A&P 1 and major change.

[anmckay01]

Hi, all. First of all, I'd like to let y'all know that I am new here. I've been browsing for a while and finally decided to post a thread. Go me! Anywho, I wanted to start off with a little back story: I am 23 (I'll be 24 in April), married, and have two small kids. I have a son who just turned 4 at the beginning of this month, and a 21 month old daughter. I have been trying to go to nursing school since I received my GED in 2009! Well, last summer, I started classes at my local community college for the RN program. I took a beginner's math class over the summer and moved into my A&P and other pre-reqs during the fall. Well, because of some financial issues (a really long story) I had to drop all of my classes. So this semester I am starting all over. Well, while I was taking some unwanted time off, I got scared about the nursing thing and switched my major to Elementary Ed. I switched because I started thinking of all the times that I'd miss with my kids, etc. So my first question for nurses with kids: Is the nursing profession REALLY that terrible for family life? I've heard so many different things and I'm not sure what to go with.. My second question for all nurses: I'm leaving my classes the same (general courses for AA for transfer) since registration for traditional classes are over, or else I'd have to take A&P 1 online. Which may not be too hard considering that I made it 2 months in on my first round of classes, but since I dropped my classes last semester, I'm on financial aid warning this semester and have to pass a certain amount of credits to be eligible for aid next semester. Should I go ahead and attempt A&P 1 online or just wait until next semester? Either way, if I do it this semester or next, I can't apply until next spring for Fall admission. For LPN or RN. I should be able to apply to both at the same time. But I've already started losing information from what I learned back in the Fall.. I'm just SO stuck. I have to decide on whether or not to attempt A&P this semester by the 23rd. I keep going back and forth from teaching to nursing. Nursing is where my heart is (has been since I was like, 12.) But, I don't want to be away from kids a lot.. Ugh. Life decisions are hard. I appreciate any input.

I'm sorry this was long and full of rambling. I've had all of this cooped up in my little brain for SO long now. Lol. Thanks for taking the time to read my post.

[ORNurseCOS]

I can't quite comment on all of this but here goes.

#1

AP online would not be ideal - I'm not even sure how this could possibly be offered online, what about the lab portion?

I found it very beneficial taking this in the classroom setting. People ask a lot of questions and you learn from this.

I also met my study buddy in AP and we both were just accepted into the same program. Can it be done? Probably, but less than ideal. Then again you know how you learn best.

#2

Forget elem. education. You said it, your heart is in nursing. There are shifts that have regular hours 8-5 so I wouldn't worry about it too much. Besides, I think standard shift would be best 3-12hr shifts with the rest off sounds good to me. Also, your kids will grow and be less dependent on you in the future. I think in the long run you will be happier in nursing, plus the opportunities and pay will benefit your family.

Don't live your life with one foot over the line and the other behind it. Pick a path and embrace it full on, sounds like you know which one it is, the rest (details) will fall into place.

[Glycerine82, LPN]

I'm a student, and trust me when I tell you that taking AP I online is a bad idea. You need a good understanding of the material to progress in AP II, and you just wont get that online, IMO.

[anmckay01]

Thank you for reply! I've been doing a little soul searching and have come to realize that nursing is absolutely where I need to be. Even though I would love to have all of my holidays, weekends, and summers off with my kids, you are right, they won't be little forever. I don't want to be stuck in a job that I dislike when they're grown up and on their own (looong time from now, let's not rush! Lol) I feel like I would being doing my students a huge disservice by forcing myself into something that I truly didn't have my heart in. It would not be fair to them, or myself.

As for A&P, I did not take it online (the online labs count just as the in-class ones do and from what I heard from a friend, it is way harder! Advising for the Fall semester starts in a couple of weeks, so I'll have everything back to where it feels RIGHT! Thanks, once again, for your response. I really appreciate it!

[anmckay01]

Thank you! I didn't take it. I understand that I really need to know this stuff, so I don't want to do it half-butt just for a passing grade. It would've bitten me in the rear eventually, I know! Thank you!