NEED ADVICE

[cjc374]

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I recently got excepted into a PT program, however about two months ago I decided I want to go the nursing route and get my Bachelors in nursing through an ABSN program, and eventually get my masters in nursing. I'm at a crossroads right now because I've wanted to do PT since I was in high school and it was my dream for the longest time. I worked as a PT Aide for the past year and a half, and I don't think PT is for me anymore. I worked in an orthopedic outpatient clinic with just one PT and PTA and I found myself extremely bored and waiting for the clock to hit 5 so I could go home. I understand I was just a PT aide and had limited responsibilities, but even watching the PT work with patients made me feel that this profession might not be for me. I feel
as if PT is too slow of a profession for me and I need more tasks to do to feel accomplished. Also, my boss would stay at work till 8pm so many nights a week so he could finish charting. I know he owns his own business and he has to do all that work, but that still stresses me out. I have so much respect for the profession and Physicals Therapists, but I feel I might be making the wrong decision if I attend PT school.

Here's a list of the pros and cons for PT
PROS
1. I loved the school and the faculty
2. Good salary.
3. I feel as if I can love the profession again if I go through a program.
4. Many areas to specialize in.
5. The school is relatively close to home. (About 50 minutes)

CONS
1. Three years to complete
2. It would cost me around $120,000 in student loans
3. I have a feeling I could end up hating the profession even more if I go through the program.

NURSING
PROS
1. It would take me 15 months to complete
2. It would cost me less than $60,000
3. It is a faster paced profession which I know is good for me
4. There are so many areas for nursing

CONS
1. The school is a little farther away from my house
2. I haven't been applied yet so I don't know how long it would take me to get accepted and get started.

I'm for the lengthy post, I just really need some advice. I'm not sure if the student loan debt is worth it and I don't know if I will enjoy PT school, which would make me hate my life.

 

[low5059]

You sound like you should contact your accepted PT school & see if they will let you defer for a year. Gives you time to apply to the nursing program, but it also gives you time to really think about what you want to do.

 

[Azimuthal]

Go nursing.

 

[yodelingyorkies]

Honestly, it sounds like you're leaning more towards nursing from your post. I guess you have to ask yourself if you didn't get that PT program acceptance, would you still want to work towards it? Also, how much shadowing have you done with nurses and have you actually worked in a fast-pace environment? You've gotten to see PT so much by being an aide- the ups, the downs, the boring times. A lot of jobs sound so much more exciting than they really are.
Also, I'm pre-PT and have been working as a rehab aide in a slower outpatient ortho clinic. It's boring a lot of the time because I have no real work to do. I also work in a pharmacy (very fast pace environment) and I honestly enjoy that better, as it's more personally fulfilling for me (lots of multi-tasking, more responsibility and things to do). However, I would never ever in a million years want to go to pharmacy school and still want to pursue PT. So I wouldn't put too much weight on your job satisfaction in that sense, simply because being an aide is an unskilled position. Folding laundry and cleaning equipment isn't exactly life changing. Additionally, the PTs I work with do not work with PTAs, so they are back to back with patients and have a lot of overlap during the day. Although it's a more "chill" environment they are always busy doing stuff for the most part, so I guess it may not be fast-paced, but they are quite busy. But they also get to pee and have a lunch, which hospital nurses do not always get the luxury of having due to the "fast-pace". Just some food for thought.

 

[Beginnings]

Have you worked in an in-patient setting before? If the only reason you want to switch careers is because of the slow-paced environment, I suggest you reconsider. From my experience, outpatient settings seem to be more "dull" compared to inpatient.

 

[soon2bDPTx3]

I have been between the two as well. I also work as a rehab technician in an outpatient clinic, however I am constantly busy as where the clinic I am at has four PT's and several PTAS. I usually only sit down once from working 7-4 and that is on my lunch break. Just don't base your decision on the one clinic you have worked at, unless you have shadowed a few other places as well. From your post, I feel as though you are in the same boat as me. I find many pros to nursing when I compare the two for myself; however, I always find that my heart lies in physical therapy. The only main reason I have still been considering nursing is your last pro, the fact there there are so many different things you are able to do with the degree such as going back to school, or workers comp, and several other things. Where as PT, you have choices within the different settings you work, but I get nervous that if something happens with my health or something I wouldn't be able to work because it is such a physical and hands on job with the patients.

But those are just my thoughts... I hope I gave you some more ways to view the situation 🙂

 

[starrsgirl]

The cost to the degree and the time to get it are big differences here. If you love nursing too, in a lot of ways that is a win.

BUT, do look into what it would take to apply and get in. If you are missing classes, or if you don't get in right away and don't work, that will even the field a bit.

 

[low5059]

Another thing to consider is what a work schedule is like. Nursing will more than likely having you working nights, weekends, holidays, 12 hr shifts ect. Something PTs don't really run into.. obviously setting dependent.