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

Nurses General Nursing

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Hello Everyone!! :nurse: I'm just wondering, trying to get some life stories and motivation! :redpinkhe I am 23 years old and have been working full time since high school at a car dealership. I make great money for my age. However nursing is something I have always been fascinated with! I've always had a keen interest in nursing and I have finally taken the steps to pursue it! I have given up my full time, well paying job to do a part time medical assistant/medical reception job, and go to school to do my nursing prereqs. People always say, "Oh you'll never be able to get through school." or "Are you sure you're doing the right thing?" "It's a lot of hard work most people can't handle it." Kind of some discouraging things coming my way. I just want to hear other peoples stories to really motivate me more than I already am! I have supported myself since I was 18 years old, and I am very responsible and mature. When I want something I will work to get it no matter what! Just sometimes when people say things like that, I guess I doubt myself, or second guess my decision. I would like to hear some peoples stories about how they overcame the negativity and pursued their nursing career. Was it the right choice? Are you satisfied and happy with the outcome? I look forward to hearing your stories! :specs:

OP you might want to wait a liitle bit until the nursing profession picks up job wise, since you are making good money right now. Finding a nursing job these days, even with a BSN is tough. That is unless you have connections in the medical field. Definitely domnot let anybody deter you though! Just wanted to give you heads up on the dismal nursing new grad emplyment scene.

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Specializes in Adult/Ped Emergency and Trauma.
Nursing is hard. Nursing is challenging. Nursing is emotional. Nursing is death. Nursing is life.

Nursing will be the hardest thing you will ever do.

Nursing right now you will find that new grads are having a really hard time finding jobs. From a contributor to AN RubyVee

Do you want to be a nurse? There's more to it than a calling. Here are some questions to consider.

https://allnurses.com/nursing-career-advice/those-considering-career-653061.html

One of my nursing Instructors told me numerous times I would never make a good nurse because I was a loner and I didn't delegate very well..........that was some 34 years ago. If you really, really want to be a nurse. Then be one. I wish you the best.

Being a NURSE means......

You will never be bored.

You will always be frustrated.

You will be surrounded by challenges.

So much to do and so little time.

You will carry immense responsibility and very little authority.

You will step into people's lives and you will make a difference.

Some will bless you. Some will curse you.

You will see people at their worst-and at their best

You will never cease to be amazed at people's capacity for love, courage, and endurance.

You will see life begin-and end.

You will experience resounding triumphs and devastating failures.

You will cry a lot.

You will laugh a lot.

You will know what it is to be human and to be humane.

Melodie Chenevert, RN

I want to be JUST LIKE Esme12 when I grow up!!!!:redbeathe

I alway's THRIVED off being told what I "Can't" do. Givem Hell!

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Specializes in Adult/Ped Emergency and Trauma.
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"

ok, i want to be 1/2 esme, and 1/2 gitano!!!:thankya:

never let anyone else define you, your abilities, your strengths, or your weakness!!!!!!

"mistakes are never made by those who never tried." -someone smarter than me

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All of you are so beautiful and encouraging, truly brought tears to my eyes! I am more motivated than ever! I can not thank you for all of the support even from strangers. You guys are all angels! I am happy to say I KNOW I've made the right choice! :redbeathe The money at my other job may be nice, but it doesn't make me fulfilled and happy, I know what I want now, and I'm going to go get it! What a beautiful way to start my day! I can not thank you all enough for the encouraging words!! God bless you all! :kiss

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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!

wow, what an absolutely beautiful story. i wish you and your child all the best! what a beautiful inspiration! i can not thank you enough!

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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."

I am just speechless. THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL STORY AS WELL! You are such a beautiful inspiration to me. YOU ALL ARE! These stories have me in tears this morning. You have all set a fire in me that has got me going! Thank you so much! I wish each and every one of you the best of luck in your lives! :redpinkhe

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Specializes in Pedatrics, Child Protection.

Hi there,

After highschool I went straight to university in the recreation program. I had fun that year, didn't do well and quit after that year. I took a year off and looked into applying to college for nursing.

I went back to my highschool to get some help from the guidance counsellor and to find out how to take the biology course I was missing.The guidance counsellor told me that I would probably make a good nurse, but I just wasn't smart enough.

Well, here I sit, 18 years later with a master's degree in nursing. Who's not smart enough now?Moral of the story: just like everyone else has said, do what you want. You're not alone in being burdened with negativity.

RNAnnjeh

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I graduated from High School and went on to a 4 year school and graduated with a degree in Psychology and Statistics. After I graduated, I realized I didn't want to be like the social workers or counselors I saw in the wards, but rather the psych nurses who were providing constant care to the patients. I decided that it was off to nursing school for me. I enrolled in the community college to complete the pre-reqs and for the past 3 years it seemed like everyone and their mom knew someone who was so brilliant, and such a great student, who has been volunteering at the hospital for years and was unable to get into a nursing program. While working full time (coincidentally, also at a car dealership!) I spent my days off, nights and weekends taking clases in chemistry, biology and math. I even took Anatomy & Physiology II, Microiology and Chemistry in the same semester, working 45 hours a week and passed them all with a B+ or better! It has been 2.5 years since I graduated college with my Bachelor's degree and I finally completed all the pre-reqs for the nursing programs and submitted my applications to nursing school.

The applications were due by January of this year for the few programs I applied to.

"Don't get your hopes up, it is almost impossible to get into a nursing program."

"When so and so got out of college with her health sciences degree, she couldn't get into a program and she had awesome grades and has been riding on the ambulance since high school."

"If you've gotten any but an A in any of the pre-reqs then there's no way they are even going to consider your application."

About two weeks ago the decisions started going out and I was so upset......that I would have to pick from ALL the schools I applied to, just one to get my RN from!!!!! ALthough I have yet to hear back from my #1 choice school, I was accepted to my #2 choice and all the others I applied to, and will be starting nursing school in the fall.

Sometimes people think they are being helpful being what they consider objective or by playing devil's advocate, but I was blessed that I had awesome parents and a wonderful boyfriend who supported me during the past few years. My boyfriend would quiz me with index cards all hours of the night so that I felt comfortable for an exam!

If you want to be a nurse....you will be a nurse. Find that one person who supports your decision and go to them to voice any concerns you have.....I guarantee they will eradicate any of your fears. You remind me so much of myself (my dealership was so supportive of my goals! They are flexible and I plan on staying there until I get my RN!) and if I can do it...so can you!!!!!

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

Yep, directly and indirectly. Its so easy to make assumptions about a person and what they are capable of. Some may be able to "talk the talk" but definitely cannot "walk the walk". Unless these individuals have walked in my shoes, they really do not know what it is like to be, me. They can judge and assume anything they please. But, that still does not change the fact that I was meant to be a nurse. I have a STRONG sense of character, always have. My determination is solid and grounded. I have worked HARD to get where I am now. I have paid alot of prices along the way in my journey. I have battled injustice and unfairness head-on. I've dealt with my own self-doubt and insecurities along the way.

The bottom line is: NO ONE IS GOING TO TELL ME WHAT I CAN AND CANNOT BE. IMPOSSIBLE DOES NOT EXIST. :)

Wow! Where did that come from? :lol2: Its true, nontheless.

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I was told nurses were stupid, I was stupid for wanting to me one, and I would never make it as a nurse. I always keep these thoughts in my head throughout school. Three weeks until graduation :) Hope I can survive.

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Specializes in Adult/Ped Emergency and Trauma.

You can't argue with insanity, please, don't even try.

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Specializes in Trauma, ER, ICU, CCU, PACU, GI, Cardiology, OR.
i was told nurses were stupid, i was stupid for wanting to me one, and i would never make it as a nurse. i always keep these thoughts in my head throughout school. three weeks until graduation :) hope i can survive.

needless to say when you encountered individuals with ignorant remarks like the ones you mentioned, keep in mind that "you might be living someone elses dream" that for whatever reason they weren't able to accomplished. lastly, i have no doubt that you'll be able to survive and reach your goal...as i wish you the very best in all of your future endeavors...aloha~

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