Anyone else stressed?

jo'ee · May 31, 2010

Yes, I was stressed about the very same thing. However, I raised my kids and went back to school later in life....so I felt I was running out of time....and what if I didn't get into nursing school? I used this to my advantage. I kept reminding myself how much I wanted this. So when I felt like being lazy or that it was too much for me, I reminded myself that I would give it everything I had so if I didn't get in I had no regrets. That doesn't mean you have to have an A to feel good. If you gave it your all then that was all you could give. I worked my butt off and pushed myself harder than I ever have. When I went to my interview for nursing school they told me my chances for acceptance were good and not to worry. And my response? I worked very hard, gave it everything I had....and it was now out of my hands and I made myself relax. Guess what??? I got in on my first try....

So give it all you have and that is all you can do...things will fall into place. I like this quote, it kept me going and helped to keep my stress level down. Hope you like it too.

The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out; the brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. The brick walls are there to stop the people who don't want it badly enough. They are there to stop the other people!

Randy Pausch

PatMac10,RN, RN · May 31, 2010

It was a suprise to me as well. By the time you get finished trying to just into nursing school you feel like you've through a nursing program. I am in the same position as you except im coming staright out of high school. I try not to worry about whether someone is going to beat me into a program because there are many schools I can apply to. I have a list of a about 4 or 5 different nursing schools I am applying for entrance to for fall 2011. I hope you get in. Try not to get burnt out before you get into nursing school, because its going to be a challenge.

dh12 · May 31, 2010

IS nursing still a guaranteed job when you graduate? Or has the depression/recession changed this?

dh12 · May 31, 2010

I applied on year for RN but when I saw the tuition fees i declined. Now reconsidering it. Just curious why are most people choosing it. Is it because it is still believed to be a guaranteed job? I know I can handle it because when my father had a major heart attack he was in ICU for a long long time. I seen people next to him die. Actually the whole environment was very comfortable to me. I have a great sense of humor and I think I could definitely brighten up any hospital ward. I am also a computer guy having been a systems anaylst previously so my mouth was watering at all the technology in there. what about other people. Is it all about the money or is it something else?

shesham · May 31, 2010

Yes, I was stressed about the very same thing. However, I raised my kids and went back to school later in life....so I felt I was running out of time....
So give it all you have and that is all you can do...things will fall into place. I like this quote, it kept me going and helped to keep my stress level down. Hope you like it too.
The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out; the brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. The brick walls are there to stop the people who don't want it badly enough. They are there to stop the other people!
Randy Pausch

That is me! My kids are teenagers and will be leaving the nest in a few years so I am reaching the stage where I can now focus on doing what I have always wanted pursue. My husband keeps telling me I will get in, he has all the faith in the world in me even though he thought I was a bit crazy wanting to be a nurse, he sees how badly I want to get in. I just get deflated when I keep hearing just how many people apply to get into 30 spots and it's only a once a year opening.

I like the brick wall analogy, I will keep these words of advice in my mind.

Thanks

JROregon, ASN, BSN, RN · May 31, 2010

You forgot about the stress of not being able to get into the classes you want, pressure from parents and spouses, everybody in class is smarter......

I too used that "stress" to push me to do the work to get the As. I got lucky too. My kids were rarely sick. My husband can be a little flexible with work. I was able to keep up the As and get accepted. My good friend who was an A student for a year, suddenly had a family with H1N1 and had a term with 2 Bs. She also got accepted.

RN beside your name does not guarantee a job. It's just one more thing you'll need to compete for. Are you up for that? Stay focused and you will be where you need to be.

CuriousMe · May 31, 2010

Okay, I tried posting this in the forum for my state, but there isn't a lot of activity there.
I have wanted to be a nurse since I was a little girl and now that I am working at getting into the nursing program I have found out that it is really competitive. I didn't realize so many people were trying to get into nursing. The classes aren't what's really stressing me out. I just stress out at the thought of getting a B and blowing my chance of getting into the program. It has been a life long desire of mine to become a nurse and I can't express how heart broken I would be if I don't get in. It's the thought of 'What if I don't get in?' that just haunts me. Is this normal? Anyone else feel the same way?

Playing the "what if" game has it's purposes (I'm a big fan of a plan b, c, d, etc)....however, if you're getting to the point where the "what ifs" are slowing you down....you just need to look past them.

Look at what is in your control. You can control how hard you work at your pre-reqs, you can control whether you're really understanding everything in your classes (and if you're not, you can control whether you get help), you can control which classes you take, you can control what other experiences you have (volunteer or work experience), you can control where you apply and you can control how well you write (for the application essay's) You get the idea....there is A LOT that is in your control!!!

Focusing on what you can control allows you to become the strongest applicant you can be....focusing on the fact that it's competitive, you might not get in, other folks seem smarter, whatever....well, there's not a dang thing you can do about all of that.

Put your energies where they can do some good!

shesham · May 31, 2010

Look at what is in your control. You can control how hard you work at your pre-reqs, you can control whether you're really understanding everything in your classes... You get the idea....there is A LOT that is in your control!!!
Put your energies where they can do some good!

Great advice, thanks! I am between semesters right now so sitting and waiting for the next session to start is making me feel like I am not in control, so your comments are "dead on" because during the semester I felt like I was in control. Didn't quite see it that way until I read your post.

want2banurse35 · May 31, 2010

I know the feeling because I have them as well. At my university 4.0's have been turned away. It's like if you do not get into a program it sets you back a whole year. My friend just got in last year after applying for 3 straight years and while it is discouraging we have to just stay positive. My thing now is worrying about will I get a job when I am finish. I had even contemplated changing my major. But I have decided to stick it out. When I first started my pre-reqs, jobs were plentiful now they have all but dried up. But I still want to be a nurse so we all can do is stay positive and not worry about things we cannot control. So to the OP we have to hang in there and stay focused:)