It’s been a long journey from massage to receiving my masters degree in nursing, but a rewarding one.
I began as a relatively uneducated aide in a nursing home, helping the elderly patients, giving massages, adjusting bedding–simple stuff like that. Actually, it goes back to my volunteer work there when I was in high school. Once I graduated, they offered me a job and, too restless to attend college, I agreed.
I love the massage and the touch, so I became a licensed massage therapist. But it was difficult work and the pay was less than I imagined. Frustrated with spa work and not really wanting to open my own practice, I recalled how much I loved that nursing home, and decided to go to nursing school. Money was tight, so by the time I had my LPN, I started working as a nurse while I continued school.
It took several years just to get the bachelor’s (BSN), but the pay increase was pretty thrilling. More pay meant I could afford to cut back on my hours, and from there, it became that much easier to attend graduate school. Today I have a master’s degree in my chosen field, working in long term care (back at the nursing home), and yes, I still give the occasional massage.