Advice Needed: When is it time to pursue something else?

windsurfer8, BSN, RN · Jun 29, 2015

Do it or don't do it. All that typing and the answer is actually really simple. There is no "right" or "wrong" decision..it is simply a decision. Do what you want to do. From what I read you are essentially questioning your career because your mom told you that you couldn't do it? You are an adult. That is extremely childish and is using someone else (your mom) as your excuse not to do something. Don't throw her under the bus. She has her opinion. She is allowed to have that opinion. If you don't do it it is YOUR decision. And if you don't do it then don't blame anyone else. Go on with your life and do whatever you want to do. Good luck.

Sizzline · Jun 29, 2015

Is there any reason that you can't apply to a different nursing school? If you really have your heart set on it, then I would graduate with your bachelor degree next year, and then apply to accelerated BSN programs, or even go the ADN-BSN or MSN route. There are many options available if you truly want to be a nurse.

kariace · Jun 29, 2015

You should never let go of your aspirations no matter what so-and-so tell you, nor should care about what other people think about regarding your future dreams. Because 5 to 10 years down the line you may have the same goals and wished you would have tried harder to pursue it. I can clearly see a pattern that may not be healthy for you, constantly stressing yourself over this. Maybe U&A was just never meant to be, so you should look into other states for a less competitive school or one that dont require the GRE. You may never move forward in life and/or your career if you don't detach yourself from this school now. Just try to focus on building up your self-esteem and apply to the next nursing school that doesn't ask too much of you.

PS: If this is something you've set your heart on, you should just apply to a CC and get your ADN then move on towards your journey from there. A&U are not the only options out there.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jun 29, 2015

Is there any reason that you can't apply to a different nursing school?

I might be mistaken, but I get the vibe that the OP is really fascinated by top 25 universities and the overall prestige of the school she attends.

The fixation with her dream school, University of Arizona, has cost her nothing but time, money and deferred dreams. After all, with her grades she would have already been a nurse by now if she would consider unranked schools in her area such as Northern Arizona University, Grand Canyon University, or local community colleges.

I started as an LPN, then completed an LPN-to-ASN transition program before earning an online BSN degree. All of the schools I've attended are unranked, not prestigious by a long shot, and would never be considered anyone's 'dream school.'

However, what matters is the end result: my career is progressing nicely. I am a baccalaureate degree nurse with professional certification in my specialty. I will be attending graduate school this fall. The school is an affordable, unranked state university with a good local reputation. The GRE is not required for any of their graduate degree programs.

In the nursing profession, very few people care whether you attended an Ivy League University or the obscure podunk state college. This profession is not like law or business, where the name of the school will make or break your career. Remember this when you move forward.

Good luck to you!

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Jun 29, 2015

I might be mistaken, but I get the vibe that the OP is really fascinated by top 25 universities and the overall prestige of the school she attends.
The fixation with her dream school, University of Arizona, has cost her nothing but time, money and deferred dreams. After all, with her grades she would have already been a nurse by now if she would consider unranked schools in her area such as Northern Arizona University, Grand Canyon University, or local community colleges.
I started as an LPN, then completed an LPN-to-ASN transition program before earning an online BSN degree. All of the schools I've attended are unranked, not prestigious by a long shot, and would never be considered anyone's 'dream school.'
However, what matters is the end result: my career is progressing nicely. I am a baccalaureate degree nurse with professional certification in my specialty. I will be attending graduate school this fall. The school is an affordable, unranked state university with a good local reputation. The GRE is not required for any of their graduate degree programs.
In the nursing profession, very few people care whether you attended an Ivy League University or the obscure podunk state college. This profession is not like law or business, where the name of the school will make or break your career. Remember this when you move forward.
Good luck to you!

Well said.

However, I did attend schools that had a great tradition of producing quality nurses, so I am sure that my ability to obtain a job was based on my schools' tradition of producing quality nurses, but they were in no way "top-rank" schools. :no:

OP, if you want to be a nurse, instead of going for prestigious schools, go for the ones that are not rank and perhaps have the same or maybe a BETTER rep, and become a nurse; transfer into a program and go from there, instead of spending more money into a career that opens more doors with a RN behind it-one of my instructors in clinical had their first degree in public health and immediately went back to school due to the requirement and opportunities were not their without a RN behind her name-and go from there.

Best wishes.

mrsboots87 · Jun 29, 2015

How about you just apply to a nursing school you can get into. It really is quite ridiculous that you are so adement about only being a nurse graduated from U of A. Are they a prestigious school? Sure. Will you be less of a nurse if you got to ASU, NAU, GCU, or even a community college? Probably not. Want to know the main difference? At the other schools you will actually become a nurse at the end. You have wasted Time by focusing solely on one school. Like job hunting, you need to broaden your application pool to be successful. Any BSN will do if you want to become a CNM in the end. And there are actually facilities that prefer RNs with actual BSN and not direct entry MSNs. The higher degree won't guarantee a job. And with no work experience, I can imagine reprogram would be more difficult.

Goose2015 · Jun 29, 2015

I am quite surprised you didn't know you needed close to a 4.0 when you enrolled in your undergraduate courses. I am going to a state junior college and I needed a 4.0 to get in. I would tweek your expectations and apply to schools with lower GPA requirements. It is unlikely that the school you are applying to currently will ever let you in.

FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN · Jun 29, 2015

It doesn't seem to me like you are ready to give up on nursing, nor should you.

As other posters have stated, it's time to give up on the school you are obsessed with. I forget which one, because I've never even heard of it.

If the nclex pass rate is good then it's a good nursing school. If they let you in, have a good nclex pass rate, and won't break the bank, that's your school.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Jun 29, 2015

Frontier Nursing Service midwifery?

verene, MSN · Jun 29, 2015

If you want to be a nurse and eventually midwife go for it. I think the something else you need to look at pursuing is alternate pathways and being more flexible when dreams don't work out.

There are many pathways to becoming a nurse and midwife, by focusing on only one school and one pathway of getting there you've limited your options. Look at other schools besides your dream school, and look at other options besides just MEPN programs. MEPN would get your to your goal quickly, but are also extremely intensive programs, and you may miss out on some of the out-of-school learning that goes along with growing up and trying new things, because there is less time between start and end point and you will be living school alone with little time for anything else. Also look at ABSN programs, and BSN programs, and even ADN programs. If you don't get into the MEPN program of choice, leave yourself with options that you can live with.

When I started out on my journey I was really focused on going the MEPN route for PMHNP, but along the way I've realized that getting hyper-focused on one plan isn't healthy. Particularly because there ARE so many options out there for going into nursing, and as a pre-nursing student I don't even know how much I don't know, being forced to take a slower, broader approach may actually serve me well in the long run. I will still likely apply to a couple of top PMHNP-MEPN programs, but I'm also going to apply to some BSN programs, and an ADN program or two as well, each option has their own advantages and disadvantages.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Jun 29, 2015

So, if I am understanding correctly, you are only wanting to go to certain schools? Why can you not apply at others? You have tunnel vision if you ask me. I'm not going to sugarcoat things and tell you not to give up on your dreams and you can be anything you want to be. Because, it's simply not true. Not everyone can be a nurse. But, I think you have blinders on here and are not looking at all of your options. There are many paths one can take to become a nurse. I can see why your mom is telling you to give up. You are spinning your wheels and wasting your money. You need to sit down and weigh your options and stop thinking about these "dream" schools. To me, it's silly. And if you keep trying to do this when you don't have the grades to get in, you will not achieve your goal and you might as well save your time and money and go into the public health field. There is nothing wrong with that. Public health is a good field. But I honestly think a reality check is needed here.