Do you find that you get more support from other nurses than your own friends/family?

[Hellostudentnurssee]

I just graduated and the LPN program and am so thrilled and happy. I don't think anyone understands the severity of nursing school unless they're also a nurse. I noticed that the majority of people who have been happy for me (with their congratulatory comments) have been nurses, half are some whom I don't know, never met (people on here who have been great), and just nurses. I was at the bank the other day and was having small talk with a stranger - she happened to be a nurse and when I shared that I had just finished the program, she was very happy and so sweet. There are family members and friends who've known I've been in hibernation for 2 years and when they found out, they didn't say anything about it. For the record, I'm definitely NOT expecting to be the center of attention with this. I'm a private person... I rarely go social networks (i just had to post up some pics of the pinning for family members to see). I'm not expecting the whole world to drop to their knees about this (or maybe they think it's "just" an lpn program, so "no big deal") but I have to be honest: it's a bit disappointing that there's not even a simple "congrats", especially knowing what I've been through. I don't want gifts or praise but a simple acknowledgement that hell is over...for now :)

I had an instructor who said, "the people who will understand you most in your career are your fellow classmates. You will always have this bond for the rest of your career, past graduation. People who aren't nurses will never understand." I think this is true.... do you find this to be true also?

Thank you :) I'm learning that it's the nurses that really understand how "big" this is for me. In my culture, LPNs are somewhat looked down upon because it's not an "RN" and most people in my culture have graduated from an RN or BSN. It's been nice though seeing old classmates from pre-reqs and friends from other nursing programs be so nice. I know this isn't over and like many of you - would LOVE to take the lpn-rn-bsn path (please God).

[Hellostudentnurssee]

Always happy to give feedback!!! Lol, anyone can tell you Boston likes to run his mouth (too much).

You have just accomplished something amazing, your are a "Nurse." Not "Just" a Nurse. You went to "Nursing School" and you are going to have a firmer foundation then me (PN + RN). First off, even if you NEVER go back, you will always be a nurse. When they lay you in the ground, you will be "dead nurse," you are a nurse- just as I am.

Now, if you do want to further your education, I hope you do it for you. I hope you have a goal in mind to make it worth it. Mine was Foreign Missions, so it made spending all that money and time worth it, and I never lost my focus. If you know what the end product is, it really helps justify the means.

If its for the money, know that I have "Contract" nursed, and sat by an LPN/LVN in Fort Worth, Texas making 3 dollars more than me an hour. (She was a better negotiater plus 28 years of experience.) I make more now (doing what I could do with a ASN) travel nursing and Per Diem Nursing, than I do with the $58,000 I spent on an education. So the money isn't (always) a reason to advance in nursing. Yes, there are many exemptions such as anesthesia, research, and some other areas such as administration/management, but after 2 years as Emergency Department Coordinator, I never want to be in Management again, thats totally not why I entered Nursing.

When I look at Tax returns, I made the most money during my 2nd and 3rd year of nursing, and now i'm in my 9th year (just too lazy to change it in the profile,) and make less. I have learned busting your butt for an extra 10-15K a year isn't worth my happiness and peace of mind.

Traveling, Contract, and Per Diem allows me to take off work 5 months a year where I do something non-nursing that also provides an income. My wife and I remodeled an "Old Tyme Country Store" and opened it last year in the Smokey Mountains, and really like to get up their as much as possible (we don't live there, family helps manage it.)

This was my first real investment. It makes me a better nurse to get away, and run the store sometimes to give workers a vacation.

I worked with an LPN in her 3rd year of Nursing yesterday, that had made $79K though traveling agencies. She worked 8/12 mos/year!

So follow your heart. If you do it, do it because it's part of your dream to teach, be a HCP, a Nurse Anesthetist, or an Administrator/Manager. But as for now, you have every right to be proud of your accomplishment of becoming a "Nurse!"

Right now, I would just focus on finding what "Niche" of nursing you like. You might even be surprised. My best friend in school hated OB, and Neuro- she is now a Certified Nurse Midwife at a large Houston, TX hospital! I was afraid of the ED, and I got "pulled" there one night, and that was that- I went in pursuit of my Masters/ACNP to be able to practice there (though most of the time I work as a Travel ER RN (It pays alot more)!!!!!

My point is, take just a while to recover from school. I think it takes a year to fully recover from Nursing School (let the nightmares end), and then with a clear head, you can map out your future. I would use this time to dream, and think about all you want out of life! Be good to yourself. Remember, when these early rigors of work get you down, remember what you did accomplish! Take care of yourself, so you can take care of others! Some wait years to go back! Patch Adams was in his 30s or 40s when he went to Med School! Good Luck Nurse!

Love and appreciate the advice, as usual :) THANK YOU. When I first started with my pre-reqs waaaay back, I thought I wanted to be in pediatrics. I worked at the campus daycare as a "teacher" and was able to take care, interact and observe infants - 5 year old kids. Great experience however someone said if you're very sensitive and fond of kids, peds will not work. I took their advice. I got to volunteer in a cath lab and found that to be a bit boring (back then) but the EKG machines were always interesting to me during Human A & P. When I got my CNA, I loved working with geriatrics and got along with them well. They always gave me the grumpy ones and they ended up liking me. I just didn't like the nursing homes around here because it's very easy to get "lazy" and not practice good habits. Can't speak for all nursing homes but that's how I've felt and have not liked it. I went to a "well known" nursing home/assisted living however I felt it wasn't "sincere" but more of a business to rip of old people and their families. It's sad. I learned about mental health and Alzheimer's through their trained programs I attended. Later on as a CNA, I worked with residents with developmental disabilities. It's very rewarding however VERY training and stressful. I only worked part time but took such a toll on me. I'm still trying to figure out what I really like.

I think you're right about being tired. It's been a little over 2 weeks and I've been so tired and burnt out. I was lucky to be given an opportunity to join an EKG class - for interpretation (which there are only 2 in the state; one which includes curriculum in the med school at the state hospital). I've been emailing the instructors to get in forever... about 2 years now. When I got in to EKG, I got into the PN program so had to cancel. Like I said, I've always had a fascination about it and it's very interesting. So far so good but I do notice, my mind is not as "sharp"... so maybe I' am burning out. After the first class, i found the class to be very technical in comparison to nursing... it's good stuff but just different from nursing school. I don't know why but something in me kept pushing me to take this class NOW. It seems like a good time (since school is over) but there are it's cons, such as taking this while studying for the NCLEX. I don't know why - I can't explain it but there's something in me that is pushing me to take it and it can't wait. I'm not sure how this will help me in my nursing career (or if it will) but I hope it works somewhere down along the road. Any thoughts on this? I still don't get why I'm taking this class but I feel like it's a good time to....

[Hellostudentnurssee]

OMG I could have wrote this post my self! I totally understand what you mean. My own mother got jealous and told me that I could not do it. Both my sisters do not talk to me. NO ONE in my family has a college degree.

The only advice that I would give you is to surround yourself with positive people and the ones who bring joy. Most people do not like to see others "succeed". Its sad but very true. You accomplished what some can only dream about. Congratulations on becoming a NURSE! Such a wonderful title and a great feeling.

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Yes, I agree. There's more people in this world who want to see you fail than succeed. There's very FEW that genuinely want to see you happy. Sad but true. There's people who also disguise themselves are genuine but it's great when you can spot them. That way, you can spoil good news for those who deserve and will celebrate with you :) Even in nursing school, after taking those Kaplan tests (every quarter), people literally stayed after and would jump on you just to hear your score. Very competitive... like animals. My colleague was not happy about his score but I told him it those times he had to fake it and SMILE. That's all he had to do. He did just that and it was astonishing how his smile disappointed so many. I'm pretty sure they were wanting him to say a low score so they could feel better about themselves.