Two career-advice questions (at end of this message)... Candid answers would be very welcome.
BACKGROUND: I am a first-year nursing student in an RN ADN program. I have a master's degree in public health and some years of work experience under my belt. I am doing well in my courses and don't find the book stuff terribly difficult, and find the things I'm learning really, really useful.
But... I am worried about the things I am hearing, from various sources (different Web site forums, published articles, the news, ex-nurses, etc.) about the real world of nursing - the horrible staffing levels, the frequent disrespect, the excessive charting, hospitals being advertised similar to hotels but really so understaffed that truly adequate patient care is impossible. In short, it's dawning on me that the nursing shortage is an ominous sign that few people, no matter how well-intentioned, want to be a nurse or continue to be one anymore, and for good reason.
So, my two questions:
1) If you had to do it over again, would you become a nurse, given today's nursing working conditions?
2) Would you recommend I just get a job using my MPH and prior work experience and not become an RN?
I'm a student, so this is not advice from a nurse. Perhaps you could work for a year or so in a hospital, and if you find you don't like the hospital environment due to all of the reasons you listed in your OP, you would be well-qualified for some really good jobs in public health with that RN, MPH behind your name. The RN MPH is a really good combo for getting really good public health jobs.
You've got a spot in a nursing program, and you seem to like it alright. I wouldn't quit nursing school unless you are 110% positive that is the right thing to do. Just because you graduate from nursing school doesn't mean you are locked into hospital nursing and destined to be miserable and without choices. You have choices, and you'll have more with that RN (plus MPH) behind your name.
How will you feel if you quit nursing school, look for jobs in public health because of your MPH, and see how much more broad your career opportunities would have been with that RN you were so close to? Good luck.
eta: I just happened across this thread where the RN-MPH is being discussed.
1. Yes, I would do it all over again. I did really enjoy my (short) time in the hospital setting but now I work in research so I have had some different experiences from many on this board.
2. I would finish your ADN and then utilize your MPH. You will have so many more job choices and more room to negotiate salary.
Wow, I am very disheartened to read all these replies. If you all would go back and change your choice, why are you still in the profession? Why not change careers?
I am still in nursing because I am the sole breadwinner and going back to school to get another degree is too expensive. What I am doing however is planning to do my Diploma to Masters on a part-time basis, so I can at least get away from bedside nursing and get into lecturing.
1. Honestly, No, I would not do it all over again (I'm an LPN). As soon as I graduated LPN school, I had every desire in the world to go back and get my RN. Now that I've worked for about 1.5yrs as an LPN, I'm not even sure I want to continue being an LPN, much less an RN. I love taking care of the patients...that's not the problem. It's all the political Bullsh--t that goes with nursing that I haven't experienced in any other job before. That, along with short-staffing, always worrying about CYAing, etc. I am thinking about the dental hygiene program, but have to work fulltime as an LPN to pay my bills. When I was in LPN school, I still lived with my parents and didn't have to work fulltime so I could concentrate more on school. That's the only thing holding me back from going back to school. My crazy work schedule, and the expensive dental hygiene program.
Specializes in FNP, Peds, Epilepsy, Mgt., Occ. Ed.
Would I do it again? Yes. It's what I'm supposed to be doing. I am an NP. Did I, do I, enjoy every minute of every day? NO!!! Would I say the same thing if I had stayed at the bedside? I don't know. I know I'm where I'm supposed to be.
2: I'd finish the nursing program and then think about the MPH.
1) An emphatic yes. I am a nurse and NP, MPH student and I love what I get to do. Our healthcare system is broken and everyone is feeling it at some level. The key is to find a place in nursing that works for you.
2) As some other posters have pointed out - why not utilize both the RN and MPH? Use your education to further nursing, show the value of nursing, improve nursing infrastructure for patient care and ultimately public health. You have options - more as an RN, MPH than just an MPH. Have you considered public health nursing? If you want to meet more nurses with MPH's go to the American Public Health Association (APHA) conference. They are a pretty dynamic group.
In the future you may consider getting a BSN as that has the community health component as applied to nursing.
Multicollinearity, BSN, RN
3,119 Posts
I'm a student, so this is not advice from a nurse. Perhaps you could work for a year or so in a hospital, and if you find you don't like the hospital environment due to all of the reasons you listed in your OP, you would be well-qualified for some really good jobs in public health with that RN, MPH behind your name. The RN MPH is a really good combo for getting really good public health jobs.
You've got a spot in a nursing program, and you seem to like it alright. I wouldn't quit nursing school unless you are 110% positive that is the right thing to do. Just because you graduate from nursing school doesn't mean you are locked into hospital nursing and destined to be miserable and without choices. You have choices, and you'll have more with that RN (plus MPH) behind your name.
How will you feel if you quit nursing school, look for jobs in public health because of your MPH, and see how much more broad your career opportunities would have been with that RN you were so close to? Good luck.
eta: I just happened across this thread where the RN-MPH is being discussed.
https://allnurses.com/forums/f34/np-mph-261646.html