Encouragement? Opinions?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

:idea:** I am reposting this thread here, I think this might actually be the best category for it. Apologies to everyone who may be reading it for the second time - I wasn't sure if I could move it from Nursing Career Advice area to this category, or if a mod had to**

Hi Everyone,

I am new to the boards here. I am a 23-yr-old stay-at-home mom with the opportunity to begin college at this point in my life. I have had the desire to pursue nursing as a career for several years now, but the chance never presented itself until recently. I love to take care of people, spend time with others, and consider "mothering" to be one of my greatest strengths (I am blessed with three little ones). I am also academically intelligent, but less so in mathematics than in the area of the humanities. My "fears" in pursuing a career as a nurse are that I won't be able to pass the mathematical/chemistry-type courses (are they really impossible? I've heard such horror stories!), and that I would encounter situations that would cause my emotions to come into play (such as death or extreme suffering, which are inevitable in the medical profession). I don't feel that my emotions would incapacitate me in terms of work quality, but I am not sure I would be able to completely subdue them in every situation. Does nursing require that one (for lack of a better word) "conquer" her emotions for the sake of professionalism? Or is the human element of nursing what separates it from other careers? I'm sorry if this was a rambling post - I just wanted to get the ideas out on "paper." Thanks so much for your replies and even more so for your amazing work.

Specializes in Emergency.

IMHO, now is as good a time as any to begin college. Meet with a guidance counsellor, talk to the nursing department staff/students, and work on those nursing pre-reqs. The only way to really know if it is for you is to go for it and find out.

As far as your fears go, there are plenty of tutorials and resources available to help you with the math-type stuff. Nursing school is TONS of work, but look at how many people have completed it! The emotions are a bit trickier. I guarantee you will encounter situations where your emotions come into play (it happens everyday in different ways). How you deal with them is up to you, and you will learn along the way what does and doesn't work for you and what is and isn't healthy.

Good luck! I am sure you will be a great nurse if you put your mind to it!

thanks! good advice!

Specializes in Med/Surg.

If it helps you any, I was never a strong math or science student in high school. In college, I have successfully completed 8 credits of Chemistry (Organic, and Gen/Biochem) and 6 credits of mathematics with about a B+ average. To me, a B+ is like an A+ in these areas. I was so nervous about going into Nursing because of my fear of the sciences, but so far I have done very very well, even in Anatomy, Physio, etc...

My trick? STUDY STUDY STUDY. :uhoh3: I would lock myself in my room and make flashcards, read, do practice problems again and again. Sometimes for 5 or 6 hours per night. Trust me, it will all be worth it in the end. I know my BSN is waiting for me, so this keeps me going.

Face your fears and give it a shot!

Best of luck.

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