Thinking about jumping in..

[mowski1214]

Dear caring and wonderful nurses,

I need some honest answers. Please. I, like many other people before me, am posting about my potential jump into the career of nursing. I have read all I can, and spoken to a few other nurses about the 'the shortage', and the negatives and positives of nursing. I am 95% certain that I will make the jump and will work toward earning ABSN degree. In fact, I have been accepted into one program, waiting to hear back from another, and will be starting other applications soon. I have no reservations about finding a job after graduation as I have some pretty sweet network contacts (madre is a high level hospital administrator, and I currently work in public health and have connected with other nurses and local public health institutions). If for whatever reason I couldnt find a job around here, I would have no reservations relocating to another part of the country or even another country. Hey, we all live once.

As you may have been able to tell, I do have a 5% reservation with my decision. A solid 5%. A few years ago I was diagnosed with a certain form of muscular dystrophy where in the not so distant future, my skeletal muscles will be severly compromised (barring a treatment). I will be able to walk, stand, reach for things, and bend over, but will struggle. Being a male this type of thing is tough. I know I probably wouldnt be able to do ER or ICU work and other areas of nursing that would require the strenous work all you wonderful people do on a near daily basis. I find psych nursing, occupational nursing, research nursing, and a few other specialities fascinating and I think they would suit my future limitations. I should mention I have ambitions of pursing a Nurse Practioner license as either an FNP or a pysch NP. I am pretty certain these jobs arent as physically strenuous but I could be wrong.

So what are your feelings? Any good (or critical) advice? Worth it? Too risky? Please dont be afraid to be harsh. I can take it, I promise. I've posted a similar question before but that was a while ago and I think things have changed both in field and with myself.

With unparalled gratitude for the work you do,

-Mowski

PS: Keep smiling

[greenfiremajick]

Mowski- I say Go for it! Although psych nursing can be tough on the body when you're a part of the team having to pin down an out of control resident....

[Orange Tree]

I think I would try to imagine the worst possible outcome and ask myself if I could live with it. I'd also consider how I might be spending my time if I decided not to go to nursing school. Do I have millions of dollars and a best friend to travel around the world with? ...am I bored, stuck, and in desperate need of something new? Being bored and stuck would make me a bit more of a gambler....but even when I'm content, it feels great to learn, grow and expand. Are you the type of person who regrets not doing things?

[oryxandcake]

I think you would complement the profession quite well.

[Davey Do]

What they said.

Dave

[NursePati87]

I say if you have the passion then go for it! Passion is all you need :) Luv->NursePati87

[nurse2033, MSN, RN]

All it takes is a brain for many nursing jobs. It's good you recognize your potential physical limitations. Please go into psych so the rest of us don't have to... :)

[Little_Mouse]

All it takes is a brain for many nursing jobs. It's good you recognize your potential physical limitations. Please go into psych so the rest of us don't have to... :)

LOL!

I work in a medical psych unit (gero), but that was just too funny.

That literally made me laugh outloud. Thanks for making my night.

(The irony though is that I'm looking for a way out)

:)

Anyway, I should address the OP:

If you think it's the right time for you and since you seem very aware and considerate of the potential risk regarding your physical issues...go for it. I do agree with the poster above that psych can be physically demanding on the males during "takedowns" of an agitated psych patient (age does not matter much!! Confused, tiny old women can be pretty darn strong).

It sounds like you've done your research and thought long and hard about this...if you feel this is what you want to do, it's yours for the taking. Would you regret NOT going down this path in the futurre?

[mentalhealthRN]

Yeah I have to agree here--having worked inpatient psych and psych ER--it is pretty physical. However if you do go on and get the Psych NP that would decrease the need to participate in take-downs. However it may depend on where you work. In the Psych ER I worked in we had a male psych NP and even some docs who would jump in and help for the really violent patients--especially when there was a delay in security getting there and/or it was night shift so not too many other staff there to help. You would certainly be doing a lot less in outpatient psych though--less but probably not none.

The other thing might be something like NICU. The babies don't weigh much. Unless your coordination might be compromised to where you could risk dropping them.

I think there are a lot of different options and if you have the passion to be a nurse then go for it! Good luck to you.

[grasshopper7780]

I agree as well. As you said, we only live once and you never know as you age and get more into the profession what treatments will advance and how your MS will progress. You certainly have the passion for nursing (congrats on the acceptance) so you should go for it. If you dont you will regret it.

I am similar, work in public health and am about to start my prereqs for ABSN programs. My 5% reservation isnt like yours but the way I see it, we always have some reservations for any big decision and that is when you listen to your gut. I am finally listening to mine and just enrolled in my classes and started volunteering at my local hospital. GO FOR IT!

Ps: any advice for someone just starting out on the ABSN road? Where did you get in ? Where did you apply? Thanks!