Am I Nurse Material?

U.S.A. Louisiana

Published

I made my decision to go into nursing. It took a 4 day stay to Childrens Hospital last year with my 5 week old daughter.

What I saw there in what seemed like a year changed my life. I have never been so pasionate about anything, not even when I was majoring in business at UNO.

I will begin taking my biology pre-requisites at Delgado this fall. I am so excited and ready to start.

Unfortunately, my excitement is short lived. My mom is telling me that nursing is not for me. She says that its hard work. She doesn't believe I will succeed at getting accepted to charity. She also mentioned I was not nursing material. And because I have 2 daughters, she believes I won't be able to do it.

I never thought I would hear this from my mom. I am so hurt by her words and lack of faith for me. How do you guys know for sure you have what it takes to be a nurse? I am starting to believe maybe she is right.

In addition to all the other supportive emails, I think you should tell your mom that nursing has so many different specialties, including options at businesses and governments, that most people will find an area that works for them. Nursing is now an industry almost all by itself. That is if you think she'll listen. My mom is like that too and I have over the years just grown to accept that while she says horrible things, my mom does good things and I try to focus on that (while limiting my exposure on days I am just not up for that kind of negative crap). Best of luck and congratulations on trying anything new given that sort of nonsupportive mom. You have already proven you are tough by that alone!

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You can do it! If this is something you've been thinking about for a while, then go for it! Don't let anyone's words discourage you from going back to school. But if you're even a bit doubtful about nursing, talk to some actual nurses if you can, get more exposure to them, hear all the good and bad, volunteer at a hospital (that's what I'm doing, and its keeping me excited about nursing). Be proactive about learning more about the many aspects of nursing. Then dig deep and ask yourself whether or not you can commit to making it happen. Take a realistic view on life and see if you can be supported properly financially and emotionally throughout this journey.:thnkg:

I too have a business degree which got me nowhere (but keep it handy because you may use it later!), and now I'm pursuing what I've found I'm more passionate about: life, learning, taking care of people, and science. I'm now done with prereq's and am about to apply for some schools this coming fall (:yeah:one step closer!). If you're hesitant about whether or not you'll get through schooling, just remember why you're in this situation in the first place. Your drive to become a nurse will help you overcome those obstacles. Sure, all those biology courses may be challenging, but find study buddies, talk to your teachers, use all the resources out there to LEARN, find tutors to help if you're struggling. I was never into academics, always got poor grades in high school and college, and now that I'm studying to become a nurse, I'm suddenly getting straight A's! You may surprise yourself when you learn about things you actually want to know about!:idea:

I may seem absolutely sure that nursing is where I want to go in the end, but in reality, I don't really know how I'll be as a nurse, or even if I'm going to love what I'm doing. I bet I won't know until I'm in nursing school, doing clinicals, or even working my first nursing job out of school. All I know is that I've got to keep trying to get there so I can figure out what works for me and what doesn't, and so that I can find my "specialty," my niche and be the best nurse I can be. Are you "nurse material"? I don't think you'll know that either unless you try! Again, if you're support system is strong (aside from your mom, I suppose), and you can realistically dedicate yourself to becoming a nurse despite whatever negative things you may encounter (blood, guts and gory included), then totally do it! :up:

Good luck with whatever you decide!

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Please don't go on whatever someone else says - only you know whether it is right for you. I am sorry that your mom isn't supportive. I have always supported my kids in anything they wanted to try. Sounds like there are other issues that might be in play. Go for it. If it works out, great. If it doesn't you haven't lost anything. Don't sit around and wonder if you should have...

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I agree, Nursing is a very wide range career. Just to name a few, Hospitals, home health, nursing home, then to follow, all of these can be broken down into sub areas, such as peds, neonatal, geriatrics, etc. etc. Doctors office. Depends on what you want. I know some, that like to move around in different areas, just to get the hands on experience.. My brother is a RN, wanted experience in ER, after working with psychiatric ward, and they would not move him , so he found another hospital that would allow him to work in ER- two months later, that hospital he left, called back and offered more money, and let him work in any area of his choice! LOL. Gotta love it..

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Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your support! I am going to volunteer at East Jefferson Hospital in the postpartum dept. That will give me a pretty good idea of what nurses do and how it feels to work in a hospital. I am so excited to give some of my time. It will also help me gain some medical terminology.

I have to do my very best to get good grades in my pre-requisites. If not, I will never have a chance of getting into nursing school. I can't shake the fear of not getting accepted. Knowing me, I won't want to keep trying to get in. I know they say, if you don't succeed try try again, but..... I could only take being rejected once. Yes, I do want to be an RN more than anything else, but my fears are getting the best of me. I need to go scrapbook! Its my stress reliever.

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Nursing is as much a calling as it is a vocation.

I too started college at 17. I was going to be a nurse. Life got in the way and I worked my way up in manufacturing to a very good paying job that I eventually hated.

Three years ago I gave up the money to pursue a nursing career. I graduate tomorrow. Over the last three years I have worked in the hospital as a CNA for not much money and quite frankly, I have had some of the best days of my life. I am so looking forward to obtaining my license so that I can do even more for my patients.

If you feel it, go for it.

Love and Light,

qaqueen

Your story somewhat mirrors mine..... I say somewhat because for me nursing wasn't on the radar in the beginning. But after all of these years, it has come into focus, and as I look back, I can see personal instances of events that have happened in my life that, while I didn't recognize them as such at the time, all prepared me for this point in time. I agree with your viewpoint on nursing as a calling and a vocation. It's more than just another job.

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I have a similar story as well. My father was sick for several years and he had many, many things wrong with him. It was then that my morbid fascination with medicine began, but it wasn't until the night he died, that I decided that I wanted to be an RN. The nurse that was there with me took care of me as much as my father. She sat and waited with me, talked to me, and held my hand while my dad was being worked on by a team of doctors. She must have sat with me for well over an hour and I know she must have had other things that she needed to do.

My mother believes that nursing school is the wrong choice for me. She keeps saying "you don't want to do that. All you will be around is death. " For me though, the opportunity to give back what was once given to me is absolutely worth it. It is hard to listen to others and let their opinions steer you in your choices; I have been there too. I think for the first time in my life, I have reached a point where I don't care what anyone else thinks or says, I want this and I am going to work my booty off to get there. I actualy have a marketing background and I just started a business, but when I got my acceptance letter in the mail last week, I was so excited.

It is those things that happen to us in life, like watching your daughter in the hospital, that inspire us to take different paths than we may have chosen otherwise. Good luck in your endeavor. You have the determination to make it, just believe in yourself because you have it in you!

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Specializes in Primary Care.
MystyqueOne,

Thank you so much for your support. I have two daughters, who are 3 1/2 and 10 months. I have a business degree that I completely hate. I have been thinking for a good while that I needed a career change but didn't know what to change to. Suddenly, I found myself at childrens hospital and it suddenly hit me. i remember the first thing I said to my fiance was, "I can see myself doing this"

I am trying to forget what my mom said but its hard as your mom is the one person who is supposed to be there...unconditionally. I am not going to deny I am scared to death of nursing school. I have to say getting accepted scares me more than actually having to study. If I were to get rejected, I would be so upset. I was hopeful that my cousin was going to go on this adventure with me but she is no longer able. It would have been nice to have someone to study with while I take my pre requisites. I have 4 biology courses to take. Biology 141/143 lab, A&P I & II, biology 211. Any advice on those would be appreciated!

Anatomy and Physiology are the foundations of nursing. Without all those biology courses, you wouldn't know what the next courses are even talking about. A&P is actually my favorite class (so far). Make sure you take tons of time to study. Handwrite those notes. Focus on one topic at a time. Make sure it's time that you don't get interrupted by your kids. I know it's hard, but very possible. Get your mom to watch your children for a couple of hours here and there (she'll love the bonding time she will get with them, alone). If you don't understand a topic, write down your questions and either contact your instructor at that time, or ask them later in class. Before moving onto the next topic, understand the one you are working on. They are all built on top of one another, so it's imperitive that you understand everything. If you can't get ahold of your instructor, or have to wait until next class time, try to do some research (on the internet or other books) that will help you understand that topic better. Sometimes childrens books will help break things down into simpler terms, enough to get you to understand "Oh... So THAT's what they are talking about!" If you are still stuck, then try skipping that part for the time being (make sure you have those questions written down first), then attempt to move on to the next topic. This way, you are utilizing every single moment of your study time that you planned for (say if you were at a library for only two hours while your mom or whomever watches your children). Make the most of every minute! THose are my tips for studying with children! If you come across any that help you, please pass them along to me! Good Luck and I can already see your determination just by reading your posts! That determination will pull you through! Many Blessings!

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RN Hopefull,

I know how you feel, afraid of failure. Please don't let this hinder you as I vowed to myself, after having no college credits up until age 31, due to getting married at an early age, that I would keep going forward no matter what. I was afraid of all the test needed to enter college, since I had been out of school a while, and comparison of grades since I did not try my best in high school. Ever since this promise to myself, I maintained all A's in my courses. And I gained nothing but optimism through it, so failure is no longer in my mind. I am claiming that I will be in an ADN program this Spring! You need to get the negative thoughts out of your head. I know it's easier said than done, but if it means changing your surroundings, then so be it. This is your career and it will benefit your family.

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Why don't you change your screen name from RN Hopefull, to RN WILLBE!:nurse: Start the optimism now!

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Dear RN Hopefully,

My girls were 2 and 3 when I started nursing school. Believe it or not, it was easier then, rather than when they got into school with activities, etc.

YES; having someone to help support you emotionally and physically with the kids is very important. Nursing school is HARD, but not impossible!

Only you can answer the question of if you have what it takes. After reading your posts, I can clearly see the answer. You've been thinking about this, and have passion about the idea. You will work your tail off in nursing school, but you will never regret it.

Good luck!!!! YOU can DO IT!!!!

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BTW: My youngest daughter would sit in my lap and help me "read" my nursing textbooks; it was cute at first, but I was so high strung and anxious about my study time....

She is now in college....premed--wants to be a surgeon (pulling a 4.0 :-) She has told me she remembers how hard I studied and how happy I was when I did well in class, and she thinks about that when she's studying and attending classes.... AND she thinks about how much I love my nursing career....

YOU GO GIRL!!!

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