Seeking Attention....

bonitamiaRN · Feb 15, 2008

I am going to be 40 this year. I struggle also with whether I will be any good at this if/when I get thru the nursing program. I am waiting for placement (since Oct 2007).

I am currently taking Bio160 as a refresher for the BIO201/202 that I took years ago (and I barely squeaked by). Some of it I don't completely get, but I am a learner by repetition and by doing. So, some of it will "click" for me later I am sure. I think that as long as you keep chipping at it and applying yourself that you will soon get through it - I have no disillusions that it will be easy. I also was talking to another girl in my BIO160 class who has a few friends in nursing school. She told me that one of her nursing school friends is in her last semester of nursing school and was not very helpful at all in the stuff that we've covered thus far (cell anatomy and other basic anatomy). My understanding is that your trip thru nursing school is easier if you have a firm grasp of how the different systems function or malfunction. I know that my biggest weakness is not having an organized study system/plan in place. I could give all kinds of excuses why I don't study more, but they would be just that, excuses. Knowing my weaknesses, I have to try hard to overcome them.

West Valley · Feb 15, 2008

I am going to be 40 this year. I struggle also with whether I will be any good at this if/when I get thru the nursing program. I am waiting for placement (since Oct 2007).
I am currently taking Bio160 as a refresher for the BIO201/202 that I took years ago (and I barely squeaked by). Some of it I don't completely get, but I am a learner by repetition and by doing. So, some of it will "click" for me later I am sure. I think that as long as you keep chipping at it and applying yourself that you will soon get through it - I have no disillusions that it will be easy. I also was talking to another girl in my BIO160 class who has a few friends in nursing school. She told me that one of her nursing school friends is in her last semester of nursing school and was not very helpful at all in the stuff that we've covered thus far (cell anatomy and other basic anatomy). My understanding is that your trip thru nursing school is easier if you have a firm grasp of how the different systems function or malfunction. I know that my biggest weakness is not having an organized study system/plan in place. I could give all kinds of excuses why I don't study more, but they would be just that, excuses. Knowing my weaknesses, I have to try hard to overcome them.

I am the same kind of learner. I do it better when I can just dive in and with repetition. The cell stuff made no sense to me at all but I have always been interested in the human body. I have no delusions about nursing school I know it will be a challenge but I figure if I am having tons of trouble now how can I possibly get through nursing school. I plan on going the LPN route first. Hopefully you get called soon for classes. If I do my pre-reqs and wait I am inclined to do something else. I figure with the LPN program I can get my feet wet you know? Thanks for the feedback

sassiebaz · Feb 15, 2008

West Valley- I would definately go the LPN route if I were you(even if I were me, I may) It would get your foot in the door and open your eyes to the industry. I have 2 girlfriends who went the LPN route and that is where they chose to stop. They both said they didn't want the responsibility or workload that their RN's have. Of course, this was their opinion...My one friend said one RN she works with only made $15K more a year than she did. To some that's not that much. At the same time, her job is more limited in what she can do....to some that is more desireable, to many other's we have heard from on this board, it's important to have a wider scope of pratice. I still don't know what Im going to do. Like we've discussed before, I will know when my little one gets a bit older.....I hope you can come to some resolution....I so know how you feel!!!

bonitamiaRN · Feb 15, 2008

I think that we are very much alike, I also have a huge fascination for how the body works....hence the reason why I decided to go the nursing route as a 2nd career.

I think that we know our limitations. However, I think that (if you are like me anyway) you have to overcome the self-doubt and believe in yourself. I think that you are more than capable of doing it. When it comes to learning, some things just come easier and some you have to focus harder on to understand. I was reading another post in the student forum where the poster was stating that he/she had to relate some of the nursing subjects to something else that they were highly interested in (like cars). They knew cars like the back of their hands and they associated parts of the body to what the body's equivalent to a car is. Maybe you have to look at it in different ways to understand. Figure out what type of learner you are and see how you can bend your study habits that way. I look for videos online when I am stumped because I am a visual learner.

West Valley · Feb 15, 2008

Thanks sassiebaz and bonitamia. I really appreciate the encouragement.

I thought the car comment was interesting. I will have to try that....not with a car though :-D

Glina · Feb 15, 2008

What do you mean by "wasn't clicking"? BIO201 is pretty much straight forward, you just have to study. Did you mean that you studied 10 hours per week and did not make a passing grade?

I am not in nursing school yet, I am taking pre-reqs for now. But, I do not think that I am made for nursing. Honestly, I do not think I am made for anything, except maybe drinking margarita on a beach in some God forgotten place all day long LOL. It's not about being made for something, it's about hard work and determination, and not only for nursing school but for about anything good in life. If you just sit and wait, try to find something you are made for, you will never accomplish anything.

West Valley · Feb 15, 2008

What do you mean by "wasn't clicking"? BIO201 is pretty much straight forward, you just have to study. Did you mean that you studied 10 hours per week and did not make a passing grade?
I am not in nursing school yet, I am taking pre-reqs for now. But, I do not think that I am made for nursing. Honestly, I do not think I am made for anything, except maybe drinking margarita on a beach in some God forgotten place all day long LOL. It's not about being made for something, it's about hard work and determination, and not only for nursing school but for about anything good in life. If you just sit and wait, try to find something you are made for, you will never accomplish anything.

I am by no means implying that I expect anything to just come to me or fall in my lap. Yes I studied hard for the class. Could have been that I was taking 17 credits, working fulltime and had a newborn at home. Some people just immediately run toward the self doubt corner instead of determination and I am one of those people (for now). Just looking for others who once felt like they just couldn't do it but over came that.

MassagetoRN · Feb 16, 2008

Well, I honest feel that nursing and beyond is my God given calling, however I am in the latter half of my pre-reqs and there are many days that it doesn't click or I doubt myself. This crap is hard, especially the sciences, and I teach A&P! You just have to believe in yourself and push through.

missrisa77 · Feb 16, 2008

Yes, it is hard and very time consuming. When I began thinking about turning from teacher to nurse, I grappled long and hard about "what if it's not for me? Do I really want to upend my life for this?". I then realized that I only have one life to live, so why not? I love nursing and I find it to be a perfect fit for me. You have to be organized and be able to put the time in, but it is worth it. One thing I noticed....I tend to learn well by memorizing (like some of you were saying). I'm finishing up Block 1, and how the knowledge is being applied is not memorize and regurgitate, but critical thinking. Yes, you still need to know your stuff, but you are expected to critically think your way through situations and do what is best for the patient. If you work hard and study right, you will do well. Good luck! :specs:

West Valley · Feb 16, 2008

Well, I honest feel that nursing and beyond is my God given calling, however I am in the latter half of my pre-reqs and there are many days that it doesn't click or I doubt myself. This crap is hard, especially the sciences, and I teach A&P! You just have to believe in yourself and push through.

Thanks

West Valley · Feb 16, 2008

Yes, it is hard and very time consuming. When I began thinking about turning from teacher to nurse, I grappled long and hard about "what if it's not for me? Do I really want to upend my life for this?". I then realized that I only have one life to live, so why not? I love nursing and I find it to be a perfect fit for me. You have to be organized and be able to put the time in, but it is worth it. One thing I noticed....I tend to learn well by memorizing (like some of you were saying). I'm finishing up Block 1, and how the knowledge is being applied is not memorize and regurgitate, but critical thinking. Yes, you still need to know your stuff, but you are expected to critically think your way through situations and do what is best for the patient. If you work hard and study right, you will do well. Good luck!

Thanks. I guess I just started not feeling very smart. BTW congrats on completing block 1 :yeah: