Feeling very discouraged & confused! Please help!

purple_gal2014 · Jan 5, 2012

amooltie,

You seem like you have things figured out. I wouldn't worry about anything. True the job market for new grad RNs doesn't look so great, but you have quite a while before you have to worry about that. I am sort of in the same boat as you. Sort of. I have a 3 year old son and a husband and a household to maintain, so I understand what you're going through. I started my pre-reqs for City Colleges of Chicago in the Summer of 2010 and I'm almost done and have already applied to the Nursing program for this Fall 2012. I had to start with Math 098 and 099 but I worked hard and I believe you will too. I already have a BA in Sociology and have incurred debt with this degree. I had to make a lot of decisions just like you. But I'm looking forward to my ultimate goal which is being a RN.

Your dream is not far away you'll make it. I'm also working full-time, I know once I start clinicals and theory classes it will be HARD but I want this so bad and I've come too far to stop now. You will realize the same. So keep pushing girl WE CAN DO IT!!!!!

From another CCC student to another girl I got your back! You can private message me if you have any other questions.

itsa307 · Jan 10, 2012

So I'm about to be 24 in May and I just BARELY started getting everything together for college (yes, 5 years later). I will be attending evening courses at Oakton Community College to begin my pre-reqs for nursing, however, I'll be stuck doing a couple lower level course before the actual ones (i.e., pre math which is "mat060"). That is because it's been THAT long and the education level has drifted away from my memory, like literally. I am a mother to a 2 year old and I work full-time and honestly, I have NO choice but to work FT because I'm the only one able to provide. I'm feeling very overwhelmed, discouraged, sad, hopeless, confused and etc because I have SO much to do for the career I'm dreaming of as a RN. For one, it's going to take me a minimum of 3 years to complete all the needed pre-reqs before applying to a 2 year RN program for my associates because I'll be going to school PT. I'm going crazy for many reasons and although I'm thinking WAY ahead, it's what I HAVE to prepare myself with. First things first: If and when I'm in a 2 year RN program, I won't be able to work FT as I am now (from what I hear) and that will be merely impossible as I'm the head of the household. Secondly, by the time I'm done with the 2 year RN program for an associated, NO hospitals will be hiring anyone UNLESS you've got your bachelor's. Again, I know I'm thinking way ahead but I must prepare myself now and figure out what and ANY options I may have to get this all done. PLease help! Any advice, opinions, options, tips, etc would help!
Respectfully yours,
NEW CCC student beginning her pre-reqs Spring 2012

Don't feel discouraged! I was where you were 4.5 years ago. I started one evening class at a time, knocking off all the pre-req and co-reqs that I could. Now I'm in my last semester of Nursing school :) It took me 3 years of all the pre's and co's before I started the program. It probably won't be possible to work "full time 40" while you're in the program but worry about that later. There are lots of single moms making it work. It will all work out! I don't know where you live but I hear Oakton has a great nursing program. What kept me going was I made a plan of what classes I was going to take each semester and where my child would be during that time. It literally was a 5 year plan but it helped me focus on step by step. Our instructors encourage us to continue on for BSN but it isn't necessary to get a job. It may become that way but it's not there yet so don't worry about that right now either. Focus on getting good grades on all the stuff you have to do now because it's important for getting accepted into a program.

KSGMaine, ASN · Jan 10, 2012

I started my nursing degree at the age of 40! I had worked in the insurance industry for 20+ years, had a great career, made big bucks, but wasn't happy and always wanted to be a nurse - so I started, like many one class at a time, I figured time was passing by anyway and it gave me something to do. While I don't have children, I am married and my husband and I share in our expenses equally, so I had to save my money so that when the time came to go into my nursing classes I would be able to quit working while still meeting my financial obligations. I graduated in May 2011 after 6 years of classes with an ADN and just started working on a neuro/trauma floor at the major hospital in my state!! As others have said, take it one class at a time, worry about full-time when it gets closer, (you may even be able to borrow money, I did a little). The unit educator where I worked stated that Magnet hospitals will need to have at least 80% of their RN's hold BSN by 2020, so don't worry about that right now, keep plugging along, it goes by really fast and you will be so glad you did!

KSGMaine, ASN · Jan 10, 2012

Also you may be able to CLEPP out of some of those core classes.....

amooltie · Jan 13, 2012

whats CLEPP out?

amooltie · Jan 13, 2012

I work near Oakton, however I'll probably be more interested in the Truman or Wright program because of the least amount of requirements needed to apply (i.e. no CNA required). but thank you so much for your encouragement.. I'm ready to tackle this regardless of what I may go through!

amooltie · Jan 13, 2012

thank you and I'm sure I'll be PM'ing you soon enough with questions and/or concerns. lol :)

xcoprn · Jan 17, 2012

I was 33 when I started nursing school. I worked not only full time time but at least 60-80 hour weeks. I was and currently am employed as a Detective in the Chicago Police Department. There were many times that I worked 24-36 hours straight and went right to classes or clinicals...believe it or not I think I still had it easier than some of the girls in my classes.

Several were single mothers with young children who were actually pregnant and worked full time as well.

We started with about 130 students and only about 30 from the original 130 finished. There were approximately 8 people who failed on the last test because their CUMULATIVE test scores for the semester were 77.87 and a 78.00 was required for passing...they did not round up.

I acknowledge your stress, but it's a beneficial stress. Some even claify it as eustress [Hans Selye] as opposed to distress. It's the stress that'll enable you to keep those long hours and be disciplined about studying...But you also have to acknowledge that you have an opportunity to make improve not only your life but the life of your child...all of those single moms were one of the approximately 30 that passed!

As a word of caution, when you look at all of the material that you are expected to cover...you are expected to cover it. Don't fall in the mentality that they can't fail all of us...there is a tech in the ER that I work with who just told me that her entire class at Triton failed the mandatory introductory class for nursing school...yes the entire class. Remember if not enough graduates pass the nclex the program goes on probation and then the next year there is no program if the passing rate does not improve...if the program disappears the instructors lose their jobs...

clepp means that you can take an exam and if you pass are not required to take the class...

sgthanzo · Jan 21, 2012

amoltie - take an inventory of all the classes that you need to take and arrange them in the order that you need to take them. If the school that you're applying to has their 'stuff' together, they should be able to give you a "roadmap" of where you are today, where you're going to be a semester from now, and when you should be graduating (approximately). Once you have your 'inventory,' plan on how you can get each one of them classes done (i.e. cash-on-hand, or pell grant to pay for it; baby sitter for kid). Make sure you have "backups" -- meaning if you've only have one sitter on-hand, see if you can arrange for another sitter in case your first sitter is unable to care for your 2-yr old. Once you have your T's and I's crossed and dotted, take your course(s) as planned, pass one quiz at a time, go to one clinical at a time, and study plenty in between. Bottom line... take the challenge one day, one class, one quiz at a time. Plan up to 2-3 wks out, or 2-3 classes out but don't get stuck in the "future." Focus on the here and now and get on a good rhythm. Pretty soon, you'll complete what you've set out for, time would fly by so fast, and next thing you know, your loved ones are pinning you that RN pin.

Goodluck. YOU CAN DO IT! :)

darrarizer · Jan 21, 2012

I suck at and hate math, I took every remedial math course to get into my program, I also scored like a 58% in math on my nursing school entrance test (but a 98% in science), and got into my school of choice on the first attempt. I went to Oakton, but transferred to TCC in Texas to get my ADN. I have worked full time throughout school - prereq's and nursing school, even though everyone said it can't be done, and guess what? TODAY I AM A R.N.!!!!!!!! You can do it!!! Hell, I dropped out of Sandwich, IL H.S. 14 years ago, and all I can say is it takes hard work and dedication. TCC is one of the most sought after BSN programs to get into in the state of Texas, and I thought I couldn't do it. I also thought I may fail due to overwork/school the entire 2 years of my BSN, but I didn't. YOU CAN DO THIS - and if you have any doubt (which god knows, i was plagued with), message me. The best advice I can give you is don't give up, and when you get in IMMEDIATELY apply for all PCT positions available. Most grads in my class are having a hard time getting a job, but the few who did were PCT's during the latter half of their ADN program. GOOD LUCK, GOD BLESS, KEEP US UPDATED!

Oh, also my hospital pays for the ADN to BSN as long as you've worked there before becoming an R.N. - and may I add, I am 32 years old.