feeling frustrated by AN posts and second guessing myself

[jlpsu]

This is not another "should I be a nurse" question. I KNOW I want to be a nurse. My mother was a nurse for 40 years. I wanted to go into nursing back when I was in college in the early 90's, but my mother talked me out of it (Go figure). I am now 39 years old, have had a few career detours (2 BS degrees later), but am now 100% ready to pursue my dream.

I've researched the job market IN MY AREA and right now, it's still good. But I don't know if it will be in 2 years...then again, how could I know that? I can only see what they are projecting...which all bodes well for me down the road.

BUT - I've been reading AN for about a month now...daily...many times a day in fact...and I am just bummed out! No one seems to like their job, their managers, their co-workers...and this is if they are lucky enough to HAVE a job. That coupled with the fact that my (extended) family thinks I'm crazy for going back to school because I am married with 4 kids and have been a stay at home mother for many years and do not (financially) have to work...(emotionally - that's another story), makes me just completely question everything I thought I knew. Husband is behind me 100% which is a huge plus. This is my last shot...I've gone to school twice tip toeing around what I really wanted to do because I was afraid of the science courses. No more. I have a 3.9 in computer science...I'm not afraid of science any more...I have more confidence now than I ever have....

I really WANT to be a nurse. I don't care about the money you make or am delusional and think it's all a piece of cream pie. I, of course, want to contribute to my family's finances...but we've done just fine for 10 years on one income...so it's not money that's motivating me is what I guess I should be saying.

So what IS motivating me? I don't know...I just have always wanted to BE A DAMN NURSE! I'm not thinking ahead to when I'll be a NA or a NP or an ABCDEFG...I just want to go to school, be a nurse, and go from there.

But now...reading AN where the only excited people are the nursing students, and everyone else, even here, is looking at me like "Nursing? Really? you're an idiot". And more like..."you want to work? you're an idiot". Same thing in this case. Well...the whole thing is enough to make me want to eat an entire DQ cake myself. And I just left the gym...

*sigh* I'm frustrated, scared, and have 2 weeks before my pre-req classes start.... UGH!

[jlpsu]

Sounds like you are an adult. What's been discussed here is real. You've got 2 other degrees, so you are not a newbie to the costs of educaton either.

I'm not one to sugar coat it or tell you to go after your dream. Those words are for children, really. I think once you have two degrees and are also your age, you need to know what's what. This ain't no fool'in around. If you have no need to work to support yourself or your family, and it sounds like maybe someone else will pay for this degree as well, then do it. No loss.

In the end you are going to make your own decision as with all in life.

My advice to you is take a CNA course. They are short and include onsite work. Try to get some part-time work as a CNA. If you still want to be a nurse after that, then nothing is holding you back.

All good advice...except that I will say that "Someone Else" will not be paying for this degree. My husband and I will be paying for it with our joint accounts. See, this is something that bothers me as a stay at home parent, and of the many reasons why I want to work. SAHM are just not valued. My husband and I have been married for 16 years. He works, I've raised our kids. But the money is OURS. I play my part of the team, he plays his. The money isn't his because he's the one that works outside the home. I work plenty inside the home. But I face that perception all of the time so it's not new...although it is just as annoying.

I appreciate the advice and I will look into the CNA programs...although I don't know how I would do that; go to school and raise 4 kids at the same time, but I will certainly look into the requirements of the job. I thank you for your input...

[RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN]

GO FOR IT! Do what YOU want and fulfill that 'dream'. You are very lucky to not need this financially, so if lets say you cannot find a job after you graduate right away, then it won't be the end of the world for you.

Most people are greatly affected because they depend on getting a job right away after nsg school.

As far as all the negativity you read on here, this is a place for NURSES to vent and commiserate with one another. Please let us do just that. Let this place continue to be what it was intended to do.

If you truly want this, then you should have no problems moving right along, staying away from 'negative and discouraging' threads and follow your heart to the finish line.

Much luck

[netglow, ASN, RN]

Op, I would not bring that up much during school or while at work. Lots of people here swing huge education debt and must work to feed thier families. You will gain no sympathy. Nursing school will not give you any either. CNA school is not difficult and it is short term. Nursing school will take most of your time. You will need someone to care for your children.

[diva rn, BSN, RN]

Op, I would not bring that up much during school or while at work. Lots of people here swing huge education debt and must work to feed thier families. You will gain no sympathy. Nursing school will not give you any either.

I don't think she is looking for sympathy.. I think she is still just making sure she really wants to do this before she makes the investment. It doesn't really matter where you get the money does it? It's still an investment and you need to make sure you want to do it.

[bsyrn, ASN, RN]

Follow your :redbeathe that's the best advice I can give you.

[klone, MSN, RN]

I don't think she is looking for sympathy.. I think she is still just making sure she really wants to do this before she makes the investment. It doesn't really matter where you get the money does it? It's still an investment and you need to make sure you want to do it.

And I think that's why OnaClearDay suggested doing the CNA thing - to get her feet wet and see if she thinks it would be wise to invest in further education .

[diva rn, BSN, RN]

And that is certainly an option, but I knew at age 40 when I went to nursing school what I was getting into...I didn't have to be a CNA to understand what a nurse did. I think she does too. Also, as she stated. Her mom is a nurse of 40 years, I'm not sure waiting another several years while she does the CNA route is wise.

That's all.

[xtxrn, ASN, RN]

I'm in a bit of a different situation than a lot of nurses here (but I'm by no means alone). I would give anything to be back in the organized (mostly-lol) chaos of nursing. I loved it, and my patients- even the loopy ones now give me reasons to smile, or roll my eyes :) I've been on disability for 7 years, and they've been the worst of my life. A night up to my boobs in poop sounds great about now!

Don't let your age discourage you. I went to an ADN program, and started when I was 19- but I was the exception. The vast majority were "older", and pursuing second careers, had families, etc- and they did fine. The process weeds people out with stiff grading scales, so the class was whittled down from where we started from, but all who graduated passed boards on the first try.

After time to 'grow up', have a family, and get other degrees, you still want to be a nurse- that says a lot. And during school, you will see more of how some of it works (school is not a totally realistic picture)- if you decide you don't want it somewhere in the process, the worst you've done is get some information to make any additional decisions :)

You don't sound like you're in it for the money- which is a huge plus... you're looking at the job, not what you're going to get out of it.

Good Luck :)

[klone, MSN, RN]

And that is certainly an option, but I knew at age 40 when I went to nursing school what I was getting into...I didn't have to be a CNA to understand what a nurse did. I think she does too. Also, as she stated. Her mom is a nurse of 40 years, I'm not sure waiting another several years while she does the CNA route is wise.

That's all.

But yet, here she is posting, questioning whether she should become a nurse.

Where I live, it only takes about 4 weeks to become a CNA. No need to invest several years in the experiment. She may need the CNA course for nursing school anyway (I did, as did my husband).

[diva rn, BSN, RN]

But yet, here she is posting, questioning whether she should become a nurse.

Where I live, it only takes about 4 weeks to become a CNA. No need to invest several years in the experiment. She may need the CNA course for nursing school anyway (I did, as did my husband).

Oh, ok, I was thinking that it was more of a year thingie...I didn't need the CNA thing for school, so that's sort of foreign to me;)

[hikernurse]

I respect you for staying at home:redbeathe. Believe me, there are many days when my work day is a whole lot easier than staying at home. I went to nursing school with more children than you currently have, including a nursing baby, and it was do-able. With a wide range in ages of my children, we had to pay for nursing school as I went because my older ones were on the cusp of starting college and there is no way we could have gone into school debt. Things were pretty lean for awhile.

My point is, it is definitely something you can do, but you may need to cut down on some extra curricular activities you may be used to doing--PTA, dishes, lol, etc. Family came first, then school. You get good at focusing so that you can study in the least time possible. I've been a nurse for several years and while there are times I wish I didn't have to work holidays, etc., I can honestly say I have never regretted my decision. Go for it, is my opinion.

[RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN]

And that is certainly an option, but I knew at age 40 when I went to nursing school what I was getting into...I didn't have to be a CNA to understand what a nurse did. I think she does too. Also, as she stated. Her mom is a nurse of 40 years, I'm not sure waiting another several years while she does the CNA route is wise.

That's all.

Agreed. One shouldn't have to become a nurse to feel appreciated for being a SAHM and pulling their weight. I can think of plenty other things I could do rather than a back-breaking professing than nursing

I'd volunteer, help LOLies cross the street etc.

OP sounds like she really wanted to follow her mother footsteps as a nurse and since she was adviced against it by her very own mother and family, now she doesn't want to go on saying........what coulda, shoulda, woulda.

Best of luck. Nursing is great for many reasons but definitely not for anyone. My biggest motivator to stay (on the days I ask my self, what the heck did I get myself into)........is the hours and money are great. Then, I come back to earth and realize, I really do make a difference and love nursing minus the damn politics and BS that tags along...........haha