How did you know? (RP from student forum)

[mrs.henderson]

How did you know you wanted to be a nurse? Was it something that you just had a calling for, or did you take a class that interested you?

The reason I am asking is I am still unsure. I wanted so bad to take an Intro to Nursing class this semester that is offered at my community college to see if I liked it and really wanted to be a nurse or not, before I started school, but it is all full and there is a waitlist. It is a prereq to their nursing program and if it is full, they only let you in if it is the last class you need, then by lottery.

I am interested in nursing, but I am just not sure I can hack it. I want to be sure (as much as I can) that this is for me before wasting time and money. I am almost 28 years old and feel like time is flying by (I want to start a family after nursing school and working a year or two, so I feel time is of the essence). I have a year of pre-prereqs, then 3 years of a direct entry (1 year gen ed/prereqs, 2 years nursing) on a nightime/weekend program. It is very expensive and I have to work, so the load will be really tough.

Has anyone experienced this? Did you get in and know you were ok, or was it like "what have I gotten myself into?" Are there any videos or books I can read that might help my decision?

If it was community college prices, I wouldn't be too concerned, but the only school to offer a program at night is a private school and it is mucho expensive.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks ya'll!

[jacads]

I knew I wanted to be a nurse as this was the only way to get to a CRNA program other than that I would never have become a nurse and stayed working as a paramedic.

[goodknight]

Go to your local hospital's human resource department and see if they will let you shadow a nurse for a few hours. You'll see what it's really like and if it's something you want to invest your time into.