Burnt out Housewife/Stay at Home Mom Excited and Scared to Death to Start School.

[grad2009]

Deep breath....so here goes......

I've been a housewife for 19 years and a stay at home mom for 16 of those years. I was a home school mom for 12 years. You know the type...I spent my days teaching, gardening, canning, sewing, baking, scrubbing, going to church etc. I was always busy and never bored. I loved my "pioneer" lifestyle.

Then came my breakdown. Don't ask me what brought it on, because I still can't piece it all together. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and major depression and put on the appropriate medications which I take every day.

However, I came out of the hospital a month later a totally different person. I am no longer that "pioneer" women. NOT EVEN CLOSE. I no longer garden or can at all. I very rarely sew. Cooking and cleaning are minimal and my heart is not in it. Homeschooling is out and we seldom attend church anymore. I am no longer sastified at home with my own company. The old "homebody" is dead. I am not depressed, I am just bored. ( My meds are working great.)

So, I've decided it's time for a career. I start college in January. I'll be taking my nursing prerequisits for three semesters and then four semesters of nursing school ( if I get in according to plan) for a graduation date of May 2009.

I'm so excited and scared to death. I wish school would hurry up and start. If it doesn't start soon I may back out!:rotfl: My family is very proud of and supportive of my decision.

I'm hoping school, and then work, is just what the doctor ordered to fill this void in my life right now.

[RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN]

Wishing you nothing but the best! :)

[stressgal, RN]

Isn't it exciting, the twists and turns the path of our lives take. Everything happens for a reason. Good luck with your new challenges!

[lisamc1RN, LPN]

How exciting! I was a SAHM for 11 years and homeschooled for 5 years. I am also a pastor's wife and spend every Sunday in church. :) It is wonderful to have so many people supporting me in my course. Please let us know how you are progressing! Many blessings to you!

[suextwo]

thanks for being so honest! i too homeschooled but never got into the "i need to make my own bread" to be virtuous group. - could never understand it. realizing that every child is different and has different needs was so important to us - one year we had one in private, one in public and one at home. my husband was going to get me a bumper sticker that said, "If I'm a stay-at-home mom, why am i always in this damn car?" anyway, when i went back to school and started taking prereqs i too felt like i had rejoined the human race. thankfully everyone in my family is extremely supportive and realizes that we ALL need to pitch in to run the family - not just mom. I'm going to the same school as my oldest son. it's never to late to move on to the next "season" of life - but dear burnt out housewife, please don't abandon your faith - please don't ever determine your relationship with God based on people and what people say - especially that subculture you were immersed in. think about it! That is not the voice of God. Faith is the core of who we are. not people. Faith. Just you and God. No one else. We all need HIM. I agree with the person who mentioned "spiritual abuse" - sounds like maybe that's what you experienced - again a people infraction - not God. As far as i know, He's unconditional! Hope all goes well for you.

[dawnslight77]

Hi everyone, I am thinking of starting a career in nursing, but need some simple questions answered? First, can one enter a nursing college with only a high school diploma? Do I have to take some other courses first like Algebra, English etc.? I never took Algebra in High School only business math. Second, what is the best route to take in order to become a psychiatric nurse? Should I start out as LPN, then RN, to get to psychiatric nursing? I am 34, and I don't really want to spend six years in school. I guess what I am really asking is what courses do I need to have to pursue a career as a psychiatric nurse ? If anyone out there can start me out on the path to take I certainly welcome it!

[arciedee]

Hi everyone, I am thinking of starting a career in nursing, but need some simple questions answered? First, can one enter a nursing college with only a high school diploma? Do I have to take some other courses first like Algebra, English etc.? I never took Algebra in High School only business math. Second, what is the best route to take in order to become a psychiatric nurse? Should I start out as LPN, then RN, to get to psychiatric nursing? I am 34, and I don't really want to spend six years in school. I guess what I am really asking is what courses do I need to have to pursue a career as a psychiatric nurse ? If anyone out there can start me out on the path to take I certainly welcome it!

dawnslight, every geographic area is a little bit different in what they require. Depending on what courses you took in high school you may need to take some preliminary courses (i.e. if you didn't take chemistry or biology in high school you may need to take a developmental course at a local community college first). Also, many programs require certain college level courses such as anatomy & physiology, microbiology, psychology, etc. to be taken prior to starting the nursing courses. Your best bet is to look into schools near you to determine whether you need to take certain pre-reqs before nursing school or not. I know that the community colleges in my state allow you to take A&P, micro, etc. along with the nursing courses. However, I believe that students have an advantage in getting accepted if they have completed some of those courses.

As for what to pursue first, the LPN is a shorter route overall, typically one year (possibly more if they have pre-reqs) vs. two years or more for an associate's degree in nursing (RN). There are also LPN-to-RN bridge programs so if you wanted to start as an LPN you could do that. Again, though, you really need to look into your geographic area. LPNs are very limited in where they can practice in some parts of the country, yet in others they are found in virtually all settings. Also, some bridge programs can take as long as going for the ADN in the first place. The best route for you will depend on what area you ultimately want to go into, what is available to you, and your financial considerations.

I know this doesn't explicitly answer your questions, but hopefully it gives you some guidance as to what to look for when you're researching the new career. Best of luck to you!

[Mom2Mayhem]

hi grad2009!

i am in the very early process of starting college for nursing. i have alot to do before i even go to my first class. your post is the first one i have resonded too, and i am right there with you. i am a single mom though of five, and i just want something better. i know nursing is an excellent choice of career for me, and i know it will be hard. but i am looking foward to it and see it all as a great adventure.

i will most likely lurk here and read alot, but i just wanted to poke my head in and say hi!

tamara

[NoviceRN10]

Hi everyone, I am thinking of starting a career in nursing, but need some simple questions answered? First, can one enter a nursing college with only a high school diploma? Do I have to take some other courses first like Algebra, English etc.? I never took Algebra in High School only business math. Second, what is the best route to take in order to become a psychiatric nurse? Should I start out as LPN, then RN, to get to psychiatric nursing? I am 34, and I don't really want to spend six years in school. I guess what I am really asking is what courses do I need to have to pursue a career as a psychiatric nurse ? If anyone out there can start me out on the path to take I certainly welcome it!

I started taking pre-reqs two years ago and will start the actual nursing program in January. So it will be a 4.5 yr venture for me. You definately need to do some pre-reqs, so I would contact the schools near you and find out what programs you have a shot at getting into. I would go for RN over LPN, but I don't know what LPN bridge programs you have access to.

[scastillo1]

I also stay at home and will be starting NS in the Fall. My life feels like groundhog day over and over and over..... I am looking forward to the change and challenge! Good luck to you!

[rnmomtobe2010]

I hear ya loud and clear!! Good luck and happy holidays!!

[catzy5]

I started taking pre-reqs two years ago and will start the actual nursing program in January. So it will be a 4.5 yr venture for me. You definately need to do some pre-reqs, so I would contact the schools near you and find out what programs you have a shot at getting into. I would go for RN over LPN, but I don't know what LPN bridge programs you have access to.

Here is one thing I have to say time fly's!!!

I thought I don't have time to put into all these pre reqs, i want the quick way into nursing school. I sarted my pre reqs fall of 04 one class. Then I took one more, then I thought I want to get into school quicker and work quicker so I started working toward lvn vs the Rn. I needed 3 pre reqs took them all in one semester, however I finished in may 06 you have to wait until fall to apply so I wouldn't have started until spring of 07. so I decided to take the pre reqs for RN while I waited. I did really well my first semester and thought why bother going into LVN so I didn't apply finished my last two pre reqs in may 07 and applied in fall of 07 for spring 08 start in the RN I got in, I start in January and wow I swear it was just yesterday I was taking intro to algebra every saturday wondering how on earth I would get into nursing! There are no quick ways and if you really really want it, just go the distance, the years will pass with or without you being a nurse, I will finish in 2009 (dec) It will have taken me 6 years to get my associtiate degree. (if I successeed through the rn program even).

[birdy88]

grad2009,

I commend you! It takes guts to change your life!

I really love to hear when women are standing up for their lives and pursuing their dreams; I love to hear when women can admit that there is something that they really enjoy in their life besides taking care of kids. I have to recommend a book out there to all the moms/ women etc...The Feminine Mystique, I'm not against being a mom or being a housewife, if you love it thats awesome! (I take care of kids for a living :) ) but this book changed my life, it made me see how much women have to offer the world, how intelligent we are, and how we should challenge ourselves to be everything we can be! (and not just assume a conventional role because people expect it of us) Anyway, good luck on all your studies!!