Working With Life Death or Both?

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??
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.

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.

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

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...

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

Quote from canundergradYes 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...

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.

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.

Quote from tokidokifantasyInteresting!! 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.

Quote from DeLanaHarvickWannabeYou'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.

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