Hello all! I will be starting a LPN program this August. After 4 years of college, and EVERY semester changing my major I finally figured out that I wanted to be a nurse after becoming a care giver. I figured it would be best to get my feet wet and become an LPN first. Plus, here, you have to apply to RN school a year before you want to start and my decision came a little late.
Anywho, I was supposed to start LPN school with my best friend. I thought I was going to have someone to study with and have a strong support and motivational system within her. Well, I just found out today that she's backing out. I'm very scared! I still want to do this and I'll do this by myself because I really really want to be a nurse.
I was wondering if anyone out there has started LPN school by them self and if they were scared...how did they cope...I just need some motivational and encouraging words because I'm scared I might back out too but this is something I really want.
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
i don't have any advice to offer op. however, i also am starting to get anxiety about starting my 11 month lpn program in 5 weeks. i haven't darkened the door of a classroom in 30 yrs. it's been so bad lately that i 've developed insomnia at night & have been sleeping all day. can't seem to get switched back around. to be honest some of the people who i thought would be part of my support are letting me down big time. so, i guess i can't relate somewhat to the op. let's face it fear is fear. we just have to grin & bear it, so to speak =).
anxiety will be there until you walk through the door and begin to hear and begin working on their expectations. i can certainly say that the anxiety will be there throughout the program, but by then, each person has created their method of dealing with it. i was 39 years old when i started and completed when i turned 41 (this was a program that required us to take rn pre-requisites for their bridge program). i remember purchasing my anatomy book ahead of time to begin reading, and the book was so intense that i took two days off of work to lay in bed and cry. but, i also told myself that each time i felt anxious, i would read. i did that throughout school and somehow, that calmed me down.
believe it or not, it is best to find out early who will support you and who will not. i found it best not to have any expectations from anyone and that worked better for me. now, a year later, i am an lpn, have several options outside of my main job to make money...options not previously available to me. it is the fear of the unknown that is getting to you and most new students. you'll see...if you are determined, you will make it out of there. good luck!
I guess I should have read this THREAD before I posted mine today. I asked the same question...obviously! I am in the same boat but not with/without a friend to go to school with. My worries include affording daycare while I go to school and juggling 3 kids/husband/household duties, and school. I had originally planned to go straight for my RN but after the things I cam across on this board I just knew it was just too much right now. I have been to school recently for my MA cert. That was 3 years ago so Im not real worried about the academic aspect of things. Except maybe the doasge calculaion tests. I guess here the school weeds people out that don't get 100% on every test. I believe there are four tests throughout the program(maybe more). I think it's more the anticipation of what is to come. Im sure once we all get into the swing of things we'll be alright!!!
pagandeva2000, LPN
7,984 Posts
anxiety will be there until you walk through the door and begin to hear and begin working on their expectations. i can certainly say that the anxiety will be there throughout the program, but by then, each person has created their method of dealing with it. i was 39 years old when i started and completed when i turned 41 (this was a program that required us to take rn pre-requisites for their bridge program). i remember purchasing my anatomy book ahead of time to begin reading, and the book was so intense that i took two days off of work to lay in bed and cry. but, i also told myself that each time i felt anxious, i would read. i did that throughout school and somehow, that calmed me down.
believe it or not, it is best to find out early who will support you and who will not. i found it best not to have any expectations from anyone and that worked better for me. now, a year later, i am an lpn, have several options outside of my main job to make money...options not previously available to me. it is the fear of the unknown that is getting to you and most new students. you'll see...if you are determined, you will make it out of there. good luck!