i wanted post this thread expressing my current situation with everyone in hopes to get some advice or guidance from anyone who may have experienced being in a similar situation or who are currently in one that is like mine. also i extend the welcoming of any advice to those who are now nurses and already out in the field.

first and foremost, to all of you practicing this wonderful profession, you all are heroes in health care and someday, i hope become one in the field too!

for the longest time now, i have always envisioned myself being a nurse. it was something that i have always wanted to do but never had the time to pursue. i had my daughter early in life and so, i had to pursue her as my main priority to this day. so fresh out of high-school, i was blessed with a job at a major bank. i managed to move my way up the ladder and obtain prestige positions, but was never satisfied. i didn't care about the benefit packages, the free lunches, or the stock options. although i was well established, i still didn't find my career fulfilling. i have always seen nurses as heroic figures - the next best thing to superman. especially when my father suffered from a stroke 3 years ago, i was astonished as to the level of compassion and care nurses provided to ensure my father was okay. i admire them for what they do and what they had taught me simply by just observing. i had decided to purse nursing as a second career simply because i was inspired by what they do. i know many others are inspired as well and i'm sure what i know about nursing is nothing compared to the knowledge of someone who is already in the profession. all i can say is just the idea of making someones life a little easier in such a way that improves their well being is what makes my life worth living (i know that is such a hallmark thing to say...but its true). although i am not a nursing student yet, i managed to take great enjoyment in learning about what the psw's rpn's and rn's do at my dad's nursing home - i can't thank them enough - sometimes i wish i can put on a scrub and do what ever it is they do.

they do let me give my father a bath, change him and put him to bed when i am there. :) anything i can do to help.

my goal is to become a registered nurse and perhaps take on a leadership role one day . i believe in working up the ladder and so it does not matter where i start. starting from the bottom is not new for me and i see it as a great strategy to build a solid foundation.

in january, i applied to ryerson university, george brown college, and centennial college as a mature student for the collaborative nursing degree program offered in fall 2011. i went to ryerson and followed all the instructions the academic and recruitment office had told me to do and made sure that i had submitted all documentation and successfully completed all prerequisites before specified dead-lines.

to apply alone was a great achievement within itself and may i say i took great pride and was excited in submitting that final package. i applied as a mature student with an overall average of 86% in all subject prerequisites (completed this year). in addition, i had provided them with a supplementary form consisting of my resume, an essay explaining my goals and ambitions in the program, volunteer experience, as well as letter of recommendations from where i was employed (i know this probably does not help with nursing), a referral from one my teachers from the toronto district school board and lastly a letter of recommendation from a organization i worked with to help children learn the game of soccer.

all in all, i felt that i would be a strong candidate for the program - but really they will be the judge of that. i check daily online to see if i was given any offers and unfortunately on my end, i have only managed to be offered wait-lists to all 3 sites.

i would be lying if i didn't admit that this took a real hit on my confidence. i still check every few days if any offers come up but from what i was told at this stage, the only way i will be offered something is if a seat opens up and the offer would be by phone from an admissions officer. just to ensure the programs i applied for are well-aware of my great interest, i managed to contact the head of admissions for each college to advise them of my interest in the program despite me being on the wait-list. i also asked if there is anything else that i can do to improve my current position (perhaps an interview?) - truthfully the main message i got back from them was that i would have wait and keep my fingers crossed.

i really don't know what else i can do at this stage. truthfully, i feel a tad bit discouraged on my end. the start of a new academic year is just a few weeks away and currently, a door of academic opportunity has yet to open.

i now realize that i should have applied to other programs such as york u, uoit, and humber.

i really don't know what my train of thought should be at this point. i feel like i have reached a dead end and now am looking for some sense of direction. i just wanted to leave this with all you and ask for your feedback as to what you believe would be the next steps i should take from here.

any suggestions and advice is greatly appreciated.

thank you all for your help and support!

sincerely,

future_hero

Hi Future Hero!

I'm not a student yet either, I'm starting at Georgian College in the RPN program in September. Leading up to that I've applied several times due to a few complications. Have you considered looking into January enrollments?? I know some colleges have them. It sounds like you've worked way too hard to be satisfied with being wait listed. I know that wait list calls can come up to the first two weeks of class. Hopefully that won't set you back if that's the case. If you do end up reapplying, apply to as many as you can. Sorry I'm not a heck of a lot of help, but keep us posted just the same. Fingers are crossed for you. There's nothing like wanting something so bad and knowing that it's where you should be instead of being where you are.

Best of Luck.

LadyJ.

Hi Future Hero!

I'm not a student yet either, I'm starting at Georgian College in the RPN program in September. Leading up to that I've applied several times due to a few complications. Have you considered looking into January enrollments?? I know some colleges have them. It sounds like you've worked way too hard to be satisfied with being wait listed. I know that wait list calls can come up to the first two weeks of class. Hopefully that won't set you back if that's the case. If you do end up reapplying, apply to as many as you can. Sorry I'm not a heck of a lot of help, but keep us posted just the same. Fingers are crossed for you. There's nothing like wanting something so bad and knowing that it's where you should be instead of being where you are.

Best of Luck.

LadyJ.

Hi Ladyj83,

Thank you for your prompt response and i wish you the best of luck at Georgian College. From what i hear the program has a great reputation. I can honestly say my heart stopped for a quick second when i saw the wait list offer thinking that it was an actual offer x 3. Hopefully i get a call from any one of them in the near future. Indeed i may be looking to re-applying next year, but then another issue would be raised and that would be what will i be doing in the mean time?

if there was a like button for this statement i would have selected it!

there's nothing like wanting something so bad and knowing that it's where you should be instead of being where you are. - ladyj83

OK, I've been working for over a decade and I can honestly tell you that 99% of the time I do NOT feel like a hero. Perhaps the families have finally worn me down.

The truth is you remember the family that chewed you out for the late med, or their family member not getting to see the doctor at the exact time they decided the surgeon should be there to greet them. The really sweet, great patients fade from memory but the asschewing stays with you for a long time.

OK, the waitlist thing. I was waitlisted but the College called me and asked me if I could start on short notice and hey, presto, it happened. There are always the odd seat that becomes vacant at short notice.

The sad fact today is, that today there a many really qualified students for each seat and not enough funding or instructors to provide the education. Being a mature student used to be a plus, but now it's nothing really, because nursing students are generally in their 20s. It's incredibly rare to get one fresh out of high school in either the RN or PN programmes.

I've met students who have been waitlisted at two universities and the local college for both programmes. Until you get a guaranteed acceptance letter for January next year, nothing is certain.

The only thing you can do is make sure you pick up the electives the programme requires be it English, Sociology, Pscyhology. It will reduce your work load just that little bit to give you some breathing room.

OK, I've been working for over a decade and I can honestly tell you that 99% of the time I do NOT feel like a hero. Perhaps the families have finally worn me down.

The truth is you remember the family that chewed you out for the late med, or their family member not getting to see the doctor at the exact time they decided the surgeon should be there to greet them. The really sweet, great patients fade from memory but the asschewing stays with you for a long time.

OK, the waitlist thing. I was waitlisted but the College called me and asked me if I could start on short notice and hey, presto, it happened. There are always the odd seat that becomes vacant at short notice.

The sad fact today is, that today there a many really qualified students for each seat and not enough funding or instructors to provide the education. Being a mature student used to be a plus, but now it's nothing really, because nursing students are generally in their 20s. It's incredibly rare to get one fresh out of high school in either the RN or PN programmes.

I've met students who have been waitlisted at two universities and the local college for both programmes. Until you get a guaranteed acceptance letter for January next year, nothing is certain.

The only thing you can do is make sure you pick up the electives the programme requires be it English, Sociology, Pscyhology. It will reduce your work load just that little bit to give you some breathing room.

Hey Fiona59, Thank you for your feed back It is always good to get the insight from someone that's made it!

Can I ask what area of nursing you practice in? I know that i can not say the famous words "i know exactly how you feel" about the asschewing - i have yet to go through the schooling/training, let alone comprehend your experience dealing with difficult families.

Know that you've got a fan here that appreciates what you do and i am pretty sure you ended up where you are today because you are one of the very few who can handle the line of work you do. - They say many are called but few are chosen.

If anything, you can always switch to teaching the rookies right? As you mentioned there is also a shortage of instructors. We need you there too. Perhaps this can be a career option for you?

About the electives, are you suggesting to take them even if i do not get an offer for Fall 2011? Is it the Chang School that offers these electives? Please advise.

I believe i read one of your posts stating to get electives out of the way. Great strategy!

Thank you again!!!!

Hey Fiona59, Thank you for your feed back It is always good to get the insight from someone that's made it!

Can I ask what area of nursing you practice in? I know that i can not say the famous words "i know exactly how you feel" about the asschewing - i have yet to go through the schooling/training, let alone comprehend your experience dealing with difficult families.

Know that you've got a fan here that appreciates what you do and i am pretty sure you ended up where you are today because you are one of the very few who can handle the line of work you do. - They say many are called but few are chosen.

If anything, you can always switch to teaching the rookies right? As you mentioned there is also a shortage of instructors. We need you there too. Perhaps this can be a career option for you?

About the electives, are you suggesting to take them even if i do not get an offer for Fall 2011? Is it the Chang School that offers these electives? Please advise.

I believe i read one of your posts stating to get electives out of the way. Great strategy!

Thank you again!!!!

If you're dead set on Ryerson/GBC/Cetennial... yes, take it with the Chang School. Take Introduction to Psychology I for sure and maybe a lower liberal. http://www.ryerson.ca/calendar/2011-2012/pg1337.html

If nothing has changed in the past few years @ Ryerson... then it's usually 3 Lower Liberals, 3 Upper Liberals and 3 Professionally Related Electives. The first type of elective is usually done 1st and 2nd year. The second and third type of elective are usually done 3rd and 4th year. You have to take Introduction to Psychology I (you don't have to do Psy II, unless you want it to count toward one of the PRs), Adult Psy and Child Psy during 1st and 2nd year. I know a lot of people who minored in psy because the content was pretty repetitive stuff (both from other psy courses and nursing courses)... there were some variability in content but not a lot.

If you want to take a look at the Centennial College Practical Nursing Program, according to the ontariocollege.ca application form, it's still open for application both fulltime and flexible. It will take an extra year if you go RPN-RN (2 years diploma, 1 year bridging, 2 years @ Ryerson) route but then if you don't get accepted to a RN program, might as well use that extra year and try for a RPN as well.

But call Centennial College to make sure it's still accepting students before you apply though. Hope you make it!

Thats actually not a bad option. If you're going to be waiting a year you might as well apply it to your learning. Also, ive heard that theres early clinical work with the rpn program although i cant say for sure because im not there yet. Either way whether you do he electives for rn or start with the rpn program it would be productive.