a penny for your thoughts.

i'm almost two weeks through my graduate program. i'm not gonna lie. at first, i wasn't so fond of it. it took all my energy to force myself to finish the discussion questions and the assignments for the first week. week two was not as much a struggle. i had to run into the bookstore to kill time at the mall tonight, and i saw this book.

it got me thinking about school, and work, and the job @ pch, etc. so many people have asked me what i want to do with my degree(s) and many others are certain i'm going to finish my nursing degree once i'm back working in the hospital and around it and such.

to be honest, i don't know. will i? i might. will i finish my current degree project? probably. do i want to be a case manager still? after the interview, i don't really think so. do i want to be a nurse? i'm literally torn. i'd love it, but i'm not 100% sold just yet.

i honestly think that what i want to do combines all my passions, and even most of my degrees! (well shit, look at that!) the pediatric floors and hospitals have people called Child Life Specialists. this person is a part of the care team, just like the doctors, nurses, surgeons, and family members. their main concern is the child- the patient. not just in the medical care aspect, but in all aspects. they are the ones that sit with the child and explain procedures. they are like social workers, but with a much stronger influence on what's going on with the child.

a little one is getting ready for a blood draw? the CLS has a doll and actual medical supplies they can demonstrate for the child. they find out what they're afraid of. i guess the best way to describe it is like a child advocate like you see in the judicial system.

it uses my degree in ministry, my background in medicine, and my current degree in psych. unfortunately, it hasn't caught on strong enough that too many hospitals are hiring for it. there's no specific degree for it, but there is a certification. i've got most of the things they require, but i'm lacking the 480 hours of hands on shadowing/training.

i just don't understand why it's so hard to find a way to do exactly what i want to do. i want the chance to sit down with a hospital and explain that, while i'm lacking the certification, i'm ready to do it. i've got the medical knowledge for peds, i've got the passion for kids, i'm even kid-sized so i'm easier to relate to than a 6 foot giant guy! finally being little will work in my benefit =)

i just wish i didn't have to fight so incredibly hard to do what i want to do!! grrr.