Anyone ever tell you, you would never be able to become a nurse? Proved them wrong?!

tokmom, BSN, RN · Apr 23, 2012

Yep, I was told I would never be able to do it. My own family was fixated on me genius brother who was going to set the world on fire. I'm still waiting for that to happen. In the meantime. I got through school with no help from my family, worked 2 jobs doing so, and went on to get my cerfication and recently won employee of the year.

Nursing/healthcare has always been fascinating to me.

If this is what you want to do, then go for it!

imintrouble, BSN, RN · Apr 23, 2012

I have been blessed. No one has ever told me I couldn't have/achieve anything I wanted. I always assumed the world was mine, if I was willing to work hard enough and long enough to get it. No one close to me has ever been so heartless as to tell me I wasn't smart enough, good enough or strong enough to reach a goal.

You might want to consider cultivating different friends.

NurseWannaBe86 · Apr 23, 2012

nobody really told me that I couldnt do it, except for the counselor at school. when I first started taking my prerequisites, she told me that the GPA required was a minimum of 2.7, but I should shoot for a 4.0 and that's impossible to get lol....I ended up having a 3.8 GPA and one of the highest TEAS Test V scores...I didn't get a 4.0 GPA, but I still got accepted and I wish I could see that lady again to show it to her!

just like everybody else is saying...keep on doing what you want! if you really want to become a nurse by heart, you will make it! it's a dream of mine too, and I will do anything to get there! I worked over 50hours every week while taking my prerequisites and still got a 3.8GPA, so you can do it! and if it's too much, just give up your job, it's ok to be broke for a couple of years! Later on you will make a lot of money! Plus, nurses are needed! I live in CT and they just showed on the news that if CT won't open up more nursing schools, there will be a 20000 nurses shortage! CT needs more nurses! Good luck! I'm starting this fall and can't wait. I will be working 30hours, and maybe more if I can manage it. I'm sure you'll do great, and I love how you feel and describe yourself. keep it up! Good luck!

patty future r.n. · Apr 24, 2012

Please follow your dream of becoming a nurse. I wanted to be a nurse since I was a kid (I am 54 now). I married young, had two children, always worked at night in doctors office. My husband died very young and I became a single mom to two young boys. I decided to go to LPN school, it was hard going back to school after 25yrs. but I did it, my kids and I would do homework together! Now I am pursuing my R.N online. You are still young, you will have to give up doing a lot of fun things for studying, but it is soooo worth it! Good luck!

JBerkel · Apr 24, 2012

I agree with a previous comment that people often project their fears onto you. "if you can find a path without obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere" Frank Clarke.

MoniqueRN · Apr 24, 2012

you seem like a very smart young lady who knows that she will be able to prove everyone wrong. i, too, experienced a lack of support when i switched my major from pre-med (biology) to nursing. the nursing advisor at my university told me straight up that i would never get accepted to their program. i worked hard and applied to the adn program at the community college and the bsn program at the university at the same time. the adn program accepts students that same semester and bsn accepts students the following semester. i heard back from the adn program that i was accepted. toward the end of that semester, i found out i had also been accepted to the bsn program. i left the adn program and switched to the bsn program. the nursing advisor had remembered me and boy, was she surprised to see me walk in and tell her that i had been accepted.

i also have an immediate family member who is an rn and was very upset when she received that news that i had changed my major to nursing. she was so angry with me that she packed her things and moved out of state for like two years. she was not supportive at all, which surprised me, since she is an rn.

faculty in the bsn program also did not think i would be successful when i encountered issues in my classes, which stemmed from personal/relationship problems. but, when i became pregnant halfway through the program, that was all the motivation i needed to succeed and earn that rn. my son was, still is, and forever will be my motivation to be successful.

i even encountered classmates who doubted my abilities when it came to classes and exams. but, while anyone could speak negatively about others' abilities, everyone knew that the real test would be when we took the hesi (bsn exit examination) and, most importantly, the nclex. i am happy to say that after a difficult and long road, at 26 years old, with a 2-year-old toddler, and a husband who has been absent for so much of the time that i have known him (i've basically been a single mother since my son was born, due to my husband's extensive army training and two deployments. he's an army airborne ranger, is still in theater, and missed my graduation), that i passed the hesi the first time (we got three chances before the final semester starts) and also the nclex with 76 questions.

right after i took the nclex, i spoke to that same immediate family member regarding the test and how i felt it went. she told me that i probably failed and would be taking it again in three months. she was not happy when she found out i had passed. i'd might as well say that that family member is my mother.

people that do not believe in you and doubt your abilities, as well as those that speak and think negatively about others for whatever reason, will always be in existence. keep those that believe in you, even when you do not believe in yourself, close to you. utilize the negative thoughts, words, and actions of others as inspiration and motivation for how you want to treat others, as well as for you to prove everyone wrong, and be successful.

best of luck to you. you seem like a young lady with a genuine heart that is pursuing nursing for the right reasons. as we all know, times can get tough, but always look to the future and stay positive!

tiddles · Apr 24, 2012

When I found out I had passed my exams, I was allowed to look at my student file and because I am nosy I did. As part of the selection process, the nursing school had contacted all of my high school teachers to ask them if they thought I could handle the nursing course. To my horror all but one (my french teacher) said they didn't think I could do it. I was so upset because I actually was a pretty good student (well okay, I sucked at history), but what surprised me more was that the school still took me! I guess I showed those nitwit teachers.

Feistn · Apr 24, 2012

School is a whole nother ball of wax when you're a grown up. It's actually better. As you said, you were already making good money, but you REALLY want to do nursing. I took my prereqs at a community college, and all of us second degree people looking to get into nursing school, PA school and whatnot all felt that way. I sat in a class with a former football player from Iowa State, and he said that school was way more awesome and easy when you went to class and did the work. I feel the same way. I had a 2.8 in my undergrad, but I got a 4.0 in my prereqs because I had a goal.

mom_coach_nurse, LPN · Apr 24, 2012

I had surgery last week & got to talking with my nurse who told me her instructor said that to her too. And she DID reply with what you said

mom_coach_nurse, LPN · Apr 24, 2012

I apologize, my comment was meant for Creamsoda.For you I agree with everyone here, do what you think you'll love & don't look back. I'm going back to school after 20 years (omg!) to get my LPN and I'm sooo excited. I know I'll do well because I want it, and so will you.

GitanoRN, BSN, MSN, RN · Apr 24, 2012

like several of the previous nurses here, i was told straight to my face by my own instructor as i quote what she said, "men can not be good nurses is not part of their dna, even if you pass the last test,you will always be tested for the rest of your career, that's if you make it". with that said, here you have me a seasoned nurse, this is the reason why i live by my motto and so it goes... "you can either follow your fears or be led by your passion"

elprup, BSN, RN · Apr 24, 2012

I had a traumatic brain injury. I was told by doctors that I would never be sharp enough again to be a nurse. They told me to find something else, work at Burger King, or go to tech school. I took some classes. I struggled at first. I studied. I read. I cried.But..I proved them wrong! I graduated from nursing school at the top of my class. There is no sign of the injury except a scar on the back of my head.Don't listen to the negatives. If you have a dream, pursue it. Even if you decide nursing isn't for you, at least you'll know. You won't be 50 years old and wonder "what could have been."

You rock!