Former Marketing Director Pursues Her Passion In Nursing
Toni Light wanted to be a doctor but enjoyed college a little too much to pursue that career choice and, instead, earned a degree in advertising and public relations from Texas Christian University. She worked in radio and print sales and became a marketing director but was unfulfilled. Light is a people person and pursued nursing because it gave her more contact with patients than becoming a medical doctor. Light earned her nursing degree from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Why are you considering pursuing a master's degree?
"I knew from the beginning when I started my journey in nursing school that my end goal was to pursue a master's degree in nursing. The motivation for me is three-fold: [First], the money. Nursing is my second career, I am still considered a novice to intermediate nurse with a little over three years of intensive care nursing; [Second], autonomy. There is an amount of autonomy that is given to ICU RNs as well as advanced practice RNs; and [Third], prestige. Pursuing a master's degree gives me an opportunity to practice similarly to a MD without the grueling 10-14 year academic process that most MDs accomplish. I am hoping to later pursue a doctorate in nursing."
What would you tell someone who is considering returning to school to earn a master's degree?
"Go for it. People look at the investment and wonder if it's worth it, I would encourage them to focus on the financial reward and the flexibility it provides. Nursing has so many subspecialties there is a limitless amount of possibilities within the profession."
What do you think will be your biggest challenge as you pursue your degree?
"The biggest challenge will be cutting our family income while I pursue school. The program that I hope to enter is very rigorous. My husband and I have discussed the stress it will bring to our life and feel the reward far outweighs the sacrifice we will make."
What do you believe will be the biggest reward for earning the master's degree?
"The biggest reward for earning my master's degree will be both monetary and work flexibility. I will have the opportunity to make as little or as much money as I want based on how much I want to work. With all the upcoming changes that healthcare is facing it provides job security."
Robin D. Everson is a native Chicagoan who resides in Dallas, Texas. Her appreciation for art, food, wine, people and places has helped her become a well-respected journalist. A life-long lover of education, Robin seeks to learn and enlighten others about culture. You can find her work at Examiner.com
