Should I Return to Study? The Nurse's Question...
Published: 10 July 2019
Published: 10 July 2019
When you’re a nurse who has completed your initial study, earned a diploma or degree and become licensed as a healthcare professional, the very thought of returning to university can be overwhelming.
However, sometimes another course of study and the degree it bestows can be the best option for your success. The question of returning to study for further nursing education can indeed be a source of confusion and angst. How can you make such an important decision in a thoughtful manner, especially when considering every aspect of your life?
When assessing the current state of your nursing career, there are various lines of inquiry that will empower your decision-making. A few to consider include, but are not limited to:
Asking yourself questions and responding honestly is an important part of the career assessment process. It’s crucial to not only assess your work; you also need to assess your personal lifestyle, ascertaining if your work, family and the other aspects of your life mesh together.
For instance, if you’re a mother and your current nursing position severely curtails your ability to spend time with your young children, a change may be necessary. Or, if your parents are ageing and you need to be more available to them, what change to your schedule or work responsibility would allow you to be more present for their mounting needs and declining health? And if you’re feeling professionally unfulfilled, how can you turn that around?
There are no easy answers, and that’s why you must ask the difficult questions and answer with true honesty.
Your future - both professional and personal - is entirely of your making. There are, of course, situations and forces beyond your control, so you have to make the choices that work best for you, your family and the career you’re in the process of creating.
One thing entirely within your control is what you do next, even if that means doing nothing at all. However, if your life indeed allows for the financial and personal resources to return to study and further your education, this is something to consider. Here are more questions to ponder:
Pursuing further education can certainly complicate your personal life in the short term. Going to university can also be difficult to do, especially when you’re raising children, caring for sick loved ones or working full time. In the same breath, we can also say that study can open your mind, provide intellectual stimulation and enrich your knowledge base and confidence. Earning a higher degree may increase your earning potential while also opening you up to new opportunities, promotions or novel career-related avenues of pursuit.
Working and pursuing more education isn’t always easy, and when you consider everything else you need to do on a daily or weekly basis, it may seem utterly untenable.
No one can by rights tell you what to do, and you do not need to listen to people who 'should' you to death. In fact, the voice inside you is the one to pay the most attention to, as well as your mentors, spouse or other people in your life who understand your goals and will respectfully advise you without injecting their own agenda into the conversation.
Make your choice with care and seriously consider timing. Perhaps returning to school would be best when your last child goes off to university themself. Or maybe right now is the very best time to seize the day.
Your career is yours to create and manage; make the decisions that feel best, and trust your powerful nurse’s intuition to lead you where you most need to go.