Can I make it in Nursing school?

Jules A, MSN · Jul 11, 2008

Hi and welcome,

How is your stamina? Have you asked your doctor? They probably have the best idea of your abilities and in the meantime I would be traveling to the ends of the earth to get a firm diagnosis. This sounds so scary and I worry that maybe there is treatment that you aren't getting. I wish you the best.

KT08 · Jul 12, 2008

My stamina tends to vary from day to day it seems...I mean I have my good days and my bad ones. I need to ask my doctors about going back to work in general (I have been out for almost a year, when I get retired from the military). And I push my docs so hard to try and figure out exactly what is going on, but because there has not been a positive blood test or anything for sure seen on any mri or anything, its all in my head. Because you know I can give myself seizures, but thats besides the point, lol. I mean I am a very motivated person and part of me thinks that alone could get me through, but I know that is nieve. I dunno, its something I want so badly and I am afraid that if I do not try I will regret it. My husband thinks if I try it will prove to be to hard and then I will regret that....I just dont know. :cry:

Jules A, MSN · Jul 12, 2008

You could always start with a gen-ed class or two and see how you make out. Nursing school itself is very stressful and hard on the body but if you can get through that you should be able to find something you can do as a nurse. I would also ponder what about nursing appeals to you and maybe there is another career that would satisfy that need but not be as physically hard.

Definitely keep trying to get a diagnosis because if I had a penny for all the women, in particular sheesh, that were told it was all in their head only to find something amiss on MRI etc. down the road we could go to an expensive lunch on me! Have you seen a neuro specialist?

Wishing you well.

RNGB · Jul 23, 2008

If its not your head...given all the investigations is it your heart??? you sound a bit bradicardic?? get it checked? that can mess with all your organs including the brain! good luck and if it isn't that then the lungs is the place to go...

wilbur's mom · Sep 21, 2008

Hi! Kt, and everyone,

I think two things, first, you need to do what you have to do to find your way to a dr. for a diagnosis. A neuro specialist at a big teaching university hospital is the way to go. And then, follow your dream, but know that with your pre existing medical disablity, you may indeed not be accepted into nursing school. In fact, for the very reasons you yourself cited, if I were on the admissions board, I would vote no. And I am a nurse with lupus. Unfortunately, as part of the critical nationwide nurse shortage, there is now an even more serious shortage of nursing faculty. So that makes admission to nursing school that much more competive for increasing numbers of applicants. That said, please consider nursing related fields that might get your foot into the profession, so to speak. Medical transcriptionists, pt. care techs, dieticians, medical office assistants, and taking classes part time, may give you an opportunity to prove you are no longer as disabled by your medical condition as you once were. And once you establish what you definitely can do, then re look at nursing school in a year or two, in terms of Hey, I did this so I can accomplish...... and fill in the blank! :typing

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Sep 21, 2008

Good luck, KT.

Until you get a diagnosis there's no way to know about your future, but your present doesn't sound like you're a fit for nursing school. There's no mercy, and you will need some.

:)

mb1949 · Feb 10, 2009

Have you been in the middle east, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, have you thought about gulf war syndrome, it seems there is some type of syndrome among our brave vets that might have something to do with depleted plutonium or something in our weapons, anyway try to find a good dr at your local VA hospital and check it out. I have a friend with some of the same symptons and that is his problem, however he did have to go outside the system to find out. Check out the Veterans orgs on line, and good luck to you. I pray for you and hope your dreams all come through.

mb1949 · Feb 10, 2009

Here is an article I found that might give a hint to what I am talking about, good luck to you, do some research If this applies to youhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2008/nov/11/iraq-afghanistan-veterans-health

UF-UM · Sep 5, 2009

Hey KT08,

I am a 23 yr nursing student with a disability. its hard going through school nursing school on its own, but with a disability it makes it that much harder... but NOT IMPOSSIBLE!! For me it gives me that extra push and drive to carry on. Think about it, those same people who tell you it is not possible probably would have told you the same thing of enlisting in the Air Force. Nobody knows your weaknesses or strengths better than yourself. I was just wondering how your doing now, and what was your ultimate decision?

Best of Luck!