So I’m bouncing back and forth between counseling and nursing for my second Master’s degree. I know I can mentally handle the counseling. I’m even-tempered, calm, and empathetic. Those same qualities could make me a good nurse, too, I think, and nursing would get me done with much less time in school and much less student loans. However, I’m worried that I wouldn’t be allowed to get a license to practice because of my mental and physical disabilities. Does anyone who might know something about nursing have any input? Can someone with sza practice?
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Idk if you could practice or not. But I have a friend that got busted for a sack of weed. He got his nursing degree but couldn’t practice cause that. Seems pretty strict.
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I’m not a nurse, but my research says that you can. You will have to disclose to the board that you have sza, and you may have to undergo additional training.
What type of nurse do you want to be? RN? ARNP? NP?
@Anna is a forum member who, I believe, is a psych nurse.
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My sister makes a $100,000 a year as a nurse.
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@SkinnyMe is also a nurse
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My mom and cousin are nurses
I would stop doing expensive degrees. If I remember well you have multiple degrees.
There are a lot of job opportunities without them. You just have to be a bit creative.
So does mine. She teaches medical staff how to use safety devices in hospitals that the company she works for supplies.
She’s very wealthy and loves what she does. She used to be a nurse in the cardiac intensive care unit in a hospital
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@TheFountainPen I’m going to a local community college, so it’s definitely not expensive. I’ve been on disability for 14 years. I have no references, my college degrees are 20 years old, and I needed a refresher to be more relevant in the job market. I’m also all set to volunteer at a place near me to 1. help others 2. have something to do with my free time and 3. earn a reference or two. Also, because of my grades, I’ve earned two scholarships each semester after my initial semester, so my classes and fees are fully paid for, and my books are covered as well (they admittedly aren’t the high priced $200 apiece-type book). I don’t have to take out loans or anything like that. I’m just trying to be more relevant for the job market today as opposed to 20 years ago when I could get any job I wanted.
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I forgot to add: I’m not in a Master’s program right now, just taking Human Services courses at the local school. If I go for nursing, I don’t have to pursue an MA, but if I were interested, I could. The school I’m at offers an RN program. I’m taking Human Services because I thought it’d be a good step for me rejoining the academic community and also a good way to get involved in gerontology (my concentration and something I feel passionate about) while being a nice foundation for what I’d like my next step to be, whether that is nursing or counseling.
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Back in the old days, 80’s, no. Now? Yes.
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That’s great that you can study for free. The books do sound expensive from a European perspective.
I studied a BSc (Hons) in Health Sciences while being in the sofa for a decade. Now I have my own healing practice and it comes in handy as a reference of my knowledge.
I hope the degree helps you a path for a job and that it is not a waste of time and energy.
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I’m pretty sure there was a male nurse on here at one point but he may have deactivated, he was UK based.
I’m not so worried about wasting time/energy, as bad as that sounds. I have nothing but time right now. Going back to school has really given me purpose. I have something in life that I’m good at again, and it makes me feel better about myself. I have all A’s and one B since I started, and I honestly love learning. I’m being inducted into two honor societies this semester. Before going back to school, I just read fictional books. That was it. I’ve worried about what will happen if I do decide to pursue a Master’s because then I would potentially need to take out some money in loans, depending on the financial aid package I’d be offered. My husband tells me to do it if it will make me happy, and we can figure the rest out later. I’m a planner (he’s a day-to-day kind of guy), so I’ve written out scenarios in our budget on what we can do if I work and if I don’t. I try to get a picture of how life will or could go. I know things change and we can’t control the future, but when things do change, I just rearrange my plans.
@MisterApple Zwaynopolous had mentioned nursing, I think, but I don’t know what he changed his username to.
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I understand that your husband wants to make you happy, but money worries will make you both miserable. I don’t see the added value of another Masters. Especially given your mental and physical disabilities it is highly unlikely that there will be any return on investment.
I love learning too. I’m following now 10 hours of Spanish classes a week and it’s fun. Today we went with the group for some snacks and drinks. It’s a good way to socialize and meet some people. They all have their stories and you can learn from everyone.
Knowledge is nice but to me experiences and memories are more important.
My half sister has recently quit a nursing degree after 2 years. She already has an art degree. I wouldn’t rush into it.
I was a nurse so I know how to study and what books are worth it. You need a book with test questions. You can go broke buying ancillary books. The whole point of nursing school is to teach you how to pass the hesi exam. You learn to be a nurse on the job you get someone to teach you for a year. So if you have time before nursing school I suggest reading a comprehensive hesi exam prep book, I included the ones you need. Some hesi books are all questions you don’t want those. The question books are good to prep you before your tests and are broken up according to sections to understand nursing materials. The whole point of all of these tests is together you to think like a nurse. The hesi book and question book I included are really good. I spent $1200 on nursing books and did a million questions. When you do take the hesi exam you won’t find those questions in any book. I felt like I failed the exam but I passed. If you have the right resources nursing school can be tolerable. If you have the time before hand I can’t emphasize this enough read the hesi book I included focus on memorization. It’s a lot of work. The standards are high the minimum grade is 80 percent to pass. So the right resources help. I wish someone broke stuff down for me and gave me good advice and resources. I studied 70 some hours a week. With these resources and ahead start you can be successful. It will still take work. Good luck. Glad to help out.good things.
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Thanks to everyone who responded. I have decided that, because of my physical limitations, nursing wouldn’t be suitable. Plus, I’d be stupid to think that getting rid of my emetophobia is as easy as pretending I’m fine. @TheFountainPen you are right in that nursing would be a waste.
However, I received information on transferring to the school with an MA in Counseling- Clinical Mental Health. They offer a $16,000 renewable scholarship and a $2,000 renewable scholarship from one of the honors societies that I just got accepted into. The program would cost right around $10,000 after the scholarships. I realize that may seem like a lot, but I feel like it’s worth it. I think counseling would be perfect, especially since so many people do sessions via Zoom. I’m not ready to go into the MA program yet, but I feel very content with my decision. When I was thinking about nursing, I admittedly felt like I was pleading for someone to say “Yeah, you can totally do that” when the truth is that I can’t. Deciding not to go for it reduced a lot of stress.
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The pricing is affordable for US norms but do you really want to be a mental Health Counselor. You have to listen constantly to people whining and moaning and the world will feel like a cesspool.
Second, normally there are way too many counselors. In Dutch we say ‘You can pave the streets with psychologists’.
Third, I know schools promise ‘endless’ earning potential in spite of that reality is very different. Online services are usually low in demand and it’s hard to build a practice like that.
Ultimately, you are shopping around from degree to degree weekly and I’ve been there myself. It usually happens when you don’t know what you really want to do or what you want to do is impossible, at least for now.
I would to try to focus on real life things with real life people. Just endless scrolling websites of colleges and universities will get you nowhere in the quest to find out what you really want to do in this life.
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I appreciate your openness about why it might be a bad idea, but this is what I want to do. School is very real for me. Before deciding that I needed a goal to work towards, I was just lost. I realize that things might not work out. I’m not ignorant of the possibility that I may not be able to do anything at all. But to not try? That would be a real regret.
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