I am psyching myself out... someone smack some sense into me

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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So I am starting college as a brand new student. I am a little late to the game- I graduated from high school in 2003. I work full time where I make pretty good money but after having my daughter a year ago, I decided that being a good role model to her means to show her to pursue to do something rewarded and truly will make you happy. For me, nursing was it.

Here's the issue I am having: I start class on Monday 8/19. I have not written a paper in probably 12 years (my Senior classes were a breeze and did very little work). I haven't taken a math class (my worst subject) in 11 years. Science? Ha! Talking 13 years! My classes this semester are English 1A, Elementary Algebra, and Biology. I am so scared that I won't remember simple things and will fall behind in the class. I am already putting my husband and daughter through a lot by me taking on so much, I don't want to let them down and screw myself over getting into a nursing program in a couple years.

I think I need some inspiration from my fellow late 20's and beyond friends who started very late to the game that were able to pick up like they came from high school. What did you do to get that student mind set back? Did you also juggle a full time job and home/mommy duties? I don't have any friends that are doing this along with me so I don't have anyone close that can relate to what I'm feeling.

Wow I sound pretty whiny don't I? ;)

Just my 2 cents but instead of listing all of the reasons why you won't do well, I say just get in there and DO IT. Study, do the work, attend class, get tutors if you need them...but make an action plan to go for it. Go to your teacher's office hours and ask for extra help if you're not sure. I had a math teacher tell us about how she changed careers at 40, my mom went back to school after 20 years at home and got a great job. You can do this!

I am almost 27 and completed two associates degrees in 2012. Simply put...superb reading and writing skills will rocket you to academic success. Seriously, you may not realize how much your English skills support you. Term papers...get used to writing them! :up: Buy (seriously...buy it!) A Pocket Style Manual 6th edition by Diana Hacker. It's a small writing companion that will show you how to write exquisite papers and ensure that your grammar and punctuation is flawless. It shows, in depth, how to cite in several academically-accepted writings styles (MLA, APA, etc.). Take 45 minutes of your time and just read through it like a book if you want. It is an excellent english class in itself.

Discipline is the other pillar of success. The difference between successful students and unsuccessful students is discipline and confidence in your abilities. Other than that, good luck! And remember to have fun! :D

Specializes in ICU, Radiology,Infectious Disease,Forensic Nursing.

In my classes it was the younger people who were failing out. I just turned 23, and have always chosen the older ladies/other mothers as lab partners. They were the only other ones as serious as I was! I believe that the mothers/fathers are the real competition, because they have to work hard to stay there and they really want it!

Specializes in "Wound care - geriatric care.

I went to nursing school at 50. I little harder but you can do it. I would be more worried about finding a job after you finish. You must be aware that it is very difficult and almost impossible for some new nurses to get training and experience after nursing school these days. So go to it with that in mind. Being older certainly does not improve your odds. Some people have gotten jobs, so it's not impossible. Don't spend a load of money thinking it will be easy to get a job and pay it off. Don't believe the "nursing shortage" hype, not for one minute please. You have a full time job. Sorry to play the devil's advocate but somebody has to do it.

Finding a "good" tutor is beneficial. The key word is "good". I went to our college's Math lab. The guy there, who was supposed to help with Algebra, preferred to play on his smart phone instead. He was obviously a student who was being paid to run the lab, but I guess he figured out he would be paid the same irregardless of how much help he provided. I honestly passed Algebra by utilizing Mathway.com, Khans University, and YayMath.com. Khans and Yay Math were free. I think if your going to use a tutor, pay someone to work with you one on one, and set aside an hour or two weekly to meet with your tutor. Also, don't allow yourself to get behind. I fell behind in A&P when my mom passed away, managed to get caught up before mid-terms, only to fall behind again due to a glitch in the schools on- line program. I managed to pass with an "A", but it was hard. I also benefited from a curve in the grading system. Good Luck, you can do it :-)

Specializes in CRRN.

Hi I took a 3 year break after I got my BA, and then decided that I wanted to be a nurse. Its scary to go back to school, no matter how long you've been out of it. But I have realized some things as I have gotten older. When you are determined you always try your best. When I first started college fresh out of high school, i was not ready, I did ok my first semester, but 2nd semester I had relationship issues, and being young and dumb, i put those issues before school, so I dropped all my classes. I kept switching schools, because I kept following my bf, but when we broke up, I realized that I had just wasted valuable time. After that I got serious about school. Even more when I got married and had kids. It took me 7 years get my BA while I worked, but I did it. I think this had a lot to do with the fact that I was older, and had my children as a reason to motivate me to finish school. Just study hard, and dont give up. It might be a little hard at first but you can do it, dont doubt yourself. What I always recommend to people that are going back to school is it start their first semester with a light load, so as not to be too overwhelmed. I will be starting nursing school next Monday, so I am super anxious, excited and nervous, and I know its because of what everyone says that its super tough, and also because I know that these classes are going to be totally different to anything I will experience. But again, I know I will do good, as long as I give it my all. Good luck to you, and remember your older than you were fresh out of high school, your wiser, and you can do it!

My friend graduated at 50. It does not matter your age, what matters is your commitment.

I'm turning 47 in about a week. I completed a degree in Aviation back in the late 80's and have worked since then. When I started back to school a couple of Semesters ago, I was unsure what to expect. I did learn that my study habits improved over the years and I had no reason to be nervous.

Specializes in Informatics, Orthopaedics.

You're psyching yourself out...calm thy nerves heh.

I was 20 years in between classes, and I can tell you it was a bit intimidating at first, but very quickly found it to become familiar routine.

I'm a single dad of 2 teenagers, and class plus full time job was doable during pre-reqs, but became difficult during the first year of the program, and has gotten easier since. It's all doable, everyone needs to be patient and understanding for sure though, without that support it will get to be very stressful.

Good luck!

I graduated in 2003 too. When I knew I was ready to go back to school, I spent a few months preparing for my college entrance exam. Because I dedicated that time, I tested into calculus, got a 99 on the English portion, and was able to choose whatever classes I wanted to take. That was my goal; to test out of remedial anything and get straight to the point. I scheduled everything from that point on and took only the classes that were nursing prereqs. Finished them all in less than a year w a 4.0 and was accepted into the January 2014 start date, just as planned.

I'm writing this to say that you CAN absolutely do whatever you want - and be great at it too. I did this w children and a practically nonexistent support network. It can be done. Just sit down and put some thought into mapping out the next few years of your life and have a clear path to getting to your goals. Dont let anything deter you.

ok. I'm 30, raising 4 children, two jobs and going to school ft. I've been in and out of colkege for a while because of work or family or something. my moment of aha was paying nurses to work through an agency and getting paid less than a cna. I had been accepted to a program for nursinforg but always put it on hold for someone else. so I went back for me. I'm lucky to have a really supportive husband. here's my tips for you. buy a planner and use it religiously. during the time your children are up, be their parent not a student. there week be times this doesn't always work, but you get the picture. when I'm in class I take extra time for work in other classes. I study after supper or before breakfast. my classes are organized on my computer by semester, then class, then assignment. I color code my notebook/ folder for the class and I buy a quick study guide for the class I'm taking. communicate with your instructors, if you know in advance you will miss a class, let them know. treat school as a job, you have to go to graduate, so that is your paycheck, you know?

but all in all, if your heart is in it you will do your best. and if you truly give it your best, you can't fail. it can be hard at times, but also so very rewarding at the end if the day! good luck in your journey. you're going to make yourself and your family very proud of you, even for just trying!

You are all amazing. I am feeling pretty confident after reading these and writing my own goals down. Every single day I am going to come to this site before bed to remind myself of where I want to be and what it takes to get there. I am ready to show all the younglings who is boss... or at least who can keep up. ;)

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