Are you or could you be a nurse and not feel like your compromising?

[Raw To Live]

I've been thinking about going back to school for nursing for the past three years. Three years ago, I knew nothing about the raw food lifestyle and how what we eat really does affect our health. I didn't realize how the foods we ate directly impacted disease and that many of our ills are self inflicted by the food choices we make. I just didn't konw.

But, here I am three years later and just getting into raw (almost two weeks of actually eating this way, yea!!) but I still want to be a nurse.

But, now I wonder if it conflicts with my own beliefs that we have a huge responsiblity with our own health! And I wonder, should I do something that is more holistic?

Is anyone here a nurse and raw and how do you deal with that? Anyone want to be a nurse or pursuing nursing?

Thanks for your input and Happy Thanksgiving!! I'm so thankful I found raw!!

[Veganforlife]

I couldn't do it. I'd be fired for voicing my opinion too much and bad-mouthing the big pharma and doc relationship scam. But if that's what you feel YOU should do, go for it. Maybe somewhere down the line you could find a homeopathic/naturopathic nursing field?

[Raene]

no way, I couldn't do it either. Though it's too bad really bc the world needs more raw foodists in healthcare.

[Raw To Live]

I couldn't do it. I'd be fired for voicing my opinion too much and bad-mouthing the big pharma and doc relationship scam. But if that's what you feel YOU should do, go for it. Maybe somewhere down the line you could find a homeopathic/naturopathic nursing field?
Some good news I found was that they do have holisitc nursing programs at respectable and accredited school's like the University of Tennessee and New York University but these are master's programs and you'd have to get your BSN first.
And there is also an American Holistic Nurses Association. :D

[Veganforlife]

Well, there you go then! Cool beans!!!:D

[jacsam]

I know that there are several nurses on board here. I feel like you could be a blessing where ever you decide to plant yourself in life. You may be able to help more people in the nursing field than any other field....listen to your heart and you'll know where you should go. GOOD LUCK!!!!

[rawxstasy]

I have one more year of nursing school left and I started raw one year ago. I have actually decided to continue in the nursing field. One reason is I've already invested 5 years and $40,000 into my education and I'm not going to throw all that away. I already work as a CNA and sometimes I have a hard time keeping my mouth shut, but I try to remember that everyone is different and some people are just not ready to believe that they can heal themselves. I believe this attitude is slowly changing though. I have had some amazing physical and emotional breakthroughs with Craniosacral therapy. I have actually decided to become a Craniosacral therapist and just practice that along with being a nurse. I love nursing and I feel that in some small way I am making an impact on people to live healthier.

Thanks,
Carol

[babycakes]

Hi Raw to Live!

I am currently in graduate school (getting my masters) to become a nurse practitioner and am super excited to enter holistic/integrative medicine. We desperately need more nurses, doctors, and health care professionals who understand, support, and practice raw. Think of what a difference you can make. Don't let traditional medicine discourage you. There are wonderful opportunities in holistic medicine once you are finished with school (always the hardest part!) Good luck! :)

[spicyfull]

Nursing also includes putting on Bandages to Stop the Bleeding. You cannot change the world to RAW. Showing by example is Always a Good way to do it. Sick people just need a Hand, whether it is to help them up or change a diaper, at least that's what I think its all about.

[Sugar Snap Pea]

Hi Raw to Live! I'm an RN in a very busy trauma center. I chose nursing because I've had an intense interest in all things medical since the age of 7 or 8. I've been raw, I'm not raw now, but I was amazed at the health benefits I realized during the time I was raw! I also had some really eye opening revelations having to do with Big Pharma, the FDA, the food industry and medicine. I have to tell you I was REALLY shocked, rocked to the core, and I have changed my mind radically on alot of issues because of this. BUT, get out of medicine, just because of this?? Guess what? All those people, doctors prescribing meds. people taking meds, people eating fast food, processed food, -- are not going to stop, even when you tell them what you know!! (some may, but very few!) I make a good living, can get a job anywhere, anytime, and best of all, I like what I do. I say go for it! :cool:

[ShantiLove]

Nursing is a calling. You are there to nurs not to educate. It is in that field like in all of society, that everyone is different and have their way of life. We might not agree but it is their way. When they are ready im shure they will find what it right for them, raw or not.
So it is a matter of respecting others way of life and appinions and just do what you are there to do; caring and nursing :D
What you do in your spare time and with the knowledge you have as a nurse, might be another matter ;)

[Bananna]

Well, that's actually the conflict of interest...one of nurses Huge job mandates are to educate...Educate for health, which includes diet. You are taught plenty on nutrition that is a complete joke and then expected to parrot it back on tests. I have sat there in nursing school and listened to prof's go on and on about Protein, and that you would have to be a chemist to get veganism right, and let's not forget Dairy. We had to make a food diary and do a whole big project on it, analysing it for this and that. Iron, iron supplements...it's all annoying crazy talk.

That being said, if you can stomach that and graduate (and speaking up in nursing school won't get you fired), there are areas of nursing where being raw could be really useful as you're a shinning example...but again, you would always have to speak in clauses to be politically correct...For example: There are Alternate sources of calcium, such as greens as some people can't have dairy Or soy such as myself.

I really don't see you being able to get away with saying outright 'eating an all raw vegan diet is ideal' ...you would be lambasted in no time.

Also, if you are in an area, say geriatrics, you will be just tortured with the pharma train it is, looking at all these people with chronic, debilitating conditions that could be so much improved with even a Lot raw....it's depressing.

I dropped out...but not for any of those reasons, in the end, I just got too stressed out about the potential to kill someone with a med error or something. You are So liable...

anyways, that's my two cents, lol.

[rawlight]

I think you should go for it. As others have said, there are so many areas you can go into once you get your certificate or diploma. Get all the traditional foundational and fundamental education you can, then you can use that to counter what the alternatives say.

I have found that even allopathic doctors can be open to nutritional advice, which was very surprising. Matter of fact, when my blood pressure went up last April, my doctor was the one who told me about turmeric, cumin and other spices that have been shown to guard against inflammation. She had just gone to a seminar...

So don't be discouraged about what you *think* might be out there. You will be surprised. Just get your degree and the opportunities will open up!

[shashibala]

I see medicine as two very separate branches. First there is the trauma branch. If a person is in a critical condition after an accident, fall, poisoning, etc. then allopathic medicine is very valuable. We know how to operate on bodies and put them back together. Also part of the first "branch" are the people who have a lifestyle related disease like type 2 diabetes and have reached a crisis point in their lives. They also need critical care and may be helped by western medicine. Though they may have created their own illness through choices or ignorance, they still need quality, nurturing care. The second branch is preventative and lifestyle medicine. This is where we have failed miserably in this country. This is due in part to our money driven system in which telling the truth about lifestyle and food is against the rules because it will lower the profits of some corporation. Now, telling the truth about food and its healing powers threatens the profits of drug companies.
I recognize the value of the medical field to treat trauma victims and its absolute failure to educate and tell the truth about how our choices create health or disease. That's where we come in. Through our examples, as raw foodists, we will show the world what food choices can do. I hope that we will, as a culture, reach a place where we all can live healthy lives and have hospitals just for true emergencies.
I think being a nurse can be a noble and lucrative profession. We all know the comfort that a kind and competent nurse can bring to a person who finds them self in a scary hospital situation. I bet you can find a niche for yourself where you can care for and nurture others and educate and inspire through nursing.

[Bananna]

http://goneraw.com/forum/any-nurses-out-there