[JNogueira95]

Hello, Im a little new to the site but want to ask for encouragement and pointers as I am in my Jr yr of Nursing school. I had intended on going to college right after high school but I lost my dad to lymphoma jr yr and couldnt deal with it at the time. Got married, had a child, got divorced...now at 34 Im back in school full time and working 2 part time jobs. This is far from easy but I know itll be worth it in the end knowing this is a career I have always wanted. Im off to study for a pharmacology midterm Tuesday and like I said, and pointers would be greatly appreciated. Jodi...future RN

[NS_RN]

My mother made me do it....15 years later, here I am.

[nursekare]

My story.
I never really wanted to be a nurse or a teacher, as they are female dominated careers. I wanted to be a trailblazer. I wanted to go into a career that no woman had ever been in. I wanted to be anything but a nurse or a teacher.

Nonetheless, I was young, hormonal, and in love. In love with a man who my parents felt wasn't good enough for me. Being confused about what was right, I spoke with my pastor. He listened intently to my plight and advised me that parents aren't always right. He asked how much education I and my boyfriend(he is now my husband) had. I told him that we both had HS diplomas. He advised that I go to school and continue my education, as it is hard to make a marriage work, especially when finances are in short supply. He told me to look into the LPN program at the local community college.

After graduating in 1979 from the LPN program, my husband and I were married. After a while, my parents grew to love him as much as I.

In 1995, I completed my degree in Nursing, and I'm now working as a staff RN at a local hospital, as I find management a bore and too demanding.

When asked for advice, I always encourage people to go into the medical profession in any capacity, as there is always work, the pay is adequate, and the work is very rewarding.
So, if a person were to choose to continue their education, they can afford the tuition and still help out with the family, with the rest of the financial responsibilities, and it will give them a warm and fuzzy feeling helping those in need.

Thanks for the thread. It's quite interesting and often humorous.

NURSEKARE

[1BlessedRN]

[quote=cheerfuldoer]
May I suggest we stop telling God how big our storms are...instead, tell the storm how BIG our God Is!


Love the quote!

[1BlessedRN]

Growing up as a child my house was full of nursing books, material that my mom collected...It took me awhile to realize I was destined to become a nurse...after thinking I wanted to become a teacher/actress/singer/writer...as a child I would play nurse on my sister and brothers by giving them pixie sticks in their mouths for pretend thermometers or sweet/sour tarts for medicine...popping my wrist like the local nurse at the clinic shaking down an old mercury thermometer....it never dawned on me until the day of graduation my mom hugged me with tears in her eyes saying I quit nursing school and chose to have you over my career as a nurse and you have made me very proud by becoming a nurse....
I love nursing!

[ttktqt]

I was born a nurse. I knew it from the time I was a little kid. Grew up in a project. 11 Bros & sisters. They were my guinea pigs. I always patched them up. Once removed a bullet from my lil bros. leg. Didn't finish HS. Dove headfirst into the 60's and 70's. Married at 18. Two kids at 20. Low paying jobs. Poor & neurotic. At 43 went to live in Oregon forests for 3 yrs. in a 15' trailer. Returned, took care of dying mother with Hospice support. Mother died. I had an epiphany. Divorced. Went to school. RN grad at 50. Agency Nurse. Transitional Care Nurse. Currently own/operate AFH. There was a nurse living inside of me my whole life. Thank karma, I let her out. Oh, I am back with my X (childhood sweetheart). Still neurotic and a hippy at heart. Oh, and a nurse too. P.S. I want to get my BSN now. Please, let me hear from some BSN's out there. What is the best way to pursue this next goal of mine?

[ttktqt]

Originally Posted by NS_RN

My mother made me do it....15 years later, here I am.

Your mom is a smart woman. You an obedient child

[ttktqt]

Originally Posted by Drifternurse

What awesome stories! I've so enjoyed them! Mine? I've wanted to be a doctor since age 9. When I was 12, we lived out in the "boonies"; I went swimming one day with my brothers at a distant lake and while walking up on the boat landing, I cut my foot on a piece of broken beer bottle---a kind older nurse was nearby at the time. She immediately took my brothers and me in her car to our house and then helped to transport me or accompanied us to the hospital. I needed many stitiches. She made a lasting impression on me...but I still wanted to be a brain or heart surgeon--just didn't make good enough grades nor had the financial resources to pursue medical school. I have enjoyed a variety of jobs during 20 years of nursing but as an LPN have not been able to do what I'd truly love to do which is surgical nursing. And alas at age 46, I just don't have the financial resources, energy, or motivation to pursue the RN.

I went back to school at age 47 and graduated from RN school at age 50. I was basically homeless and was given a grant. Lived with my kids during part of my schooling. You can do it. Go to the mirror, look yourself square in the eyes and say -- I am a powerful and worthy woman and I am capable of achieving anything I want! Grannynursetoo

[neenee]

I always wanted to be a social worker. So I took Sociology as a major in school. It wasn't what I thought. I wanted to help people, not do this sociology thing. I loved biology, got to thinking about the whole thing. Seemed like God switched everything in my mind and I felt a calling to become a nurse. So after revamping my major, vala, after 5 years of busting my butt, (I was told by several people, that I didn't have the smarts or anything that it took to be a nurse) I obtained my BSN. I've been in nursing for 29 years now. I do believe I proved a few people wrong. Don't tell me I can't do something. Also, because it was a calling, God gave me what it took to get where I am.

[Shannon RN 2be]

I have always wanted to be a nurse.

Growing up I had an amazing pediatrician and she had an amazing nurse. It seemed like the nurse could take care of anything and it was always better when she was there. I really looked up to her.

I hated high school and did not even think about going to college. I got married as soon as I graduated and had my first baby with in the year.

When I was in labor I went to the hospital the first nurse I saw looked me over real fast said your not in labor go home! So I started to get dressed then this second nurse walked into the room and saw me crying and asked me to stay and see the doctor. I explained I wasn’t in labor but she still asked me to stay to see the doctor. I laid back down and waited. I could hear the nurses in the hallway fighting over sending me home. The second nurse won the argument and the doctor soon came into the room. The doctor did a quick ultrasound and found out she was too small and wasn’t getting enough food or air. Her heart stopped at almost midnight that night, so they had to do an emergence c-section. If that nurse had made me leave my daughter would have died that night. The second nurse saved my daughters life. I will always thank god that nurse cared enough to have me stay. It made a big impression on me what a good nurse can do. It confirmed to me that I always wanted to be a nurse.

Fast forward to my last pregnancy, I had a normal delivery. My water broke and I went to the hospital and got assigned an amazing nurse. She was a wonderful coach and was with me all the way through my delivery. I couldn’t thank her enough for all her help and support.

I was a labor coach for my sister in law. She was single and having a baby and I was lucky she chose me to help her through her labor. It was such an amazing experience, I loved taking care of her and coaching her through it. I got to hand her the baby and cried. I knew there was nothing else in the world that I could do that would ever compare to being a nurse.

I am applying to a nursing program in April. I am currently taking all the prereqs to get into a program. When I graduate I hope to work in a L& D dept or nursery dept. I am excited and can’t wait! Thanks for reading my long post.
Hugs
Shannon