failed nursing student

medsurgnurse, RN · Jun 27, 2006

I don't think I'm too old, just too old to want to go through 2 years of prereqs followed by the long waiting list, then two years of nursing school. I want to start working. It we didn't have the wait list, I'd probably try it again. As it stands now, it a dream that will never be fulfilled.

If you have already finished your pre-reqs, and it sounds like you have because you said you were in the nursing program; you don't have to take the pre-reqs again to apply to another program. Try another program, tell them the truth, a health crisis prevented you from completing nursing school the first time. Or you could try LPN school which is generally a shorted program so you could start working sooner.

RebeccaJeanRN · Jun 27, 2006

Yes, that $49 investment sounds like a scam. If you are still wanting to get into medical field, do consider a position on the floor of a hospital, like Unit secretary (as another person suggested). You may get encouraged to try again in nursing, or you may learn of other opportunities from the medical exposure. Perhaps my story may encourage you: I too am 49 and just finishing nursing school. I plan to go on to anesthesia school after working for a year in ICU. That means I won't be done until I'm almost 53. Two years ago I kept thinking how old I was. But now I'm nearly done with school. When I'm 60, I'll think how young this really was... I hope you don't allow your age to stop you from doing anything you have your heart set on! So what if you are older when you finish? You'll be older anyway!

nialloh, RN · Jun 27, 2006

I received a job offer from a place called Health Career Agent. Apparently, you recruit for medical professionals from your home. You have to pay forty dollars for the software and become incorporated. You don't receive a salary because it is your own business.
This sounds like a rip-off to me. What do you think? Have you heard from this company?

DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT buy that software. If you have to pay to get a job, it IS a scam.:angryfire :angryfire :angryfire :madface: Go to a website http://www.scambusters.com and they will tell you that in detail.

The post you need is http://www.scambusters.org/work-at-home-jobs.html .I hope you check it out.

I also agree that you should get some sort of medical job, just to keep you intrested. Good luck.

roxannekkb · Jun 28, 2006

A physician's assistant has ALOT more schooling than an RN !! if she can't study the material for the RN program... and pharmacist?!?????
I have a friend who is a HUC- Health Unit Co-ordinator( unit secretary) and works at a hospital, she loves the job. You could also look into pharmacy tech or medical assitant
good luck !

Her initial post only said that she was thrown out of the program, as she was unable to study at that time. She didn't say that it was a permanent thing, ie, that she would never be able to study again. I offered those suggestions, letting her know that there were other options in healthcare if she decided not to apply for nursing again. That's all.

Plus I also mentioned other "quick" things, like a tech job. They are in high demand and pay well, and schooling is relatively brief.

DDL,RN · Jun 28, 2006

I'm 48 and just finished nursing school. As my mother told me when I was thinking about going to school, "Five years down the road you'll be five years older whether you do something or not!" My friend had to have back surgery after our first year and was unable to continue in the program. She is taking an online nursing program that fits her health and stamina needs. She is able to do the studying and testing at her own pace. There is a clinical component at the end. Have you checked these programs out? Good Luck!

Faeriewand, ASN, RN · Jun 29, 2006

Unit Clerk! That is the other title for Unit Secretary! :) The reason why I mentioned that is because you had some health issues. Nursing is physically demanding but I've read the description for Unit Clerk and it said that you sit down 90% of the time. Maybe a former Unit clerk could tell us what the physical demands are.

It might be helpful if you told us how much education you did get. One semester? Two? Maybe it doesn't matter but the more schooling you have looks better for you if you want to stay in the general field of healthcare. If you have nursing school, just even one semester, it will look good on a resume if you are applying for Unit Clerk! I've checked into what they want for Unit Clerk and they just want some exposure to the healthcare field and knowledge of Medical Terminology. Could be different elsewhere. I was thinking about applying for Unit Clerk myself so that's why I know about it.

Keep us posted on what you decision is!

Faeriewand, ASN, RN · Jun 29, 2006

I just wanted to add that when I first started reading posts here about two years ago that one woman who posted said that she was 58 and in LVN school. Wow! Now that's food for thought! :)

NurseKittyAtlanta · Jul 3, 2006

I wanted to pursue nursing in another school but I'm 49. By the time my condition is resolved and I have to take all those prereqs again, it will be too late.
/quote]
A 62-year old woman graduated with my nursing class. And quite a few of the others were in their 30's and 40's. It is never "too late" if nursing is something that you really want to do.

NurseKittyAtlanta · Jul 3, 2006

Unit Clerk! That is the other title for Unit Secretary! :) The reason why I mentioned that is because you had some health issues. Nursing is physically demanding but I've read the description for Unit Clerk and it said that you sit down 90% of the time. Maybe a former Unit clerk could tell us what the physical demands are.

The unit secretaries in the hospitals I've worked at did sit down quite a bit; however, they were required to have their CNA to be able to help out in emergencies or times of short staffing. That did not happen too often, but it was in the job description. Also, they do get up from their chairs to grab patient charts, send faxes, get items off the printers, etc... If you want to sit down pretty much all day, a job as a receptionist might be better since your job duties would be limited to answering the phone.

LADYFLOWER · Jul 3, 2006

I wanted to pursue nursing in another school but I'm 49. By the time my condition is resolved and I have to take all those prereqs again, it will be too late.
/quote]
A 62-year old woman graduated with my nursing class. And quite a few of the others were in their 30's and 40's. It is never "too late" if nursing is something that you really want to do.
You are so right. Never too late to go to school and better yourself! Isn't the average age of a nursing student around 30?