About to start nursing journey!!!

SmilingBluEyes · Jul 14, 2002

First off, welcome to the board, Chris. Glad to have you here!

I came into nursing "later" in life too....after 10 years in the military as a computer analyst and supply manager...totally different field! I went to school on a GI BILL and was lucky; it paid for it all. My son was 3 -5 at the time, very hard age...but w/determination and strong desire, I made it! I do NOT regret it at all. But I was clear on WHY I wanted to be an RN from the start! I did not come into it for the MONEY, "STATUS", the potential to marry a doctor, or any other reason than to "do more"...to me, it was living in a way that MATTERED and made a difference in others' lives. Anyhow, I graduated in 1997 and have been an OB/GYN/Newborn Rn ever since. I got lucky; I found my niche early on and am very happy in it.

Do I get frustrated? YEP. Do I get TIRED? Yep. IS the money good? Not really, when you compare it to many other career fields w/similar risks, knowledge bases and people skills (is there any such thing?). Anyhow, am I sorry? No!. I love it....It is hard work, can be heartbreaking and frustrating, but I am never bored. And the hugs and thanks I get from the families trusting me to their care is worth a lot!

I wish you well in your pursuits! Nursing is truly what you make of it. the more you put in in time, energy, commitment and heart, the more you get out of it! Good luck!

NurseAngie · Jul 14, 2002

hi and welcome to nursing! you aren't making a mistake if becoming a nurse is what you want to do! you will bring a lot to the profession and are much needed. the only advice i will give is to develop a very thick skin if you do not already have one. sometimes you will have to just let things roll off your back. i'm sure you've had to do that in other things already and nursing is no different. you get in there and give it a shot! (pun intended ) again, welcome and i hope to see you on the boards! :)

~angie

Mkue · Jul 14, 2002

WELCOME,

I too am a 2nd career nursing student. Although I had been in the medical field for quite a few years, not as a nurse.

If it's really what you want to do like myself, motivation I think is the key.

There are a lot of hoops and hurdles to jump through but keep your eye on your "goal" and enjoy the journey.

Good Luck !

Oh and yes it does help to have a thick skin and strong backbone.. !

Marie :smokin:

REDWOMANRN · Jul 15, 2002

WELCOME!!!

YOU SOUND AS IF YOU ARE QUITE ENTHUSIASTIC!!!!

KEEP IT-YOU WILL NEED IT!!!

I APPLAUD YOU, I WAS IN BANKING FOR 10 YEARS AND I WAS NEVER SATISFIED!!!!

I AM AND WAS A WIFE AND MOTHER OF 2!!! I HAD TO TAKE IT SLOW AND GET ALL OF THE EXTRA STUFF OUT OF THE WAY!!!

IT TAKES COMMITMENTAND ALOT OF IT!!!

FEEL FRE TO E-MAIL ME IF YOU EVER NEED A BOOST!!!!

sharann, BSN, RN · Jul 15, 2002

DON'T DO IT!!

STOP.

DO NOT PASS GO :chuckle :chuckle

Just joshing with you Chris.

Sure nursing can be hard, but heck, so is life. I am thrilled to see another who knows where they "belong". You sound like a nurse to me already!

Hang around here, and talk to the students in the SN forum fo advice as well.

DebsZoo · Jul 15, 2002

Welcome, Chris :)

Not one to try and talk anyone out of anything here (lol, except, of course kids that want to eat mothballs or something similar:))

I too, am starting a new career. I've been in childcare, then a full-time mom, part-time mail carrier, and now, in Sept. a full-time student.

The advisor I spoke to said "Older students are generally more focused and tend to do better than younger students". I SO hope this is true..................I, for one, worry that my age might be a stumbling block.

But, being of partial German heritage...............sure not gonna let that stop me :)

Best of luck in your classes!!

hobbes · Jul 15, 2002

DebsZoo,

I totally agree with your advisor. I guess I would be considered an older student (34) and compared to my first go 'round I definitely feel more focused. First time through there were parties and the whole college experience and the awe of being away from home for the first time. Not so now. I'll all business. I think being 'older' students gives us a big heads up - your age will be your asset. Good luck. Be sure to keep in touch as we'll both be going through it at the same time.

live4today, RN · Jul 15, 2002

Glad to have you aboard with us! :) Go for the gold.......and spend it the way you dreamed about spending it! And.....I'm not just talking about $$$ either, but the expensive energy and emotional time that it takes to be a nurse. If you've got a heart of gold, compassion, a love for people and desire to help the sick and dying, as well as the "well patients" who simply come in for a minor surgical procedure but aren't really sick-sick, then nursing is for you. :)

You mention your wife not being too happy about you entering nursing. Iron out that problem before school starts or it will continue to crop up as you go through school. What have you already done to relieve any fears she has? Have you taken her to the school where you will be attending, and let her sit in on your sessions with the academic and healthcareer counselors? Do whatever it takes to maintain excellent communication with your spouse because if you lose the wife and family of your youth over anything other than death, you'll forever wonder "What the heck happened?" and "What could I have done to prevent it from going sour?" Take care of home and family above all else, gain their support because you will need it, and take time for them along the way to let them know what you are doing is for "the family unit". Pray together every day, give lots of hugs and kisses, warm embraces, family smiles, and laughter. If you can maintain your homelife in this way, the rest will fall into place in due time. :kiss

Oh.....and we here at Allnurses are here for you when you need us. Welcome to the Allnurses Family! Soon you'll have an incurable disease, Chris.........It's called "The Allnurses Addiction" Disease. :lol2:

$C:\My Documents\My Pictures\wackycomputernurse.gif$

studentdeb · Jul 15, 2002

I too am a 2nd career person. I am to begin my first nursing courses next month after working for the federal government for 13 years working as a secretary and a accounting assistant and now a disbursing technician. I am not going to quit just yet, I will try to work a few days a week and see what happens.

My husband doesn't know what to think, he seems to be supportive, but we do have two small children so I hope he can pick up the slack.

I have had several people tell me I'm crazy also giving up my good "government job" which of course I have not done yet. I am looking for a something more challenging, rewarding, flexible, opportunities etc. Nursing seems to offer all of these and more. Now if I can just get through nursing school and all the studying I will be doing.

As cheerfuldoer says, you too will have the "allnurses addiction", I seem to have it also.

Good luck to you, I'm sure you will do fine.

Debi

hobbes · Jul 15, 2002

cheerfuldoer,

Unfortunately I've already come down with the disease. I normally would be out by 10:30 so I could get up and workout at 6, but here I am replying to your post...My wife is starting to come around. I reminded her that I was behind her through her various career changes and endeavors and it was now time for some reciprocity. I think her big concern is that I'm going to up and quit my job tomorrow, put the house on the market, and go full bore into this nursing thing without coming up for breath until I have graduated. (She probably has good reason because I rarely go into anything half-hearted). However, I assured her that, although I won't have as much time for the family I still will be there. And I don't plan on quitting my job anytime soon - I do have to pay for school. So I think I've won her over into my corner for now... We'll see how things go in about 7-8 years when I'll want to go fulltime for a CRNA.

live4today, RN · Jul 15, 2002

originally posted by hobbes
cheerfuldoer,

unfortunately i've already come down with the disease. i normally would be out by 10:30 so i could get up and workout at 6, but here i am replying to your post...my wife is starting to come around. i reminded her that i was behind her through her various career changes and endeavors and it was now time for some reciprocity. i think her big concern is that i'm going to up and quit my job tomorrow, put the house on the market, and go full bore into this nursing thing without coming up for breath until i have graduated. (she probably has good reason because i rarely go into anything half-hearted). however, i assured her that, although i won't have as much time for the family i still will be there. and i don't plan on quitting my job anytime soon - i do have to pay for school. so i think i've won her over into my corner for now... we'll see how things go in about 7-8 years when i'll want to go fulltime for a crna.

i'll touch on what happened to me in my first marriage when i told my spouse what you told your spouse: after helping him through his college degrees and maintaining the homefront, typing book reports for him because he couldn't type, and researching reports for him, he couldn't return the favor when i went to college. he didn't get it....so divorce happened....he left for some woman he worked with....college educated no less.......but i wasn't allowed to be? :confused: sometimes......no matter how sweet and kind and helpful you are to a spouse, they just don't get it. i will hope and pray for your childrens sake, that your wife gets it. :kiss