Confused about school

NurseyBaby'05, BSN, RN · Jul 8, 2004

I am only 18 years old and heading off to a private school in the fall that is 70 miles away. I have been working as a CNA (Nurse Tech now) at a very good local hospital for a year. The problem I am faced with is that I am terrified of going away right now. I know it will be a good opportunity and all that but I would rather stay here and attend a community college for 2 years then get my Bachelors in Nursing here at the hospital's college of nursing. If I stayed here, I could continue working PRN as I go through school and would have an easier time getting an RN job in the future. I plan to become a CRNA too someday, and I am looking forward to going away for that, and of course I will be older then so it should not be a problem. I know nobody can tell me what to do, but any advice or comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

What is the program like at the school you will be attending? Is it comparable to the one closer to home? Will you begin your nursing classes right away or will you have a year or two of prerequisites first? You must have wanted to go there for some reason. It's scary to go away from home, but most people adjust and wind up enjoying it. The reason I asked about when the nursing classes start was b/c if they start later you would have time to "settle in", so to speak. Actually, seventy miles is not to far to go home if you need to. My hubby interviewed for a job that far away and was going to commute so that I can finish school where I'm at and not have to transfer. You could also work PRN there too. If you do not try it, you may regret a missed opportunity. If you get there and find that you truly want to come home and attend school you can always transfer at the end of the semester or school year. This late in the year it may be too late to get into a nursing program for the fall. Most places, even community college, have their spots filled early. If you wind up deciding to transfer, at least you will have some classes out of the way if nothing else. Good luck!:)

P.S. It is perfectly normal to be scared to move on at home or away, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it is a bad decision to do so.

purplemania, BSN, RN · Jul 8, 2004

why do you feel you MUST go to the school you do not want to attend? Sounds to me like you have an excellent plan already. Why don't you work your plan, and transfer later if you need to?

EmeraldNYL, BSN, RN · Jul 8, 2004

I would highly recommend going away to college for anyone. Why not challenge yourself and stretch your boundaries and comfort zone? I really think I would have missed out if I had lived at home during college. I attended college 2 hours away, stayed in a dorm, and it was a great experience. It was close enough that I could go home if I needed but far enough away that I could be independent and live on my own. I think going away when you are young enough to have that freedom is a great idea, because when you are older you may not be as mobile and have the freedom to travel because of family obligations, etc. Good luck with whatever you choose.

Harmony213 · Jul 8, 2004

Either decision I make, I will be working on my pre-reqs for my first 2 years. Nursing classes would not start until my junior year. The problem with getting a job there is that my schedule is very demanding first semester. They also do not allow freshman to have a car on campus unless they have an off campus job but I do not want a job first semester. I think I would have less doubts if I could have my car too because then I could just come home whenever I wanted.

Megsd, BSN, RN · Jul 8, 2004

On the one hand, going away to school is fantastic. I went from Southern California to Kansas and I feel I'm all the better for it. :) On the other hand, college can be stressful, and if you're not handling being away from home very well, your grades, health and stress level could be affected, though then again, 70 miles isn't THAT far. Could your family arrange to come visit you (or come and bring you home) every so often? That might make the distance more manageable.

Trauma Columnist · Jul 9, 2004

Where do you live in Illinois? I live near Peoria and certainly feel that if you don't want to go away to school, stay closer to home, go to the community college and then in two years, go from there...good luck!

Harmony213 · Jul 9, 2004

I live in Springfield and will be going to school in Peoria

Rhoresmith · Jul 9, 2004

If you go the first semester and hate it will the crdts transfer to your cc. IF you feel that strongly about it then stay home. I am on student gov at my school and one of the committees I am on is Student Issues on this com people who are on suspension either at this school or who want to come from another school have to come before us and tell us why they got in that situation so many come from large schools and were overwhelmed by the size of the school or homesickness that they bombed out of school. Have you talked to your parents about this ? You may PM me if you want to talk more and I will help you any way I can.

Harmony213 · Jul 9, 2004

I think I am going to stay home. I just need to talk to my parents now. But after talking to my Supervisor and Assistant Supervisor, and realized that the A.S. was in the SAME situation I was in and she did go and was miserable, I think I should just stay. She said she had been excited but once it was time to go she started dreading it, just like me. I just am scared of what my parents will say about all this and how I will look to people bc I dont want people to think I am a quitter or anything.

Harmony213 · Jul 9, 2004

Could I still get into any nursing societies like Sigma Theta Tau if I went to this nursing school at the hospital???

dria · Jul 9, 2004

RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN TO THAT UNIVERSITY

trust me that university culture is way different than the commuter culture at most junior colleges. (not that there is anything wrong w/JCs, i graduated from one myself) Of course leaving home is hard, i cried when my parents dropped me off at the University--150 miles away!!!!!I got over it and went on to have the best experience of my life. Give it one semester, if you truly hate it, then by all means come home. But youll always wonder what if if you dont!!!

GO CUBS GO!!!!!!!!!!