RN or Accupuncture?

Specialties Holistic

Published

Hello all!

I am currently finishing up my pre-reqs and am most likley going to begin a two year ADN program in the fall (already have a BA but the price is right for the ADN at this point) I am VERY interested in holsitic and alternative medicine and the more I am learning about nursing--the more I wonder if I will be headed in the wrong direction. At the same time I can see how having a nursing liscence will give me the chance to explore holistic medicine in the future--like all of you on this forum! I am wondering if I should maybe go to get my masters in TCM and go the accupuncture route instead of becoming an RN. ANy thoughts or experiences? I don't know too much about the job market for this kind of career so I am a bit nervous about it. I am positive health care is for me but I am much more interested in natural healing, nutrition, etc and I am realizing that as a RN I may not be involved in that at all.

I just feel like my family and friends are kinda pushing me to just do the RN thing and think I am being totally insane for turning in a new direction after a year and half of pre-reqs and changing my life plans to become a nurse. I see their point--it makes sense to just go and get my RN degree and work. I have no money since I have been at school and am sick of awful waitressing jobs! They are also worried I will put money and time into a three year TCM program and have a tough time getting a job. I am trying to find info about what the job market is like but am having a tough time.

Any of your thoughts on this subject would be so helpful to me! I am at a crossroads. I am having a hard time figuring out what my gut is telling me and I feel all this pressure to make a decision now before I go any further.

Thank you so much!!

-Zen Student :)

A couple more things...

I know a few physicians from China who worked in hospitals as traditional medicine providers there for 10 years or more. When they came to the states they were unable to get work as medical professionals here even if they went through the licensing process. They ended up going back to school so they could get a job.

Also, none of the classes you take in your acupuncture program are likely to transfer to any other school if you choose to go back to school at a later date. None of the classes I took for my masters degree have transferred to my nursing degree. There is no acupuncture school in the country with the accreditation necessary for classes to transfer to other institutions. I have yet to find an organization that will even recognize that I have a valid masters degree. This is after I went to school 4 years straight will little break.

This is not correct. I believe Pacific University in San Diego, NYC and Chigaco has western science classes that are accredited.

However, I agree that you should do nursing first. It makes more sense financially. I have been an acupuncturist for over eight years and finished my ADN program last May (2009) and am having a lot of trouble finding interviews. I received feedback on this site that any Master's degree threatens nurse managers. Alternative medicine is also frowned upon by many western institutions. If you can, do an accelerated BSN if you already have a bachelor's in another field.

On a positive note, I LOVE practicing acupuncture and my clinical skills were very useful during nursing school. Send me a message if you have any more questions. I would love to speak with you.

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It's Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. I graduated from there. No classes transfer. Pacific College is consideredthe best in this country by most. My anatomy and Physiology classes in nursing school are easier than those at PCOM.

NO CLASSES TRANSFER...to anywhere.

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I'm currently taking prereqs for nursing/pre-med. I just did a paper on the L.Ac. profession since I thought nobody else in the class would be presenting it. If money were no object, I would definately study TCM. Right now, I'm thinking more of nursing combined with holistic practice. I'm currently a Reiki Master and Yoga instructor.

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Laurag_dc, one of my favorite nursing professors is a Reiki Master. She teaches Research and Leadership. Are you thinking of NP?

I think you hit the nail when you said "if money were no object". Unfortunately, acupuncture school will put you $70,000 or more in the red. I struggled for six years trying to get my practice off the ground and had to get side jobs to support myself, so I wasn't able to put all my energy into acupuncture. In addition, I was frustrated by being on the fringe. I just couldn't figure out how to get into the hospital, or network with MDs. Some people are able - maybe I didn't have enought self confidence.

I have two weeks left in my ABSN program and I am completely overwhelmed! I am a licensed acupuncturist and I put acupuncture on hold while in nursing school. The acute care setting of the hospital is very overwhelming for me - there is so much stress and pressure put on the nurses. I see a lot of situations where acupuncture would fit in so well with patient care, yet there are so few institutions utilizing it, CPMC being one of the few as Touch Health mentioned. I believe Seattle also has some hospitals using TCM as well.

Ideally, I would love to be part of helping to change our medical system to include CAM. This is a huge challenge and will require a lot of hard research and evidence to convince the industry that it is 1) effective and 2)cost effective. As a nurse, I am hoping to have more influence and credibilty. I think there will be more opportunities for me to network and bring acupuncture into the hospital. For instance, there is a doctor at the hospital where I am doing my preceptorship who is an acupuncturist. (A real L.Ac, not a medical acupuncturist). I haven't met her yet, but I imagine being able to work with her.

I am very interested in joining a formal group as Maria_C mentioned. I did join the Holistic nurses association. Also, anyone is welcome to message me.

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I can't believe all this time I've never seen this thread. I am an acupuncturist and going to Nursing school. After 5 years at struggling to make Acupuncture work I decided to return to school only to have my Acupuncture practice start to get busier. I LOVE acupuncture and treating patients with this form of incredible medicine but also see the value in Western Medicine.

Star - I too believe the method to make inroads to western medical acceptance is to become a participant. I would love to hear the DR/LAc's thoughts on incorporating both styles of medicine. Where are you at? Anyone is welcome to pm me maybe we can make this happen.

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Specializes in GYN-ONC, MED/ONC, HEM/ONC.

I am so, so glad for this post. I first want to thank the OP for posting this topic as it is such a good one.

I am an Oncology Nurse Practitioner. I have only ever done oncology, both as a nurse and an NP. I am applying to Acupuncture school in about a year and a half, I am saving up for school so that I do not need to take out additional loans. I am also currently paying off about 100K in loans from undergrad and graduate nursing school. My job is incredibly stressful. In some ways, I never go home. There are always issues, it never stops. I work a 50 hour week usually. The stress of my job has really sucked the life out of me. I have always been interested in Eastern Medicine and feel that it has a real role in the Western Medical world.

I know that I will make a fraction of what I make now as an acupuncturist. However, I cannot spend the rest of my life being stressed, I'll end up with an MI at the age of 40! I have thought about other areas of Nursing, but I think I'm burned out from the whole profession as a whole. I will gladly take a pay cut, even a big one, just to have less stress in my life.

Is there anyone out there that has the RN/NP/MD under their belt and is now pursuing a career in Acupuncture?

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Specializes in High-risk OB, Labor & Delivery.

I am so glad for this post too. I went into nursing with a dream to one day weave Eastern Medicine and integrative modalities into my practice. There are pros and cons to both Western and Eastern medicine, but after nursing for a year and a half I am becoming increasingly dissatisfied with institutionalized western medicine.

I have been blown away with many wonderful personal and antedotal experiences with acupuncture. When I was physically/emotionally ill from the stress created by my nursing job, acupuncture was my one saving grace. When my father's leg pain, which was unrelieved by prescription meds, was alleviated by acupuncture I was blown away again. When my patients turn to me with the side effects from all the narcotic analgesics I administer, I become angry. Angry that there are not more effective alternatives like acupuncture for inpatients to manage pain.

Although I am kicking myself now for going to nursing school and not becoming an acupuncturist, I can now see how this has been a prudent choice in the long run because of my knowledge of physiology, pathophysiology, infectious disease, etc. I feel that a nursing background is a great start.

HOWEVER, to the OP---> PLEASE, please don't go into a field unless your heart is in it! Don't do it for others. Nursing can be extremely hard on your body, mind, and spirit. But, I know you already started the ADN program, so best of luck to you with all your endeavors with this field :-)

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