My article is about how much I want to be an RN. However, now because I am married with a little one, I don't know if I can go to nursing school. My husband is the only one working but his job in the oil field has cut back hours & we don't have the funds or family support for me to go back to school. I also touch on how it has been living & working with epilepsy.
I can't pin point what exactly drew me to nursing. I never had a moment where I said "This is it!". It was more my parents telling me nursing is a good, stable career. So I went along with what they said. I first went to school at a 4 year university, I didn't do well there & eventually moved to a different city.
Before I moved I wasn't sure if nursing was for me. So I looked up different majors at the 4 year university & community college in that town. Eventually I settled on going to the community college & becoming an LVN. I took the TEAS test, got into the program in 2008 & a year later in 2009 I was an LVN.
After the program I went straight to finish my pre-reqs, I wanted to be the first in my class to get my RN. I was so determined to become an RN. But then after I passed my NCLEX in 2010 I started working & just put off nursing school. I figured I would go to school in a year or two, that school would always be there. I was single, what would happen?
Well when I started applying in 2012 it wasn't as easy as I thought to get in. I applied but didn't get in on my first round of applications. I was upset but I was determined. So I kept applying.
Then I met my husband & in 2014 I got pregnant. It was very unexpected but exciting. Of course in the last trimester & last month of my pregnancy I was admitted to a great nursing program. I accepted it but then had to turn it down. I didn't want to but my health wasn't great during my pregnancy & was put on bed rest in the end of my pregnancy. Now my son is 1 year old & I see all these posts about people taking pre-reqs or getting accepted into nursing school. I wish I could do it. But because of my situation I have realized that becoming an RN will only be a dream.
My husband works in the oil field, his hours have been cut drastically & he is gone for 2 weeks & home for 1 week. I have no back up babysitter for my son. Any other family lives an hour away & they all work. We live with my mom but she works & is insanely busy even when she doesn't work. We can't afford a baby sitter or daycare. He went from making $3-4,000 to $1,000 a month. My husband loves what he does, he doesn't do it to be away from us. He misses us every day. He works in very dangerous conditions; in the heat, rain, hail. You name it he is working in it.
I think it also hurts because I have two ex-friends who I don't believe deserve to be RNs, now RNs. It hurts when people you know don't deserve something get something you want so bad. Plus three out of four of my sciences are already expired. I don't have the motivation to retake them. I just want to be in nursing school or have my RN.
I have to add, I was diagnosed with epilepsy as a freshman in high school. I had always tried to fit in and be "normal" despite that. I can't count how many times I ended up in the ER because I drank myself to a seizure when I was in college. Well fast forward to me working as an LVN. I'm working at a county jail PRN, every shift, any shift; 8 hour & 12 hour shifts. This particular night I was working 12 hour shifts & I was suppose to stay over 4 hours in the morning. I feel something is just "off". As an epileptic when you feel something is off, you know something is going to happen. You don't know when or where, but it will happen. So I called my boss & told him I wouldn't be able to work the extra 4 hours in the morning. He begged me, he pleaded with me. I told him I would see how I felt. Well a few hours later I was with my coworker in the nurses station after we passed our meds, the next thing I knew I woke up in the back of an ambulance. So it makes things really difficult looking for jobs knowing I can't apply for certain jobs because I can't work at night.
I want to support my family but I also don't want to leave my son. I want to watch him grow up. It's a very tough decision. Especially when my husband is home only one week a month. It's hard decision to make, going back to school or work. I love my family. I'm not embarrassed living with my mother, I love her & she helps out immensely. I don't know what I would do without her. I do have a great support system but just not the kind I can go to school with right now. I hope one day I can go back to school when my son is older, possibly in school. If not, then maybe I can go back to work. Whatever happens I want to put my family first.
Well considering I know my MIL/FIL financial situation, yes...I can see into the future. The fact that I am setting up my future to go back to school then people are knocking me down is hurtful. I'm trying to go back & my family is helping me. Well I'm going to my neurologist to better my future & prevent any ill outcomes in the future. I will continue to see my neurologist as he sees fit. Once again, I am doing all of this to try to go back to school!
"Death of a Dream" is the title of your post...not, "Postponing My Dream For Two Years Until My Mother-in-Law Retires." I don't know what you wanted people to say, but you got a lot of good advice from people who have been there before.
If you really did have everything figured out, I doubt you would have written that post to begin with. A lot of people were just trying to tell you that you can make it happen.
Hopefully everything works out the way you planned. Do what you want to do. It seems like people are pretty done with trying to offer advice.
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
"Death of a Dream" is the title of your post...not, "Postponing My Dream For Two Years Until My Mother-in-Law Retires." I don't know what you wanted people to say, but you got a lot of good advice from people who have been there before.
If you really did have everything figured out, I doubt you would have written that post to begin with. A lot of people were just trying to tell you that you can make it happen.
Hopefully everything works out the way you planned. Do what you want to do. It seems like people are pretty done with trying to offer advice.
Because that's what it was when I wrote it. Then everyone has told me not to give up, should I give up? I got advice & I am running with it. But when I finally am positive & am trying to change people tell me all this negative will happen. I know the situation my MIL is in, she isn't about to go into debt. Can she get sick with the flu or a cold? Of course. But I will always have a back up. I am also making sure my health doesn't get in the way. I am checking in with my neurologist as much as possible & on birth control.
This plan just happened this week while my husband was off, so no it wasn't all figured out when I wrote this post. Obviously writing this post also boosted me in really wanting me to go back when I can & not give up. I mainly wrote it to vent, I didn't expect to get 1 reply.
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
I thought I'd update.
I'm taking A&P 1 & micro online. Yes, I contacted the nursing program & they have no problem with it. There is also another nursing program close to me that I can apply to (I just need to have A&P 2 within 5 years of applying). So I will be applying to nursing programs end of this year, beginning of next year! Yay!
I'm taking A&P 1 & micro online. Yes, I contacted the nursing program & they have no problem with it. There is also another nursing program close to me that I can apply to (I just need to have A&P 2 within 5 years of applying). So I will be applying to nursing programs end of this year, beginning of next year! Yay!
Well, there ya go! The driver is in the driver's seat!!! No stopping till .... well, you get your DNP!
I'm taking A&P 1 & micro online. Yes, I contacted the nursing program & they have no problem with it. There is also another nursing program close to me that I can apply to (I just need to have A&P 2 within 5 years of applying). So I will be applying to nursing programs end of this year, beginning of next year! Yay!
I put my career on hold for the last decade. I had no idea what I really wanted to be so I welcomed marriage and children. When I finally figured out that nursing was it, I was 28 and I had 3 children ages 1-5. I went on to school, but I didn't make it through. I was terminated from the program and no other program would allow me to apply. I was devestated to say the least. BUT, I really, really wanted it, and it just so happens that another school here recently started a forgiveness program.
I am now 38 and it has been 3 years since I was dismissed. I was recently accepted into a different program and I start my clinicals in just a few weeks. I believe, where there is a will, there is a way, and I plan to show my children that they should never give up on their dreams. You may not be able to go right now, but that doesn't mean your dream should be dead and buried. If you really want it, it doesn't matter how long it takes to get there, only that eventually, you do. Good luck on your journey.
Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
I put my career on hold for the last decade. I had no idea what I really wanted to be so I welcomed marriage and children. When I finally figured out that nursing was it, I was 28 and I had 3 children ages 1-5. I went on to school, but I didn't make it through. I was terminated from the program and no other program would allow me to apply. I was devestated to say the least. BUT, I really, really wanted it, and it just so happens that another school here recently started a forgiveness program.
I am now 38 and it has been 3 years since I was dismissed. I was recently accepted into a different program and I start my clinicals in just a few weeks. I believe, where there is a will, there is a way, and I plan to show my children that they should never give up on their dreams. You may not be able to go right now, but that doesn't mean your dream should be dead and buried. If you really want it, it doesn't matter how long it takes to get there, only that eventually, you do. Good luck on your journey.
I refuse to give up. I am re-taking 2 pre- reqs then applying to two programs. I am praying I get accepted so I can start my bridge program. Congrats to you!!! :)
I know things can seem grim when you're right in the thick of it but you can still be a RN. I'm 36 with 3 smalller children just entering a nursing program. Your age is what you make it! I'm so joyful & outgoing most people think that I'm just turning 30!! Maybe you can find a job with tuition reimbursement or a program where they pay for you to return to school with a contract agreeing to work for them for a length of time. I've found several programs like that at hospitals in my area but they were not advertised!! Had to dig and ask a lot of questions to find out about them. I hope things get better for your family soon! Also don't forget to enjoy your baby they grow up sooo fast! You'll be in my prayers.
Farawyn
12,646 Posts
Yo, Chemo Brain, OUT!