Confused!!!

moorpark · Mar 10, 2006

I took 3 calender years to get my Associates Degree in Nursing, but the first year was only four classes, to overcome academic deficits from my first try at college when I was much, much younger. I'm a big fan of the community college/ASN route, because it allows you to become a working RN in the least time, but there are some strong arguments to be made for a BSN, especially if you plan to go beyond bedside nursing. My fellow newbies include ASNs, BSNs, and LPNs, and in truth I have yet to see anyone hit the floor as Supernurse, but with a lot of help from our mentors, we're all starting to get it. Nursing school is hard, and the work is (in some ways) harder, but it's very rewarding.
If you do decide on an associates program, there are lots of ways to go from RN (ASN) to BSN, which is what I plan to do, eventually.
P.S. Several of my classmates went straight from school to critical care--ICU or ER. For some, it seems to be working out okay, but others have found wisdom in the traditional view that you should get a couple of years of med-surg floor nursing before you go into critical care. From my own experience, orienting to med-surg is hard enough.

Thanks for the reply..I really appreciate it..! I have been looking over the college courses..and WOW, it is going to take a long time! I was forced into the work world at any early age due to family issues and have no college behind me. I am 38, it will take 2 calendar years to do my pre-requists, 2-year waiting period to get in, and 2 years in nursing school! How discouraging that at the YOUNGEST, I will be 44ish years old. As you watch all the newbies come aboard, do you see any in this age category?? I'm trying to hold onto optimism, but it's hard when I think of balancing full time work, children, and school...I don't care about the sacrafices I make, more about the burden on my family. Any other thoughts??? Thanks so much..I really appreciate it!!!

nursemike, ASN, RN · Mar 10, 2006

Thanks for the reply..I really appreciate it..! I have been looking over the college courses..and WOW, it is going to take a long time! I was forced into the work world at any early age due to family issues and have no college behind me. I am 38, it will take 2 calendar years to do my pre-requists, 2-year waiting period to get in, and 2 years in nursing school! How discouraging that at the YOUNGEST, I will be 44ish years old. As you watch all the newbies come aboard, do you see any in this age category?? I'm trying to hold onto optimism, but it's hard when I think of balancing full time work, children, and school...I don't care about the sacrafices I make, more about the burden on my family. Any other thoughts??? Thanks so much..I really appreciate it!!!

I've read that the average age for an RN is now 48, so I was average when I graduated! In my class, the vast majority were "non-traditional" students--in fact, it's nearly impossible to get in right out of high school, although there were some who did. I was one of the older students, but not the oldest, and about half of our 80 students were well over 30. Quite a few were over 40.

I really recommend checking out any community college within commuting distance, although they can be tough to get into because of the high demand.

A young friend of mine is a single mom who just got accepted for next year. She has understandable concerns about full-time school/part time work and raising her child, but the sacrifices she's making now will benefit her child's future, as well as her own. I know I often felt that I was neglecting my family and my job for school, but I was lucky in that I already worked in a hospital, so they were very supportive of my move into nursing, and my family consisted of my father and my cats, who were able to take care of themselves for the most part. Still, it ain't easy.

Some of my friends were leaving well-paying jobs to become nurses, others were working on career advancement, like me. At my school, nursing students are notorious for being almost fanatically motivated, and nearly all of us made it through, somehow.

I don't know whether you need a nursing job, or already have a decent one. Either way, if you think it's for you, it's really a great career. A couple of my classmates had to drop out because they just couldn't manage school and life at the same time, but I don't know anyone who was able to make the necessary sacrifices who didn't feel it was worth it, in the long run. From a purely pragmatic point of view, it's a decent-paying job with fairly flexible hours and you can find work just about anywhere in the country. There are plenty of degrees that don't offer nearly the range of opportunities. Plus, it's really nice going to work at a job where you feel genuinely needed.

nurse_clown · Mar 10, 2006

wow! it looks like you've had a very interesting career history. i think you already have one foot in the door with your experience with ppl being a flight attendant and real estate agent. i have a cousin who's an airline pilot and his wife is a flight attendant. and funny, his brother (my other cousin) sells real estate!!! they are very kind and friendly people. i think you have to be a good listener with both those jobs. i'm pretty sure you have to be intelligent and study a lot to be succesful in both those careers. so nursing school should be easy for you too. a positive attitude is also key for the jobs you've had. in nursing, we get into some pretty sticky or messy situations and when things are down, we still have to keep a positive attitude so we don't scare the patients.

before i went to nursing school, i took a health science prepatory course (wasn't all that good with english though). it covers the sciences like biology, chemistry and physics. we also took the english, math, sociology, psychology. i really liked the science stuff and sociology. i took the associates degree route. the prep course was so helpful because when we studied biology, physiology and pathophysiology in nursing i could visualize the different cells involved in the disease process.

anyway, i didn't check where you are from and i wouldn't be able to advise you on a path to take in your area. but i'd like to encourage you to follow this great idea and i think you'd find nursing very interesting and rewarding. i wish you the best of luck!!

:biggringi

:nurse: :clown:

RN1263 · Mar 10, 2006

reply to moorpark..

i'm 35, married and have one son...oh yeh and i also have m.s....i've been in college for 2 1/2 yrs. and will be finished w/ my adn in one more year...

here's my two cents....volunteer or work as an aid in a nursing home or a hospital (especially if you don't have ANY healthcare experience) to see if you can stomach it before you invest your time and money. here's why, thinking about wanting to be a nurse and actually being one (or a student nurse) are two different things. i'm on a med/surg floor this semester measuring vomit & diarrhea, wiping butts, ect., ect. and i don't like it!!!! i can handle blood...no problem, but the other stuff makes me want to hurle!....

so, w/ that being said yes i'm going to finish school, but i hope to get into psych when i'm done, so i don't have to deal w/ the grosser side of nursing as often...i'd rather deal w/ mental health issues!

so, now on an inspirational note- yes, you CAN do it regardless if you have a family and kids...also, there are at least three students in my class that are in their early 50's....but, you definately have to be motivated and driven because the courses are hard. so, decide what you want and if it is nursing then go for it and don't let anyone discourage you!

casualjim · Mar 11, 2006

... I am 38, it will take 2 calendar years to do my pre-requists, 2-year waiting period to get in, and 2 years in nursing school! How discouraging that at the YOUNGEST, I will be 44ish years old. As you watch all the newbies come aboard, do you see any in this age category?? I'm trying to hold onto optimism, but it's hard when I think of balancing full time work, children, and school...I don't care about the sacrafices I make, more about the burden on my family. Any other thoughts??? Thanks so much..I really appreciate it!!!

Relax, I started last year at 43, I'm going to be 46 when I graduate, I am by no means the oldest in my class. You wont be either.

I also didnt have a lot of college, as I mentioned in another post. One thing that I found out by the end of my first "real week of college." is that life experience really counts for a lot. Classes aren't as intimidating as they were when I was 17. Good luck.

aloha

Jim

sharann, BSN, RN · Mar 11, 2006

Hi Moorpark, I live not too far in the San fernando Valley. You are NOT too old. I am 36, graduated at 31, but I work in the PACU(Recovery room) with a 61 yr old, 63 yr old, a couple of ladies in ther early 50's and one areound 34-35. So you should be fine! It;s not the age but the passion and drive you have. The 3 or 4 years it takes you are worth it. If possible, try to go full time to school. Get loans, grants, move back home, anything. If you go part time you may lose interest and it will take forever. Go for it!

Doesn't Moorpark College have a program?

LoveMyBugs, BSN, CNA, RN · Mar 11, 2006

Its so do able, if you have the drive. I am a single mom with two boys, one who has special needs. Attened school full time and work part-time, it is all done as a very carfully planed balancing act. I have been in school for two years working on my pre-reqs, and have applied to nursing schools. While I have been taking care of the pre-reqs I have been able to atain my Associate in General Ed. As for the age I am in the younger end of the age range in my classes. There are at least three people in my A&P class over the age of 55. Best of luck to you.