Working With Life, Death, or Both?

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I originally started out becoing interested in the sciences, because I was going to go into the Mortuary Science program. The school is about 200 miles away, so I was unable to make it into the program. As I began looking at science programs, nursing came into the forefront as an interest, etc. I am still interested in doing mortuary science, as it is quite fascinating to me, however; I am also now (for the past several years) very interested in nursing. I've done all the prereq's for both programs, so I have a question for you guys...

Is there an area of nursing that while not easy, is possible to get into, that follows along with mortuary science type job descriptions or duties?

I'm having a hard time choosing between the 2 programs since I now have the opportunity to move to the school's area next year (while the nursing program is right here in the town I'm in), but I'm thinking that as long as I could do some work in nursing that is somehow dealing with MS duties/activities, then nursing would be the smartest way to go in regards to opportunities and payscale....Additionally, MS would be dealing a lot less with live people while embalming, etc but would require more dealing with people in regards to grief counseling, admin work, etc....Then there's the fact that with less pay, a beginning funeral director or embalmer is required to be oncall and available to families and public officials at all hours of the night....

I'm torn. What do you guys think??

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Specializes in FNP.

There is such thing as pathology NPs. Other than that they exist, I don't know anything about them. I think it likely macro slides, rather than autopsies though.

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

Although I'm not an expert, there is forensic nursing, which as a field is still growing and defining itself. Medical training in a coroner's investigator is valued. Make your own field and you are sure to be the world's expert. Good luck.

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Specializes in NICU.

Do you enjoy the prospect of grief counseling? What about hospice nursing. Preparing the family and patient for an impending death might fit.

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Specializes in MPH Student Fall/14, Emergency, Research.

Yes I was going to echo that as well. You didn't mention what aspect of this area appealed to you more - actually working with the deceased, or working with the surviving family preceding/following death?

Palliative care seems incredible. I watched a documentary about it yesterday, actually. It brought me to tears in an amazed kind of way. The nurse said something like "There's a new dimension of living once you've understood that you are dying" and described how the families can just come together in love and relationships with each other and the dying person.

Pretty inspiring, IMO...

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Do you enjoy the prospect of grief counseling? What about hospice nursing. Preparing the family and patient for an impending death might fit.

TY for your reply.

As a young adult a very close friend of mine and his brother contracted AIDS through blood based pills (they were both hemophiliacs). I bet I'm dating myself, because it's been a looong time since blood was not checked....

Anyway, his brother died about 5 years before he did and my boyfriend unexpectedly died around that time, as well. Going through Michael's and John's death had a huge impact upon my life.

I tend to be the type of person that empathizes with people and they tend to trust me and know that I take human emotion seriously. I believe I could be a huge asset to families that are grieving (And I'm humble, too--heh :D)

I am very interested in working with the dying, as well as the dead. I am also quite fascinated with the science portion of embalming, but that practice is fading quite fast as many more people are choosing at home funeral services and quick dispatch of the body, so.........

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Yes I was going to echo that as well. You didn't mention what aspect of this area appealed to you more - actually working with the deceased, or working with the surviving family preceding/following death?

Palliative care seems incredible. I watched a documentary about it yesterday, actually. It brought me to tears in an amazed kind of way. The nurse said something like "There's a new dimension of living once you've understood that you are dying" and described how the families can just come together in love and relationships with each other and the dying person.

Pretty inspiring, IMO...

I think I would be a valuable part of the dying process, so your comments make sense and are appreciated. Where was the documentary. Do you remember the title?

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Interesting!! I work for the mortuary now, and I absolutely love my job. I do everything except embalming as a license is required. It really fascinates me, and I have learned so much about the bodies as far as diseases go. Of course, money is not great, but I didn't do it for the money of course.

I am in nursing school now, but eventually I would like to pursue Forensic Nursing, maybe work for coroner's office.

You can try to volunteer for Hospice and see if you like it. I am doing that now and it's really rewarding for me.

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Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.

You've received some great advice here! Sounds like you'll be great at whatever you do because I can tell that your heart is in it.

Quick question, though....where was this mortuary science program? I know there aren't many around.

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Interesting!! I work for the mortuary now, and I absolutely love my job. I do everything except embalming as a license is required. It really fascinates me, and I have learned so much about the bodies as far as diseases go. Of course, money is not great, but I didn't do it for the money of course.

I am in nursing school now, but eventually I would like to pursue Forensic Nursing, maybe work for coroner's office.

You can try to volunteer for Hospice and see if you like it. I am doing that now and it's really rewarding for me.

Good idea, thanks.

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You've received some great advice here! Sounds like you'll be great at whatever you do because I can tell that your heart is in it.

Quick question, though....where was this mortuary science program? I know there aren't many around.

The program is at Mesa Comm. College in Mesa, AZ.

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Specializes in Various.

I am a Hospice Nurse and I enjoy my job. I work with both life and death.

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