How to get into Health Care Field? (bachelor's, PhD, doctoral)

[RedLineBoy]

Hello,

I wanted to know what I need to do to become competitive applicant in field of health care. I'm thinking about applying to either nursing or physical therapist. I still have not decided what route I really feel like taking. I am a male so little biased when it comes to nursing, but overall I hear it's a wonderful career.

The reason I'm asking this is because my undergraduate is not from so known college. In fact, it's from University of Phoenix, with a low gpa of 2.8. I know why my gpa was low and I have address those issues. Primarily lack of motivation and guidance. Know that I'm much older twenty nine, I feel i'm motivated and mature to pursue college.

I started taking few courses at CC in chemistry and bio last few semester and have gain nothing but valuable experience along with outstanding GPA of 4.0. I know its a community college and that courses are little easier but how easy are they compare to four year University program?

Deep down I'm constantly in state of negative thoughts, such as that I'm no good, can't do it.etc...I lack the confidence, how do I gain it back?

My question is how do I become competitive and have the go to attitude knowing that I can do it because its a very long road ahead.

Thank you
Benzino.

[plmokn]

Talk to career counselors at the CC. Tell them your situation. They should be able to provide an efficient path. Also, find out what fields are in the most demand.

Also think about yourself. For example, would you be comfortable working 3rd shift in a hospital as a nurse?

As far as your comments below, if you want it bad enough you'll do it. If you don't do it, it is mostly likely because you didn't want it bad enough. There are exceptions (financial, cognitive, etc) but in most cases there are workarounds.

Lou Holtz, responding to a comment about him stating that he was a great motivator:"I'm not a great motivator; I'm just good at weeding out those who can't motivate themselves."

Originally Posted by RedLineBoy

Primarily lack of motivation and guidance.
I feel i'm motivated and mature to pursue college.


I'm constantly in state of negative thoughts,
I'm no good, can't do it.etc...
I lack the confidence

how do I become competitive and have the go to attitude

[Pitt Chick]

Male nurses are not as rare as you think!

And, personally speaking, I have had several great male nurses. Nurse Dan is still remembered fondly! Most compassionate and patient person I have ever come across....

[G-fused]

I agree with everything plmoken said.

And I'll add that it's good you are thinking about what to do but that those two fields, although similar in terms of both being in healthcare, are quite different in many other ways.

If you are really interested in the field and to increase your chances of attending a good program, you should consider trying to work in a place as related to your interests as possible. Even if that means volunteering your time. That shows interest and commitment.

best of luck.

[dazeddude8]

talking to the CC advisor is a great start, since you want to either do nursing or physical therapy, talk to both and find out exactly what you need to do to get into the program. What classes, is there an entrance exam, is there a deadline to apply etc...? As you know the healthcare fields are extremely popular and somewhat difficult to get into but the reward is wowrth it. A 4.0 is great, keep it up, yes GPA is not everything but a good gpa can only help. As for starting out at phenoix, don't let it get you down too much.

Not everyone knows what they want to do straight out of highschool, for some it takes a little bit longer, for some it means going back to school, for some it means going in an entirely different direction and that is fine. Yes ideally in a perfect world one would Highschool-college-good job, but that does not always happen. You cannot let circumstance, past regret and doubt hold you back.

[Katarina Witt]

Over 90% of nurses are female, FWIW.

I think you'd have a hard time getting into PT school. It is a doctoral program with a lot of pre-reqs, and requires a good GPA.

[caligirlz]

With your UOP GPA, I think you are going to have a hard time getting into both nursing and PT school. If you are able to continue the current 4.0 GPA, it will certainly help.

In addition to what has been said, perhaps you can clarify why you are interested in these two careers. Is it just the potential great salary? is there anything else about the jobs that interest you?

I will say that I've been a RN for 35+ years. At the time of my lottery interview, I was pretty clueless. When asked why I wanted to be an RN, I responded, "to help people." The only duty I knew about was giving shots and emptying bedpans. Lol. I was accepted, and found out way more than I ever expected!! Lol. Nursing is a wonderful career, as is physical therapy, BUT, you have to want more than just money. It's a long, hard haul that will challenge everything that you know, even personal beliefs. IMO, it has been totally worth every moment. As for PT, with all the healthcare changes it's getting harder & harder to maintain an individual practice, and make a huge income. I see many PT's doing the traveling to SNF's- job thing. I have nothing but praise for the PT's who go above & beyond the standard training. I would suggest that you really consider the current status of physical therapy in the real world before pursuing that pathway.

Other things to make you more competitive....volunteer work in your chosen field. Or work part-time as a PT assist, nurses aide, massage therapist, lab technician/phlebotomist, front office/ administration clerk in a clinic, SNF/rehab, or hospital...anything to get your foot in the door.

Of course you can do it, just make the decision that you can & keep your eyes on the goal. Reject all thoughts of fear, or failure. And find what motivates you to be positive.

[golfgal]

Nursing around here pays about the same as a physical therapist, 4 years for a BSN, 8 for PT....

It's next to impossible to get into PT school. You have to have top grades, lots of volunteer work, etc.

Another area to consider would be athletic training. It's similar to PT, not as long to get your degree. You can work in a hospital, clinic, college, high school setting with athletes. Pay isn't as good but it's not bad either.

YOur degree at U of PX isn't really going to help you. You might get a few credits to transfer but doubtful. Either way you are going to probably have to start over--which is probably a good thing in your case.

[dazeddude8]

if you want to get into hc rite away and don't want to go the nursing route, you could look into respitory therapist, physical therapist aide and occaptional therapist aide. Of course the aide is not the same thing as a full on physical therapist but it could be something worth considering. However I do not know what the job market is like for aides and res. therapist.

To reinforce what golfgal said there is little chance of phoenix credits being accepted but check with the consoler anyway, you may be surprised what transfers over

[L210]

University of Phoenix is a regionally accredited school. Most regionally accredited schools only care about regional accreditation when it comes to transfer credits. Aside from accreditation, whether or not your credits will transfer mostly depends on if the course descriptions are similar to a course offered by the current school, if the course was taken online or on campus (some schools may not accept online science labs), if the GPA on the course is considered unacceptable under the current school's policies, or if the course is applicable to the current degree program.

As a matter of fact, University of Texas-Austin has an alternate entry MSN and PhD in Nursing program in which they recommend online, UoP courses for prerequisites. These programs are for people who have non-nursing bachelor's degrees. Texas A&M accepts UoP credits. I doubt you will be applying to colleges that are ranked higher than UT and A&M. Your main problem is your GPA.