Scholastic Calamity

Very positive and uplifting post. However, it is not quite reality-based. Many people idealize nursing as a career that in which they can fulfill their "passion". It is a shock to discover that: 1) it may be very difficult just to be accepted to a nursing program due to previous life choices, cost, or other hard-to-modify circumstances; 2) it's impossible to 'start over' in another program without sacrificing time and $ already invested if you don't like the one in which you (finally) were accepted; 3) employers aren't hiring for those positions; 4) currently, insurance & other 3rd party payors do not cover those services (e.g., holistic, alternative therapies, lifestyle enhancement, etc.); 5) in order to be considered for that glamorous, well-paid, "satisfying" job, you have to have extensive experience - AKA, years of toil in less-desirable jobs or in a hard-to-get specialty area. But I do love the optimism!

This will probably come out wrong, so bear with me.This is article is kind of a "Sound of Music" scenario. It's highly idealized. In that perfect world of sunny days and witty children, nurses can afford to make choices based on wants and ideals. Most of the nurses I know, including myself, go back to school because we have to. For me, it's because I have a diploma and it's getting too hard to get hospital jobs without a BSN. For others that I know, they are getting their BSNs and MSNs to get into management and administration because their bodies are getting worn out and can't do bedside anymore. A couple of people I know were fortunate enough to know what they wanted to do from the get-go, and chose a path in the same way as the OP. One's a psych NP and another is working with a Doctors Without Borders kind of organization and is a true humanitarian.But, for me, at least, back to school questions are more like "How long can I afford not to go back? Which school will get me to my goal the most quickly and for the least amount of money? Should I get a permanent position so I get tuition benefits?" I am having to deal with the poor choices I made in life before becoming a nurse and reaching my ideal is not practical at the moment.But if I were Maria... I would definitely go back and get my MSN in education. My golden ticket is that "A-ha!" moment on students' and patients' faces when they finally understand.