2010 Resolution #4 - and That's It, No More

I've said it before, but I've got to actually do it this time...I'm going to start my Master's program in Public Health.  My boss wants me to get it in Nurse Education, but that doesn't interest me, which means that I won't put my all into it.  I understand his reasoning - I am, afterall, an Associate Dean dealing primarily with medical assisting students - so Nurse Education seems like the logical choice.  The difference is that I want to do Public Health, which will serve me well if my job at the college ever comes to an end.  I'd like to work for the CDC eventually and a Master's in Nurse Ed just won't get me there.

The great thing is that if I get my Master's through the college I work for, all tuition is paid; I just have to agree to work for two years after I complete my degree.  Trust me, I've been laid off once, which was plenty, and the agreeing to work for two additional years isn't any skin off my nose.  I look at it as guaranteed employment in a job I love.  It could be worse, really.

I will start my program no later than the May module.  That gives me time to get some new instructors hired and trained and get some of my crazy teaching schedule off of my plate.  It also gives me time to make sure that my Resolution #2 is met and I've got my submission to the publisher in and the contest for Resolution #1 should have just wound up.  Estes will appreciate me having lost some weight, I'm sure :)  Starting my program the same month as Estes comes home could make my Resolution #3 a bit more difficult, but still doable if I can get some of my work duties shuffled off to the appropriate people.