thinking about a careet in critical care

Gentlemen (& Ladies),

I know some of you are working in critical care - would you mind giving me a little feedback?

I am a man in my early forties and I am microbiology senior at a large university out here on the West coast. My previous career was in the wine business (~ 20 years as a taster, buyer, manager of a medium size business. I got laid off post 9/11 and decided I needed a change.) I am thinking of applying to several master's entry programs to get an MSN and train for CNS certification in critical care. I have a few questions for you folks, 'cause I wanna be certain I know what I am getting into.

My interest in critical care stems from a desire to mix my interest in technology with a desire to help people. As a nurse in the ICU I envision working with technology in order to keep patients alive and help them recover from their illness when possible. I also imagine myself advocating for patients that cannot, by virtue of their illness, advocate for themselves. And I see myself talking with families that are in distress over their loved one's illness. In this way I envision combining science with people. Is this a realistic view of what you, as nurses, do?

I also envisage working in a ICU or related unit to be stressful, requiring a considerable ability to multi-task and to manage my emotions. What else should I expect?

I have a little fear about being a middle aged man working a profession dominated by women. How much discrimination should I anticipate? Will there be a cieling on my advancement? I am a good manager and I have managed several multi-million dollar businesses with 150+ employees. Is nursing management open to men? (in actualilty, I know about EEOC regulations and I know how culture often supercedes them).

What else should I be thinking of?

Thanks

SF2ndCareer wrote:Gentlemen (& Ladies),
I am thinking of applying to several master's entry programs to get an MSN and train for CNS certification in critical care. I have a few questions for you folks, 'cause I wanna be certain I know what I am getting into.

You might want to double-check with the university you are planning on going to for your master's- Most MSN programs require you to have worked as an RN for a year or two before beginning work on your master's, especially if you are looking to be a CNS. In order to take boards & work as an RN, you would need to earn your BSN or ADN first.

Thanks. Fortunately there are a few programs that offer the MSN to folks with non-nursing degrees. For others would-be nurses - check out UCSF, U of Washington, Penn, Yale, Columbia and there may well be others. Most want you to have fairly extensive pre-requisite courses - anatomy, physiology, micro, psych, but it is a way into advanced practice without doing another bachelor's degree.

SF2ndCareer wrote:Thanks. Fortunately there are a few programs that offer the MSN to folks with non-nursing degrees. For others would-be nurses - check out UCSF, U of Washington, Penn, Yale, Columbia and there may well be others. Most want you to have fairly extensive pre-requisite courses - anatomy, physiology, micro, psych, but it is a way into advanced practice without doing another bachelor's degree.

I hate to play devil's advocate, but a CNS is supposed to be considered an "expert" in their specialty. I really do not agree that someone can become an "expert" in any field, especially critical care nursing, without ever having worked as a critical care nurse. I don't care how much clinical time you'll get in school, any nurse will tell you that school & clinicals are NOT a true reflection of nursing in the "real world." Just my opinion...

I would agree with all previous posts. Most programs do require you to have some RN critical care experience. And even if some programs do not.. it is in your best interest to have that 1-2yrs of critical care under your belt.
I also agree that a CNS is a specialty certification that shows an expertise in that given area. Just as a CCRN or a CNCN is a specialty certification, all require a certain minimal amount of basic critical care bedside experience.
So no matter how you look at it.. you need that hands on experience first, before you jump in to a manager's position.
As for the discrimination in regrads to your age and gender, it's my humble opinion that neither have any reflection on your ability, work ethic, and quality of care.
If you show them how much you care, they wont care how much you showed them.
I wish you the best of luck