Decisions, Decisions, Decision...

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Mar 13, 2007

Don't let your fears get in the way of your dreams.

1. I am scared. So am I, but I am making it so far

2. I am shy. So an I at first, but yo can learn to warm up, even if it takes you a whole semester to get 'chummy' with only 2 other classmates

3. I am 41 soon to be 42 years old. Age ain't nothin but a numner

4. There seems to be so much strife between the various levels of nursing...there's no sisterhood...there's no support. There are a lot of jobs like this. Do not let some one elses additude get in your way

5. I am hyper-sensitive. I cry at long distance commercials, if I can do this, you can do this

6. I don't respond well to verbal abuse by co-workers... This will happen at any job

7. I am poor. this is a REASON to become a nurse!!

I hope you do it.

starbabyfive · Mar 13, 2007

heartsopenwide, excellent response to op!!!!

chubbi · Mar 13, 2007

Don't let your fears get in the way of your dreams.
1. I am scared. So am I, but I am making it so far
2. I am shy. So an I at first, but yo can learn to warm up, even if it takes you a whole semester to get 'chummy' with only 2 other classmates
3. I am 41 soon to be 42 years old. Age ain't nothin but a numner
4. There seems to be so much strife between the various levels of nursing...there's no sisterhood...there's no support. There are a lot of jobs like this. Do not let some one elses additude get in your way
5. I am hyper-sensitive. I cry at long distance commercials, if I can do this, you can do this
6. I don't respond well to verbal abuse by co-workers... This will happen at any job
7. I am poor. this is a REASON to become a nurse!!
I hope you do it.

Thanks HEARTOPENWIDE!! You have made my day!!!

chiari:balloons:

Jilaweez, BSN, MSN, RN · Mar 13, 2007

Couldn't have said it better myself. In ten years will you be saying you should've done it when you were only 41 or will you be a nurse?

shoegalRN, RN · Mar 13, 2007

i wouldnt let your reasons stop you from going after your dream. here are my responses:

1. i am scared. i was scared also going from a corporate job i've had for almost 14 years (one year after high school) to taking a leap into the unknown. i still have a great fear of failure but keep telling myself i can do this.

2. i am shy. i am an outgoing and extrovert, sorry, can't help you there. however, i am introverted while in school because i am one of 3 minorities in my program, along with a handful of non-traditional students, so i prefer to sit in lecture alone, study alone, and stay under the radar and away from any drama. if i do have a question, i prefer to get clarification from the instructor.

3. i am 41 soon to be 42 years old. i am 32 soon to be 33 with a 10 yr old son. look at it this way, you will still be 42 soon anyway, would you rather be 42 being proactive or non-productive? i would think proactive which means taking the steps to go for your dream.

4. there seems to be so much strife between the various levels of nursing...there's no sisterhood...there's no support. the only thing i can say here is that you have to make a decision for yourself. you may have heard this time and time again from those who are already in the field, but you must determine if this is true for yourself and that only happens once you have become a working nurse. i am in nursing school and i can't believe this until i have experienced it myself. if this is the case, then i'll deal with it then if it happens to occur.

5. i am hyper-sensitive. hell, so am i. i had to quit watching lifetime because it was not beneficial to my emotional health. i still cry when i watch discovery health channel.

6. i don't respond well to verbal abuse by co-workers...working in customer service for almost 14 years, i know how to deal with verbal abuse from customers and co-workers. i demand respect, i won't tolerate abuse from anyone, i can understand if someone is upset or irate, but you can only control how you react to it.

7. i am poor. hell, i'm not filthy rich myself, but i do ok. look at nursing as a way to not be "poor" any longer.

i hope you follow your dream to become a nurse. good luck to you!

tarnished_angel66 · Mar 13, 2007

I have been having some of the same fears you have, im 40 almost 41, I am also shy to a point and i think its pretty normal to be scared, Im scared and i havent even had my interview yet.....i think they put us through this to make sure we can handle the stress :smackingf:smackingf

allnurses Guide · Mar 13, 2007

Great responses everyone. :yelclap:

I went back to get my pre-reqs for my second career as a nurse when I was 36. Graduated at 40. You can do it.

I'm quiet and a bit of a loner. Also not good with confrontation. However, you must learn the skills to stand up for yourself and your patients because no matter what you do with your life as there will always be bullies.

Others have mentioned working in retail and having to deal with disgruntled customers. I've worked in many types of jobs and there were always backstabbers and pot-stirrers.

Heck, family members can treat you like crap too - :nono:

Maybe in the midst of going back to school you can take a class on assertiveness or read up on being more assertive. I know that in my 20's I was not assertive at all and allowed myself to be treated badly. I'm older and wiser now and while I still hate confrontation, I don't allow myself to be treated disrespectfully. You have to practice this - it is a life skill.

As to being poor - my husband works in a seasonal job and we struggled in the winter to make ends meet but I still became a nurse.

It was hard. But I did it. So can you.

steph

Cinqly, BSN, RN · Mar 13, 2007

:uhoh21: :smiley_ab reasons not to become a registered nurse:
1. i am scared. we all are! i know nothing about nursing except that i want to do it. that's a terrifying thing! i constantly wonder: will i pass me classes? will i understnad the material? will i be able to help my patients? but since i really want to do this, the only thing i can do is try. being scared is normal, just don't let it get in the way of your dreams.
2. i am shy. me too! but at some point in life you just have to take a deep breath and put yourself out there! it's surprising how responsive people can be when you are a friendly, open, genuine person! you'll never find yourself if you hide from others. start small, by smiling and saying hello, and pretty soon you'll be able to have conversations with complete strangers (patients) and think nothing of it!
3. i am 41 soon to be 42 years old. you are never too old to pursue your dreams. period.
4. there seems to be so much strife between the various levels of nursing...there's no sisterhood...there's no support. no support?!? i don't believe that for a second! what about this website? what about fellow nursing students? what about supportive coworkers? what about yourself, friends, and family?!? nursing is all about fellowship and working together! sure, there will be sour apples, but most people want to work together and learn from each other. also, the profession is what you make it. if you create competition, then that is the environment you will be immersed in. if you create an environment of support, then you will find that in your coworkers.
5. i am hyper-sensitive. you can learn to be sensitive without letting every little thing get you down. i can be hyper sensitive about some things, but i learned to really analyze each situation and not sweat the small stuff!
6. i don't respond well to verbal abuse by co-workers...:angryfire well, who does, really? even fiery personalities are affected by harsh actions and words. learn to differentiate between abuse and constructive criticism. if someone is abusing, stand up for yourself! let them know that their words and actions are unacceptable, and will not be tolerated. with constructive criticism, as long as it constructive and justifiable, accept and learn from it. no one is perfect, and you can't be right all of the time. when you are wrong, learn how to correct mistakes and move on. don't dwell on malice; focus on improvement.
7. i am poor. me too! i am so poor, that i barely have enough money to pay all of my bills. but, i am still going to nursing school! i will take out loans, have a part-time job, and apply for every scholarship i can. i will not let money hold me back, because this is what i want to do! plus, nursing is a profession where you will very likely have a job almost immediately upon graduation. there are not many careers that can guarantee that! (ex: i am a musician currently...
i think reasons to become a registered nurse:
1. i care about people and want to make them smile while going thru what maybe a difficult time in there lives.
2. i want to participate in helping them to feel better.
3. i'm a great listener and i like to think i have a great since of humor.
4. i know how it sucks! to be sick and have strange people taking care of you.

it sounds like your heart and motivations are in the right place, but for some reason you don't have confidence in yourself. you need to take a step back and realize that you are a capable person, and have the ability to accomplish your goals. just set a goal of becoming a nurse, and don't let the little things get in the way. i wish you the best of luck in reaching your very attainable goal!

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 13, 2007

1. i am scared.i too was scared when i started, but when i made the decision and commitment, i wouldn't allow my fears to conquer me. i walked through them. there were definatley some nervewracking days.

2. i am shy.i was at first, but with each patient encounter it became easier. most patients are glad to meet you.

3. i am 41 soon to be 42 years old.so? five years from now you'll be my age 47. are you still going to be sitting around wishing you were a nurse or are you going to be one? time will fly by regardless.

4. there seems to be so much strife between the various levels of nursing...there's no sisterhood...there's no support.says who? our retention committee recently did a survey of why the long-term employees stayed over the years. #1 answer "i like who i work with". nurses are too diverse, too scattered around all parts of the country to be part of a "sisterhood", but there is definately support out there. we're here to support you if until you find it.

5. i am hyper-sensitive.this can be worked on. it doesn't have to be a hinderence. nursing has a way of making us strong when we need to be, yet allows us to cry.

6. i don't respond well to verbal abuse by co-workers...:angryfire i don't either. we get as much crap from our coworkers as we are willing to take. since i'm not willing to take any, i don't seem to attract it.

7. i am poor. :sniff: there's financial aid. if you need to you can work as a cna once you're qualified. don't let being poor stop you. i worked for pizza hut mopping floors for $3.80/hr during nursing school. we do what we have to do. actually, my poverty was my motivation.

when there's a will, there's a way, and you can do this.

DesertRain · Mar 13, 2007

Just do it! You are no older than plenty of my classmates. If you were able to volunteer and interact with patients before than you will remember how you did it like riding a bike. Sure you're shy, but lot's of people are, I'm sure once you find an element of comfort be it at school with your classmates or on the job, you will open up...most shy people open up if they are in a comfortable environment. There will always be strife in this world no matter what you do, but I am willing to bet you will notice the bonds more than the battles once you begin. Being poor (as been said) is a good reason to become a nurse. You will probably qualify for financial aids, grants and possibly scholarships and if you have to pay any of them back, you will have plenty of financial means to do so once you are a nurse. My main point to you, wondering "what if" is the worst thing you can commit yourself to for the rest your life. Sometimes things don't work out they way you anticipated but if you can release the questioning of "what if" than it was probably worth the attempt. Good luck and I hope you take the chance to fulfill your dreams.

cursedandblessed · Mar 14, 2007

I'm 40 here, scared and excited all at the same time. I won't start clinicals until fall 2008, with a scheduled graduation of may 2010. Where will I be in May of 2010 if I don't start pursuing my dream now? I'll be 43 still substitute teaching with no real future ahead of me.