Sudden change of heart...

opalmRN · Nov 11, 2002

Kerrbear,

You follow your dream no matter what cause this is no dress rehersal it's the only performance you are going to get.

I say this because I am over 40 and going back to school. WHY,

because it took me this long to decide what I wanted to do when I grew up. Actually I'v been going to school on and off for about 5 years and I still have about 2 to go. I have studied two other healthcare modalities because I thought they would be easier than nursing but still be able to work in a health care setting.

The bottom line is there is no easy job in healthcare. They all require hard work, dedication, a love for what you do and the knowledge to know you can make a difference.

As for the house, I have been married to my wonderful husband for 25years. He has seen the best of my housekeeping talents and he has seen the worst. He has lived there during both so I guess he doesn't care either way.

My kids have all survived with me in school and it has given them a deeper appreciation for personal convictions.

I say, if your heart is in it and and STAYS in it, your head will follow. Yes it won't be easy, but then neither is getting up every morning.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

C

Kerrbear · Nov 11, 2002

You're such a sweetheart, opalm! Thanks fo being so encouraging!

CountrifiedRN · Nov 11, 2002

Kerrbear, I say go for it! There is nothing wrong with becoming an LPN and staying there if that is what you are happy with, but if you want to go for a higher degree, then you should, even if it takes a bit longer. You are young and you have plenty of time to decide if that is what you really want to do. That's one of the great things about nursing, you can do so many things with your education.

Have you looked into what additional classes you would have to take for the ADN program? Where I am I don't think there is much difference in the pre-reqs, maybe a few elective classes, and the ADN is just two semesters longer than the LPN. There is a bridge program for LPN to RN also, the LPN's just come in for the second year of the program.

Do you have an advisor at school? You should talk to someone with a good knowledge of the different programs and see what your options are.

As for the house cleaning part.....or lack of at this point.....I guess I can't really give advice on that since I am sitting at my computer desk surrounded by papers, books, folders, a variety of stationary items, and empty diet coke cans. :chuckle Before I started this program I was really pretty anal about housekeeping, but I have learned that I have to set new priorities to balance family and school (and allnurses.com!), and housekeeping comes pretty low on the priority list at the moment. What needs to be cleaned gets cleaned, but I am in a chronic state of clutter. When I graduate, I am going to try to get back to my old routine, but for now, I just try to keep from losing my 2 year old in the stacks of nursing related paperwork.

Good luck in your classes, and remember that where there is a will there is a way!

MRed94 · Nov 11, 2002

Hint about housekeeping.....

Put a shovel by the doors, and push when you need to get to a room.......... :)

I, too, was anal about housework, but NOT ANYMORE. Like rn2bNC, I will get back to it when I get done and have one less job.......work, school, kids, house.....last on the list, is house.

Gardening is housework you do outside....best excuse in the world for living in massive clutter.

:)

M

MidwifeWannaB · Nov 11, 2002

KerrBear,

I'm not married, but I'm 20, also, and have a boyfriend that I plan on marrying after all this school madness is done with. He's 27 and wants to be an anesthesiologist (more paying for school. yay.) so I will probably be supporting HIM during med school. I start my ADN program in the spring, and since I changed my major from Mass Comm, I feel so much better about myself. I was selling myself short because I was afraid of not succeeding, but since I've sucked it up and plunged ahead, I have SO much more confidence in myself and the future of my family!

Good luck to you. You'll do great!

aimee :nurse:

Motivated, SN · Nov 12, 2002

If you want more, then definitely go for it. You have three big plusses:

1) You are young

2) You have a supportive man

3) You have no children

This is the IDEAL situation to go through ADN. Does anyone else

agree? I'm sooo jealous.

CJStudent · Nov 13, 2002

I wish you the best of luck. You are young so this is the time for you to do it.

I am 27 and Burnt Out! I am recently married, do not have any children, and work part time from home in addtition to full time school. You just have to organize your time and think through your priorities in order to manage it all. Most importantly, when things get tough and you feel stress coming on, take some time out for yourself! Do something fun even if you need to be doing something else!

Also, find yourself a good support network (such as this website, friends, family, fellow nursing students) so you can vent your frustrations. They will also become your lifeline in order to pull you through the rough times.

kimtab · Nov 13, 2002

Yes absolutely! Do it now while you are young (and have stamina) and before you have kids. Things will only get more difficult from a logistics standpoint as you age and take on more family responsibility and etc. What would have stopped me from doing this when I was your age would have been indecision and lack of ambition but that doesn't sound like a problem you have. Go for it!

Kim