Well....do you have children

Well....do you have children? [2007-04-16]
Just imagine cleaning up after adults exactly the way you clean up after children. All the bodily fluids and solids, the tantrams, the irrationality....if you can handle that, you can handle anything!

Another MT to Nursing question... [2008-10-20]
Hi, I have been an MT for 16 years and have always wanted to get into nursing and now that my children are a little older, I am looking at it more seriously. Here is what I The 2-year RN program is filled until 2010 and even now, already over half full for the 2010 track. There is also an LPN 1-year program that I can test for starting in November, that begins next August. I am 40 years old and don I am thinking of doing the LPN next August, be out in a year and then doing the LPN-RN bridge program, which is offered either as a 1-year or 2-year program that you can do while also working. My thought is that I can get a job at the hospital where I have been MTing for 16 years as LPN (they do hire them), work there while completing my RN degree. Does this sound like a plan that would work and what advice or suggestions can anyone offer? I have spoke with the Dean of Nursing in the RN program and she said that a lot of people do that as the bridge program is easier to get into. Also, the hospital that I work for offers scholarships and also educational loans, so the financial part of it is not a real issue. Thanks for any help!

Torn between 2 professions [2008-10-08]
Right out of high school I went into nursing school but never finished b/c of personal reasons. I then went into medical transcription and have been doing it for the past 5 years. I have always regretted not finishing up my nursing degree and am thinking about going back but am very torn. On the one hand as an MT I work from home which is nice because I have a 2-year-old and a 1-year-old. But, with the way things are going in the MT field, it is hard to find a good company, and if you do it seems everyone is running out of work. As a nurse, I am worried about not having as much flexibility with hours, as I would miss the time away from my 2 children but know that I could provide for them better finanically. I have been accepted into a nursing program and in 2 years would be an RN. Any suggestions, tips, just overall feedback. I could really use anyone's advice as I am really really torn!

Rn not MT [2008-03-11]
I would go with RN. That said I was pursing RN at 40 but decided to go into business related field. The reason is you do have to have a lot of strong famliy support. Pursuing RN as a more mature adult can be done but it is VERY difficult for a single parent like myself who not only has to work full-time to pay the mortage, but also there is no other adult to help pull the weight. Ultimately that is why I decided against RN even though Iknow the job opportunities and pay are better. You have to look at your own lifestyle situation. Saying go for RN across the board without considerations to other aspects of your life -- how will you live while you pursue full-time school? Do you have a spouse to help pay bills and watch children? Is nursing your passion or do you prefer more solitary work? Looking at just the job security and pay RN beats MT However, I went into MT because it gave me the ability to work from home. As a young single Mother this was vitally important. I had paid sitters for daycare when I worked outside the home and I didn So for me the lower pay etc was a tradeoff for perks of working athome. Now my kids are getting older I would like to get out of MT. Working on production pay can be great or it can be difficult. There is no security of making the same paycheck, which I am looking for as I get older. So truly assess your own particular lifestyle, personality and what would suit you best. I have seen some really negative changes in MT. I loved it 10 years ago when I started out. The money wasn't bad and you readily could find in-house or at-home work with great benefits. It's much more difficult these days.

nursing reality check [2008-03-05]
I want to be realistic with you. About 12 years ago I was in a nursing program before I went to school for MT. I did the first semester and 1/2 and obviously the prereqs. I regret not finishing now but make no mistake how rigorous these 2-year RN programs are. I was married with 2 young children. It was VERY stressful. You are bascially at the school mostly 4-5 days per week - 2 days of clinicals at the hospital. If you aren't in class or clinicals you are in chec offs or practicing at labs. Not unusual to be at school practicing on weekends. Then, there are care plans to do for your clinical patients after your shift in addition to regular tests and skills checks offs in labs. I just want people to understand and be prepared. YOu need a very strong support system. There are those who work. I have heard full-time even. I have no idea how. I can only think these are younger students living at home. Not Moms with jobs, kids, and homes to take care of. I am not a single Parent and considered reentering the nursing program. I had to retake a few prerequistes. After retaking a few I ultimately realized this was just beyond me. I have 2 kids, a mortage, no spouse to help out and I cannot afford to quit working. In the end I have decided to pursue a business degree simply because I can take classes online without the added stress and hardship to my family. Having a calm family life is important to me because my youngest son has autism. We have quite enough to deal with. However, I am not discouraging nursing. Simply be prepared to work harder than you ever have. Also there is abullying problem in the nursing schools and nursing profession in general. Please be aware you need a thick skin. Docs can be tough but other nurses can to. Just want people to walk in with eyes open so they do not drop part-way through as I did. I guess I didn't have a passion for nursing or all of this would not have mattered - but there lots of people going into the nursing profession because of the high $$ right now and because MT is unstable. Good reasons, but nursing takes a lot more than just wanting $$. I learned that the hard way and decided to ultimately follow a different course. good luck.

In a quandry; RN vs MT [2007-12-18]
I am 47 years old (I see from below that I am an old hag :)) and looking to change careers. I if it comes to taking care of my family (4 children 13-6), we will do whatever it takes. In order to maintain our lifestyle, recognizing that I appreciate and recognize good grammar, enjoy a challenging job, and require a job that allows me to work at home, I've been looking very seriously into the MT field. If I pursued this option, it would be with a certificate from either Andrews or M-Tec. Reading the various MT boards, however, I am quite concerned about the future of MT, both in pay and job opportunity. And then, at the same time, I am heartened by the enthusiasm expressed by IC the detractors seem to be just as common as the enthusiasts. Further adding to my quandary is the trickle of nurses moving from RN positions to MT. I would enjoy the solitude of being an MT and am highly self-motivated. I believe I would enjoy oncology, L not necessarily the blood but the pus. I am also concerned about bringing disease and sickness home to my family. So, my current plan is to train with M-Tec or Andrews for a year, obtain my certificate, work as an IC and keep an eye on the nursing field. If possible, I might be able to continue to MT while in nursing school should it prove possible. I am also considering the fields of Radiation Technician and Surgical Tech. The reason I would prefer nursing to RadTec or Surg Tec is due to the travel available for traveling nurses (although I understand MedSurg would require at least 2 years of experience before I would be able to travel nurse). Any thoughts?

Graduate Nurse [2007-05-14]
Hi! I just finished the RN program at the local community college, and I I am 41 years old, am married, and have two children. I worked full time and part time as an MT during the past three years (my employer has been very flexible with me...probably because I have worked for them for about seven years). Be careful about thinking you can transfer your AP courses. At the institution I attended, they required that you take anatomy and physiology I and II again if you took them longer than five years ago. You really want to have all your prerequesites out of the way before you start your nursing classes. That I already had almost all of them done, but I had to take the AP classes, microbiology, a speech class, and this Choices for Life course. My parents were VERY supportive, and my husband did the best he could. During clinicals, we had to actually be at the facility ready to go at 6:30 a.m. Let me know if you have any questions.

Well....do you have children? [2007-04-16]
Just imagine cleaning up after adults exactly the way you clean up after children. All the bodily fluids and solids, the tantrams, the irrationality....if you can handle that, you can handle anything!