RN Personal Trainer

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I am an RN and am currently studying for an ACSM certification as a Health Fitness Specialist. My goal is to work with people who are at risk for diabetes, htn, cad, etc. who will greatly benefit from lifestyle modification through exercise, nutrition, and stress reduction. Anybody have any insight into this endeavor, or know someone who has been successful with it? I have become very passionate about the benefits of exercise and nutrition to overall health and want to make a career of it.

Specializes in Med-Surg, Tele, Psych.
Smkiya- Any update on your progress? I am anxious to hear if you passed the test and have done anything with your new certification yet...

I have decided to go the FNP route before taking the leap. I think that the ability to assess and make recommendations would be further enhanced as an FNP. I put studying for the certification on hold, to work on finishing my BSN so that I can start an FNP program ASAP. I see myself opening a preventative/wellness family practice working with people whose potentially chronic conditions could be "reversed" or controlled through lifestyle changes. I also would like to work with obese children who have diabetes or are high risk to develop DM2. Now that I'm definitely doing FNP, my business model will change. I still intend to get a personal trainer certification, but as of July 2011, the eligibility requirements for Health Fitness instructor will change and I won't qualify to test for it.

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Specializes in (future hope) Genetic Nursing.
I have decided to go the FNP route before taking the leap. I think that the ability to assess and make recommendations would be further enhanced as an FNP. I put studying for the certification on hold, to work on finishing my BSN so that I can start an FNP program ASAP. I see myself opening a preventative/wellness family practice working with people whose potentially chronic conditions could be "reversed" or controlled through lifestyle changes. I also would like to work with obese children who have diabetes or are high risk to develop DM2. Now that I'm definitely doing FNP, my business model will change. I still intend to get a personal trainer certification, but as of July 2011, the eligibility requirements for Health Fitness instructor will change and I won't qualify to test for it.

To be honest, in the end getting certified will be a pretty easy task for you. So yes. I think your choosing a better path toward you goal. I would also suggest looking into a CSCS cert. sometime in the future as well. It's about as legit of a cert. as you can get in fitness.

NSCA Certification: About the CSCS Credential

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Specializes in Correctional Nursing; MSN student.
I have decided to go the FNP route before taking the leap. I think that the ability to assess and make recommendations would be further enhanced as an FNP. I put studying for the certification on hold, to work on finishing my BSN so that I can start an FNP program ASAP. I see myself opening a preventative/wellness family practice working with people whose potentially chronic conditions could be "reversed" or controlled through lifestyle changes. I also would like to work with obese children who have diabetes or are high risk to develop DM2. Now that I'm definitely doing FNP, my business model will change. I still intend to get a personal trainer certification, but as of July 2011, the eligibility requirements for Health Fitness instructor will change and I won't qualify to test for it.

Hey, did you choose a school for FNP study? I was thinking today how much I would LOVE to make a career out of this. I am soooooooooooooooo bored with my job and want to go into a wellness area of nursing. I was checking out PT cert programs. There's got to be a way to make this passion a career. Thanks for your post. Let me know how you're doing!

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just found this old post and I need to disagree with your statement about the whining clients. Being interested in physical education and nutrition myself, I think that working with the whiner is actually more valuable by means of health promotion. Once you are recovering from your amputated diabetes leg whining is a little pointless. However, whining to lose weight and or adjusting one's diet is much more important. Those are cues to adjust the regime to work accommodate the changes. That adjust may be what allows them to control diabetes before it is unmanageable and prevent the whines from loosing a leg.

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I just graduated with my Nursing Degree and passed my boards, so I'm officially licensed registered Nurse! For me prior to nursing I was already a Certified Personal Trainer, then while working and running my own business I put myself through nursing school. Now that I am out of nursing school, I can market myself much better.

I'm actually expanding my studio right now because I have a lot more clients, more than I can handle and having other trainers work for me. I'm so happy I did nursing i've learned so much. But I'm an entrepreneur at heart as well, so for me it made sense to work for myself...while also helping people. Because I love freedom and making my own schedule (we know what nurses schedule is like haha)

But it's definitely possible to do this as a business. Because of my nursing background I've actually have gotten my foot in the door with several local physical therapy clinics who refer me a good number of their discharge patients. Network with local doctors, got a lot of nurses as clients and just always marketing myself! I go after a practically untapped audience (those with medical conditions)

Medical professionals like Therapists, Doctors and Nurses know that I'm NOT like most trainers. I won't try to kill everyone who walks through the door. I know how to train them and know when to push and when to step back. Nursing school was one of the best things I've ever done but going into business for myself is even better happy.png good luck to anyone taking this route

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I really would like Nursing and fitness be incorporated

Can you take Certified Personal Training online? I'm afraid I'd be scammed. Any suggestions?

One of my option is Masters in Leadership in Nursing.

Your reply/thoughts would be appreciated.

Thank you,

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Hi there!! I'm happy to see a thread where someone had the same idea in mind for their future in nursing. Seeing that this is a few years old, if this mssg reaches you, how are things going? Are you currently practicing as a FNP or are you a Personal Trainer Now?

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Any update?? In the same boat currently. Applying for FNP. But I'm also a boot camp instructor although I don't have an official CPT. And I have a bachelors of exercise science too.

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