For the last 3 months I have been taking courses in hopes of being admitted to an accelerated 2nd bachelor's degree program for nursing. It was my intention to complete nursing school and sit for the certifying exam for diabetes education. The paths to becoming a certified diabetes educator (CDE) have always been limited and time consuming and I'm convinced that after taking a practice CDE exam, I could already pass the official exam with my current knowledge instead of investing thousands of $$'s and paying off more student loans for years to come.
My decision to pursue nursing school came from the current standards set by the NCBDE (National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators). In order to become a CDE, one must be from the following professions:
a) Clinical psychologist, registered nurse, occupational therapist,
optometrist, pharmacist, physical therapist, physician (M.D. or D.O.),
or podiatrist holding a current, active, unrestricted license from the
United States or its territories.
OR
b) Dietitian holding active registration with the Commission on
Dietetic Registration, physician assistant holding active registration
with the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants,
exercise specialist holding active certification as an American College
of Sports Medicine Certified Clinical Exercise Specialist®, or exercise
physiologist holding active certification as an American College of
Sports Medicine Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist®.
OR
c) Health care professional with a minimum of a master's degree* in
social work from a United States college or university accredited by a
nationally recognized regional accrediting body.
In addition to these stipulations, you must also practice in your field for 2 years and have 1000 hours of documented experience dealing with diabetes management treatment.
So now you see why my obvious choice was nursing. However...
Beginning 2014 the rules are changing! Anyone with a master's degree in a health field with 2000 hours of experience with diabetes management (treating other people, not myself) can apply to take the certifying exam.
This opens up some doors and I have some decisions to make. This is where it gets confusing, stressful and plain overwhelming for me. Besides now having the decision about a 2nd bachelor's or a master's degree, I'm adding in a 3rd dimension of confusion. I don't believe in following the American Diabetes Association guidelines for treating diabetes. Unfortunately, during my CDE shadowing over the summer I was informed that the hospitals and all treatments are following them. I don't want to have to learn and follow what I don't believe in. As a practitioner though, if you don't follow ADA, insurance doesn't pay for your services and I would most likely struggle finding doctor's to support what I believe in and follow (even though I'm living proof). That sends us into the 3rd dimension as I stated above...be prepared for a shocker!
I've been considering scrapping traditional education all together.
I've been toying with the idea of patching my education together, mixing and matching non-traditional programs like the Nutritional Therapy Association and the CHEK Institute, that better match my idea of promoting healthy living.
Scrapping traditional education does a number of things:
- It would take significantly less time
- It reduces the amount of potential debt I'd ensue
- It would better match my beliefs about health and nutrition
- I would end up working for myself
- I wouldn't become a CDE, rather I'd be focusing on supporting the body naturally (nutrition, lifestyle, exercise, etc.) I would be focusing on the person, not the disease. I'd help more people live healthier lives than if I stayed focused on diabetes.
- I'd have less stress ultimately and stress and diabetes is a horrible mess!
"I'm definitely in the middle of the big scribble. One day I'll find my way. I try to remind myself that just because I have a plan doesn't mean that it will pan out how I envision it in my mind and that it's OK to change my plans, decisions, direction, etc.
Sometimes I get caught up in the "what will everyone think if I change my mind again" but ultimately it doesn't matter does it? I used to think that people would judge me because I've changed my mind numerous times (especially about a career), they'd see me as wishy-washy, indecisive and unsure. However, I see it as me realizing that something is not for me and that's OK! I'd rather try 100 things and fail 99 times and finally on my 100th try have success, than to let fear and judgement dictate my life and stay in the safe box, only trying a few things and never really loving my life or reaching my full potential. So, here's to success, may the road leading there teach lessons, help to strengthen and grow character and may the scribble of life be exciting."
I'm trying to navigate the road to my success. One thing that I need to make sure I don't forget is to be lead by my GPS-"God Positioning System." While my journey may have begun one way, it seems my "GPS" is pulling in another direction. All I can do is enjoy the ride.
~D
