Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Change of Plans: Trading in a Theraband for a Stethoscope

WARNING: This post is long and doesn't have very many pictures...But I think it's worth the read! 


You know how God is funny? And you know how God has perfect timing? Well my timing didn't line up with God's timing! IMAGINE THAT! I thought that when I chose a career path to pursue my sophomore year of college that I would continue that until I retired...or at least until I have a mid-life crisis and want to change. Well it turns out that God graciously allowed me to finish college and then let me decide that what I went to college for four years was actually not what I was going to do for the rest of my life.

My freshman year at Baylor University, I had many different thoughts about what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I mean I was only EIGHTEEN years old...how was I supposed to know what I really wanted to do? I contemplated becoming a doctor, but then I realized there was way too much schooling to become a doctor (good for you, Alex).  I thought about majoring in Psychology because I enjoyed my Psychology class.  I thought about being a nurse, but the nursing school for Baylor was in Dallas and I knew that I didn't want to leave my friends and my church in Waco.  So I decided on going the Physical Therapy route.  It was in the medical field and I was able to take some really cool classes. I thought I would love it because I love sports and loved the idea of rehabilitation from sports injuries.

I shadowed a Physical Therapist in Austin last summer and didn't like it because they mostly did jaw treatments (it's as fun as it sounds!). So I knew I wouldn't specialize in jaw treatments.  I then did an internship at an inpatient facility this last semester. I worked mostly with elderly patients and all we really did was worked on their sitting, standing, and walking. After that I knew I didn't want to work at an inpatient facility.  And now I am working at an outpatient facility and am not loving it, or really liking it.  So I finally figured out that I was not meant to be a Physical Therapist!

As most of you may know, I took this year off so that we could find out where Andrew would be attending Dental school and then I would apply to the Physical Therapy school in the same city. Well, I figured out that it was God's way of telling me to reconsider my career path.  God has perfect timing...remember?? Also every day after work, Andrew would ask me if I really wanted to do Physical Therapy because I was miserable every day I came home from work.  I didn't want him to be right because I just graduated from college to do Physical Therapy! What would my parents think??

So I have made up my mind and I will hopefully be attending NURSING SCHOOL at the Health Science Center (same school as Andrew!) next May!  I say hopefully because I need to take one class to be able to get into the nursing school and the school that I will be taking that class is being very difficult right now.  However that is my plan.  I plan to attend nursing school to get my Bachelor of Science in Nursing and then immediately continue for a Masters of Science in Nursing to become a Nurse Practitioner.

So if you are a nurse or know a nurse or just want to give advice, please don't hesitate to give me some advice! I would love some knowledge about the journey that I am about to embark on!

Thanks for reading! Can't wait to hear from y'all!

2 comments:

  1. You are so awesome Kristen! I am so proud of you and can't wait to see where God continues to lead you! :)

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  2. Kristen I originally went to school wanting to do physical therapy too! So crazy! Then volunteered at a hospital to pass the time during college and realized I loved nursing! You are going to make an amazing nurse/NP. So excited for this next adventure!

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