Let me start off by saying, I am 40 (soon to be 41 next month), but always wanted to be a nurse. When I first graduated HS, I was too scared to go to nursing school and didn't have the funds to go (or at least I didn't think so and didn't know much about grants, loans, etc.) But I always envisioned myself as a nurse.
I was a candy striper in my teens and loved it, always felt "important" doing little things in the hospital setting. As I reached my 20's & 30's, although my career was the furthest thing away from a hospital, there was never a time I didn't drive by a hospital and thought to myself....I wish I worked there.
So here I am, for the first time in my life actually contemplating going back to school to become an LPN, for starters. My husband & I have been married for almost 17 years and my children are old enough for me to go back to school and have some time for studying, homework, etc. (there are almost 16 & 11 years old) My entire family is very supportive of me going into nursing, and currently, I do not have to work. I have always been the "bread winner" making more money than my husband, up until now. He has a steady, good paying job that would carry us over until I was finished with school. It would be financially tight for the next year while I am in school, but for right now and over the next year, we could swing it. This is also why I am only considering an LPN to start with. I would like to become an LPN, then go on from there. This would give my a chance to do some work in the field and then pick away at my RN and maybe BSN and who knows from there.
So here is my dilema as I am looking into some of the programs. Do I want to be a nurse for the right reasons?
When I think about nursing, I envision working in hospital settings. Not so much nursing homes or doctor's offices, but in the middle of the "goodies". I love the smell of hospitals, all the equipment, the atmosphere, etc. I want to know what everything does and how it works. I want to put in that IV, adjust that oxygen, make a patient feel more comfortable, chart that information. I want to know how to use a stethescope, take the BP of a patient, learn about treating different diseases, injuries, and all the things a human body can go through and how it can be healed.
Now here is where I am worried that I am wanting to be a nurse for the wrong reasons. Do I like people? Generally, yes. Do I want to hear about their life stories? Generally, OK. But what I do not like are the people that go on and on about every little ache and pain, over and over again. (I have some "friends" that do this and it drives me nuts) I think they are the ones that the industry tag as "frequent fliers" at the ER. Run there for every little sniffle and think they are on their death beds. They just want the attention they get for being "sick".
I want to comfort and help those that are truely in need at the time.
4 years ago, my mother was diagnosed with leukemia, and I spent most of the 9 months with her in the hospital. She was more in than out of the hospital for those 9 months. I was fascinated with all of the things the nurses did and even found myself able to handle things I never thought I could (cleaning her up after she puked or messed herself) She had caths, chest tubes, breathing tubes, etc. at some point during those 9 months. Was in the ICU off and on, which was really fascinating to see all the equipment and things that had to be done to her.
In the end, the leukemia won, but after watching her deteriorate for 9 months, it was better to let her go than go on like she was. The entire experience lit a fire under me for my desire to become a nurse.
So here I am, at a major crossroad in my life and I want to be completely honest with myself before I take the leap. Not only for my own peace of mind, but I do not to put my family through the financial burden the school will have and the time away from them that it will take.
Is it crazy to want to be a nurse more because of all the tools available to treat a person than for having such a deep compassion for people? Sometimes i think the little bit of a "wall" I put up between me and peole could be a good thing. I don't get so easily attached to people that I can keep my whits about myself in an urgent situation.
I am looking for honest and brutal advice here. This is one of the most important decisions I am making right now and want to be completely honest with myself to finally make a decision that has always been on my mind.
Diane in Ohio
16 Posts
A sincere THANK YOU for all the posts, to everyone. You all have given me so much to think about and have really reinforced my passion to be a nurse. I have toured 3 programs so far and I am touring another 1 on Wednesday before I make my decision of which one to attend.
Although I would love to just go straight for my RN, as this is my end goal, I will have to start the LPN route. This is the first time in 20 years that I won't be working since I will be in school full time and I had been the bread winner for the last 12 years. Hubby's job is somewhat secure, as secure as things can be these days, and I can only commit comfortably to the first year. If his job is still secure in a year from now, then I can continue my education toward my RN, whether it be ASN or BSN. My ultimate goal is BSN, but if hubby gets laid off, then it will just take longer to complete. At least as an LPN, I can work somewhere....even if it is not my ideal job. Any job that lets me apply my skills and care for people is good enough. I see this new chapter in my life as one that will oontinue on for years to come with continuing education and learning new skills as well as opportunities to gain experience in different settings.
I am so relieved and so anxious to get started. My son (who is 15) even bought me a book for Christmas from Borders on human anotomy. He saw me checking it out a few weeks prior and wanted to be the first one to buy me something for my new career. I didn't think this would have the impact on him that it has. He tells me that he is so proud of me.....I was just taken back by it.
OK...enough rambling for now. Again, thank you everyone. All of your comments have truely been uplifting.