Afraid of starting nursing Pre reqs

sjalv · Jul 14, 2014

Your feelings are normal and will get considerably worse when you actually start nursing school. The best way to cope is to develop self-confidence. I set short-term goals and long-term goals and those are what have kept me going through nursing school. Good luck.

Mami.RN, MSN, RN · Jul 14, 2014

I'm going to be 30 now in sept and I was scared to take my pre-req too. I just started in summer b. I'm half way already so far in enc 1101 & psy 2012, and so far I have As. It isn't easy especially with two kids at home but I'm keeping up and still spending time with family. Yes, it is harder since I have been out of school but it's definitely doable. You can do this!! It's a normal feeling to think you can't do this, but just start small, make goals, and you will do just fine.

Pre-Nursing ASN

macfar28 · Jul 14, 2014

You can do this! Take a deep breath and go for it. Remember, your fellow classmates will feel nervous and lost too. Your feelings are normal but don't let them stop you if nursing is your dream. As far as your age, many nurses start late - some waaayyy late. We all bring something special to the profession. Go for it!

emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Jul 14, 2014

What if:

You get hit by a car?

The earth spins off its axis?

Congress stops acting like grade schoolers?

You turn left instead if right?

As Esme12 the wise recently said (and I paraphrase): you can always choose not to leave the house.

And yeah, fear of failure is normal. The key is not to let it control you.

BSNbeauty, BSN, RN · Jul 14, 2014

Your feelings are normal and I'm here to say that you will be fine. Study, ask questions, prepare for exams, put in work and you will be okay. Time will fly by and before you know it, you're in nursing school.

anon456, BSN, RN · Jul 15, 2014

I started my first prereq's when I was several years older than you, and I remember feeling the same way. It's normal. Can you take one class to start with? My first class, which I took in the evenings at a community college, gave me the confidence to realize I could succeed.

Good luck!

nlitened · Jul 15, 2014

Totally normal, Hon. We all have those "what-if" moments at times, just don't let them get the best of you. Acknowledge your concerns and move on. If nursing is what you truly want to do then don't let anything (including yourself) stand in your way. You are not too old, you will do great with your pre-reqs, you will get into nursing school, and you will be a rockin nurse! (((HUGS)))

EmilysMama · Jul 15, 2014

Normal to be nervous. One day at a time. Fortunately the first days of class are all about sylabusses (lol) an rules. It helps to break down barriers. I really enjoyed the science classes. It was the gen ed stuff that I hated! By the way, 27 isn't too old! I'm 36 with two kids both under 6 (one special needs) and I was accepted to the ASN program for fall. If you want it, you can do it

Beginning15, BSN, RN · Jul 15, 2014

Hi JPickett!

I am happy to be able to hopefully contribute something! I am new to this site.

I started my pre-reqs in 2007 at the age of 43 and I took one evening class per semester with the dream of one day being able to apply for and successfully complete nursing school and finally realize my career dream of being a nurse. Finally, at age 51, I am applying for Spring 2015. If I am accepted, I'm retiring from a great job I've had for 24 years. I "what if" myself a lot these days, too! What if I retire and then can't hack nursing school and can't find another good job? What if I make it and become a nurse and I can't physically handle the job? On and on... I make myself crazy some days. BUT... what keeps me going is that I know if I DON'T try 100% to make this happen, whether I make it or not, I will regret it until the end of my life, and I would rather know I did whatever I could to realize my dream.

Now, believe in yourself and get in there! If I can do it after being out of school 33 years, you surely can! Best of luck to you.

I saw a beautiful quote last week and I want to share it with you. I hope the religious reference does not offend you. "Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire." St. Catherine of Sienna. This is keeping me positive as I wait to find out if I've been accepted.

Go get 'em!! :)

pmabraham, BSN, RN · Jul 15, 2014

Good day, JPickett:

I recently finished my prerequisites; I started last year when I was 50; the last time I was in college was 1982 (if you count business school, 1984). Your feelings are normal; I had them last year; even though I've been accepted into a RN program, I still have concerns that I can do it. Just press through if it is a dream.

Thank you.

SummerWertz · Jul 15, 2014

Oh, only all the time. My step mom came out of her first semester of nursing school with three Cs and two Ds. She really had to pull herself up by the bootstraps and eventually she made it through and did well. If you really want something, you'll make it happen. I used to get really caught up in trying to make all As and what not. I mean, that's great, but if nursing schools only admitted As there would be a lot less nurses than there are. Plus, people that have a perfect 4.0 seem like pretty boring people. If you're studying so much that you're cranking out all A's, you must not be living much. Now, I know it comes easier to some people. But I also feel like a person that has a 3.1 has more of a story to *why* they don't have a 4.0. Maybe they were working and going to school. Maybe they had some sort of life event occur. Maybe they're well rounded in other areas which just balanced out. One thing that helps me keep a good perspective is this: There are thousands of nursing schools in the US and even more abroad. Maybe one wants you to have a 4.0. But the chances that you won't get accepted to any nursing school anywhere have to be pretty slim. Put your best foot forward and have a good balance between school and other aspects of life. Everything else should fall into place.

And don't worry about the age thing too much. More and more people are going back to school and the avg person changes careers 7 times in their life. I once had a doctor tell me that he had a 50 year old woman in his graduating class, and that gave her probably at least 20 years to practice. It's never to late to do something you love.