrive in (which I am thinking would be something not along the traditional lines of NP work), or to cut my losses, spend some time trying to figure out alternatives, and (likely) pursue another advanced degree. Hmmm. Thanks again for hearing me.

Hi! I hope that someone or many someones can provide me with advice. I am 2 semesters in to a FNP program. I'm doing fine, haven't started any clinicals, have gotten A's... but I cannot seem to be into it. I can't shake the idea that this is not the path for me, but I worry that maybe I am just fearful and I am portraying some psychological reflex to back away or feel resistance... I don't know. I have a lot of clinical experience providing direct patient care (acute care settings), and I recently changed to a hands-off position providing medication management by phone. I am finding that I really don't miss the patient contact! My current job is sort of mind-numbing, and is not what I want for my long-term career, but the change to an office environment where there is a complete absence of emergency situations is nice. I am really, truly an introvert. I love to work alone. I would love to have freedom in my schedule (I am not afraid to work hard, or to have a lot of work, but daydream about being able to do it on my own time rather than during predetermined hours). I love to learn and to apply what I've learned to problems. I care deeply about people, particularly about health, and especially about issues in public health. I feel like I am smart, intuitive, and have an ability to be diplomatic (I think that is the best word for what I mean). I have gone the FNP route because it seemed the logical thing to do, because all of my background has been in direct clinical care, and because I really do want to advance my knowledge, my education, and, I hope, deepen my impact in my career. But, I worry that I have pigeon-holed myself into an area of nursing that is not really my best fit, mostly out of a lack of knowledge about what else is out there. So, what I'd love to hear is: are there many opportunities for NPs to do nontraditional roles, possibly non-direct-care roles? If there are, how would I position myself to enter those areas? With what I've described, does anyone have any ideas about an area (either within the NP realm or outside of it) that I may find a better fit? Thanks so much in advance for any insight.