RN Clinicals

[Jubiema]

Hi..I mean absolutely NO disrespect for any of you, I truly appreciate and respect the job that you do day in and day out. That said, I am currently working towards a Public Health Masters. My mentor has suggested that I get a dual degree and make the second one nursing. I am concentrating on Health Promotion and Wellness Education in the Public Health arena. Her reasoning for suggesting the RN degree as well is because people are more receptive to the title "nurse" when it comes to healthcare. I already have many many years experience in health care as I am a Medical Assistant. But as you know, that title gets very little recognition and is strictly an office setting profession.

For years now, I have worked along side and above many nurses in my employment due to the nature of our work outside of the hospital setting. Unfortunately, I still get less pay and less respect because of the letters that fail to follow my name. It is hard to teach a "nurse" when I myself do not hold the same title. Even though what I am teaching or supervising has nothing to do with the clinical setting.

That said, I am fine with taking the additional classes to attain an RN. I have most of the prereqs already. (Biology, Chem, Math, A and P, Psychology etc.) The only thing that makes me pause is that I truly have no desire to do hands on nursing. My career path is outside of the hospital/extended care setting. It focuses on educating others on health related issues and implementing programs to further community wellness. I will be teaching the general public, nurses and other health care professionals.

So my question to you..is it possible to take the classes without putting too much emphasis on clinicals? Is it possible to more of a passive observer in clinicals? Once I graduate I will never set foot in a care setting again. I simply do not have the desire, ambition or compassion to be a hands on nurse. I am very happy leaving the details of that intense job to those of you who are much better at it than I am. It takes a special person to be an active nurse. I am not that person.

As you know, much of health care administration is not comprised of nurses or doctors, yet they do make the rules and set standards. Unfortunately the field I have chosen often is met with the question "are you a nurse"? When I say no, sometimes it is more difficult to help those in need. Many of my clients do not have the understanding that there are other professionals in the health care market who are equally educated but do not hold a nursing title. It would be much easier if I could just say yes and then get on with my job.