Angry nursing student

[cbwickham]

Here is my story so far....

First I got accepted in a fine nursing school, I got pregnant my first semester and thought the best thing was to wait another year (stupid on my part)

Then I came back one year later after having my first child. I told my advisor I only wanted to take ONE nursing course the first semester since this will be an adjustment but she convinced me to take TWO. During my semester they inform us we have the option to drop one class and retake it 2nd semester. I was passing but thought that would be a better idea so I dropped one class. My 2nd semester came.......I registered, I bought my books, I drove an hour to my first day of class! It wasn't until that day that I realized something BIG has happened...

What I didn't understand was if you drop a course to retake second semester then you are technically reapplying to the program. They didn't reaccept me. I WAS PASSING! if i would have known the possible consequences, I would have never debated dropping that class. PLUS they didn't ever contact me to tell me I wasn't a student of theirs anymore. How worthless am I to them??? How embarrassing, right?!

So I moved on even though I'm still hurt by that. I applied to another school but its a 2yr waitlist. Only 8 more months to go. But I'm so in patient. Now at this school I have an awful advisor. I set up a meeting with her two wks in advanced...she wasn't prepared for me at all and didn't direct or help me in any way. I left in tears because i was so disappointed. Now I'm trying to sign up for online/evening classes but can't get ahold of my advisor..its irritating and discouraging. I have all the prereq's done. But I want to get a start on my bachelors or a minor in SOMETHING?

Anyways, anyone have advice in what to do to keep my mind off school for 8 more months??

Would anyone advize me to wait until my kids are out of daycare before going to nursing school? Its $600 a month for daycare I have some savings though for this.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that a spot will open for the fall semester!!!

thanks for reading...I could use some feedback please! :)

[Camwill, ASN, BSN, MSN, DNP, LPN, APRN, NP]

Well when one door opens another closes. It goes both ways. When one door closes another opens. Since the school you are applying to doesn't feel comfortable to you maybe you should consider another school. The waiting that you are doing is causing you to come close to the five year deadline. No I do not believe you should wait unless you would like to repeat classes just my opinion. I would if I were you look into another school. I understand the baby sitting issue but the can be baby sat near were you go to school, try headstart or any state program for parents going to school for childcare assistants. It is out there. Once you are accepted don't turn back just push forward. My school doesnt have choices on the nursing portion. We have 2 lectures and 2 labs every semester. You can do it just fight for it. #1 find a school you like, #2 come up with a plan for your children before classes would start and this includes study time, #3 become a nurse!!!

[Twinkle toez]

I had a somewhat similar experience in that I had just had a baby when I was accepted to NS 7 years ago. I ended up declining the offer because I didn't have reliable child care and I didn't want to drop out of the program because of it.

Fast forward 6 years and both of my children are in elem. school. Last summer my husband and I decided that this was the right time to go back. I wanted to apply for Spring '12, but my TEAS had expired as had my original biology (pre-req. to A&P and Micro). I ended up getting a waiver for the original bio credit but I only had one chance to apply before my A&P 1 expired in December. If I waited to apply for the Fall I would have to test out of or retake A&P. If I didn't pass the pilot exam I'd have to start ALL over with my sciences. Everything had to happen just right or my hopes of being able to apply would be set back by at least another 4 years. I did not get accepted for the spring and my A&P did expire. I wasn't surprised but I was disappointed. However, it did allow me to a semester to complete a couple of co-reqs. to my program. Looking back that was a blessing. Now I can focus solely on my nursing classes.

I studied two months straight for the pilot exam. Fortunately, I passed it and made the Fall application deadline. I was accepted for Fall 2012.

So, what I've learned, is the child care thing is a very real issue. Even now that I have school age children it is going to be a significant struggle to juggle everything. I also know that if I don't complete my degree I will never be satisfied with myself.

It is incredibly difficult to go back to school after major life changes like children, but it IS possible. I almost find that I have an advantage over students that are much younger than me without any major responsibilities. I value the whole experience so much more than I did in my 20's. I want it more and I understand the ramifications of my actions more. I don't want to suggest that people in their 20's aren't able to succeed, I just find that MY experiences provide that for me.

Don't be discouraged. Your decision is a very personal one. Trust your decisions and where they take you next. You never know what windows might open up when a door closes. It just takes a little more effort to climb through them.