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]

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.

Hmm...it never dawned on me that anyone would think I was looking for sympathy by simply explaining that I don't have to work for financial reasons. If I'd said that I wanted to become a nurse to make money, you'd be all over me for that too. I couldn't possibly win. I was simply trying to illustrate that I want to be a nurse for more than financial gain. That's all.

I can assure you that every single penny we have was hard earned. We didn't start out financially sound and I'm grateful that we are now. So yes, I want to make sure that any money we spend on furthering my education is well thought out. Just because we don't need my job to make ends meet, does not mean that I am frivolous or reckless with our money. In fact, it means the opposite. My children are all school aged and I have family nearby, and a very supportive husband, so I am not very concerned about that point.

All of that being said, if someone at nursing school or work does not like me, or appreciate me, because I am working because I WANT to rather than because I HAVE to..then shame on them. As long as I am working just as hard as everyone else, it shouldn't matter one iota WHY I am working there. Additionally, people who are more financially secure are not bad, spoiled or looking for sympathy because they are so. Why anyone would think that is beyond me. My friends do not care what my w-2 says, and I don't care what theirs say. I care that they are caring, generous, loving, hardworking people who give back to the world. I'm not sure why my coworkers or fellow nursing students would care either.

Geez...this went all the wrong way from my trying to vent my frustration. Now I feel like I have to defend the fact that I WANT to work.

[diva rn, BSN, RN]

NO you don't, let that one post go and read all of the other responses that said GO for it...it doesn't matter where you get the money from..it's none of anyone's business...don't even think about that again.

[RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN]

Well, to be honest why any grown woman or man would need to start a thread validate why they want to go to nursing school is beyong me.

Just do it or don't. You know what you want and how to get there. Don't put your life and situation out there on a public forum frequented by thousands and expect people to sit on their hands. People will respond and sometimes you will not like their opinios so why even post them to begin with.

I guess I can uderstand if you are graduating high school but as a grown woman with many degrees...........just do it and get it over with. Stop feeling frustrated and stop second guessing yourself.

The only person you should be discussing this is your husband and kids. Avoid the undesired responses.

I agree, ignore all of our posts. Afterall, none of us are going to hold your hand through nursing school.

Much luck!

[jlpsu]

Well, to be honest why any grown woman or man would need to start a thread validate why they want to go to nursing school is beyong me.

Just do it or don't. You know what you want and how to get there. Don't put your life and situation out there and expect people to sit on their hands. People will respond and sometimes you will not like their opinios so why even post them to begin with.

I guess I can uderstand if you are graduating high school but as a grown woman with many degrees...........just do it and get it over with. Stop feeling frustrated and stop second guessing yourself.

The only person you should be discussing this is your husband and kids. Avoid the undesired responses.

Much luck!

Ugh...Ok people. Thanks very much to the people that offered valuable advice. I will look into the CNA route..although a quick prelimary look shows that it costs nearly $1000 and takes several months here. I am also going to look into volunteering at the hospital on my off days from class.

We can put this to bed now. I wasn't asking whether I should be a nurse. I said that at the beginning of my post. I was simply venting..like all of you do here all damn day. I'm sorry it turned into how I'm going to pay for it and how freaking old I am to be venting in such a way.

I AM going to do it...was never NOT going to do it. Was just venting. Sorry.

Thanks @DivaRN...I appreciate your support....Truly. :redpinkhe

[Jenni811, RN]

I don't HATE my job. I like my job, but it is and always will be second to my family.

Sometimes it just gets frustrating with everything required in nursing. Administration just keeps wanting more more more and more from nurses. It's not that we HATE our coworkers, i love my coworkers. I wouln't be able to do my job without them, but sometimes they frustrate me. AN is a place you can go and talk about your frustrations and have people completely understand where you are coming from.

I'm 23, so i don't have a lot of "frustrations" in life right now. And when i come home and try to talk to my fiance, a mechanical engineer, he doesn't understand.

So no, majority of us don't hate our jobs. I would never talk anyone out of not going into nursing. unless of course they are going into it for the wrong reasons.

[jlpsu]

Oh..and one more thing. My mother DID discourage me in the beginning...but after seeing how many years I've talked about it and being in a place where my children are older and I have some time to do what I want to do...she is absolutely behind me. My mother was a fabulous nurse for 40+ years, and she thinks I'll make a great nurse. But she did warn me that some other nurses are not kind....And gee...whadda ya know

I can take it though. I figure if I STILL want to be a nurse after getting beaten down on AN and hearing what the rest of you have to say all of the time...then I must REALLY want to be a nurse! So thanks everyone for that

[RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN]

Ugh...Ok people. Thanks very much to the people that offered valuable advice. I will look into the CNA route..although a quick prelimary look shows that it costs nearly $1000 and takes several months here. I am also going to look into volunteering at the hospital on my off days from class.

We can put this to bed now. I wasn't asking whether I should be a nurse. I said that at the beginning of my post. I was simply venting..like all of you do here all damn day. I'm sorry it turned into how I'm going to pay for it and how freaking old I am to be venting in such a way.

I AM going to do it...was never NOT going to do it. Was just venting. Sorry.

Thanks @DivaRN...I appreciate your support....Truly. :redpinkhe

Your title :feeling frustrated by AN posts and second guessing myself

So sorry I am not understanding

Lastly, we all people (nurses) vent all damn day as you say because this site was created for us. :)

[diva rn, BSN, RN]

Well, to be honest why any grown woman or man would need to start a thread validate why they want to go to nursing school is beyong me.

Just do it or don't. You know what you want and how to get there. Don't put your life and situation out there on a public forum frequented by thousands and expect people to sit on their hands. People will respond and sometimes you will not like their opinios so why even post them to begin with.

I guess I can uderstand if you are graduating high school but as a grown woman with many degrees...........just do it and get it over with. Stop feeling frustrated and stop second guessing yourself.

The only person you should be discussing this is your husband and kids. Avoid the undesired responses.

I agree, ignore all of our posts. Afterall, none of us are going to hold your hand through nursing school.

Much luck!

This is beyond rude and condecending.

She was venting for the same reasons you have vented I am sure over the years...I wonder if anyone has ever answered any of your posts in this manner...

Frankly, I am at a loss for words for this epitomizes all of the posts where people have been saying "why is everyone so mean?" most of the time I blow those off and don't pay attention, but this got to me....

She was only looking for advice--not someone to hold her hand...are you really that cold??

I sure wouldn't want you taking care of my mother with that attitude...you may be an excellent nurse, I don't know, but your compassion just tanked.

[RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN]

Oh..and one more thing. My mother DID discourage me in the beginning...but after seeing how many years I've talked about it and being in a place where my children are older and I have some time to do what I want to do...she is absolutely behind me. My mother was a fabulous nurse for 40+ years, and she thinks I'll make a great nurse. But she did warn me that some other nurses are not kind....And gee...whadda ya know

I can take it though. I figure if I STILL want to be a nurse after getting beaten down on AN and hearing what the rest of you have to say all of the time...then I must REALLY want to be a nurse! So thanks everyone for that

Smart woman your mother is. I might not recommend nursing to my own daughter myself.........we will see when the time comes.

I suppose this comment is intended towards all the 'negative' ones that have posted on here for the day.

Word of advice, start growing some tough skin and I will cut you a slice of humble pie.

[klone, MSN, RN]

This thread is icky.

JLPSU...I wish you the best of luck, whatever you decide.

[jlpsu]

Your title :feeling frustrated by AN posts and second guessing myself

So sorry I am not understanding

Lastly, we all people (nurses) vent all damn day as you say because this site was created for us. :)

Boy.....nasty much?

Did I ask ONE time if I should be a nurse in my post? No. I was venting. I'm sorry that you feel that I am not welcome on this site because I am not a nurse yet...so I am not permitted to vent. I suppose they should remove the entire student sections and pre nursing sections then.

People like you are the exact reason why new people are afraid to post one thing on here because they get jumped all over. It must be nice to know everying at 29. At 29, I thought I knew everything too.

Thanks for nothing. Nurses eating their young as so many claim? No...many are very very nice and helpful on this board and can have a reasonable discussion. Most have been very kind. But just plain mean nurses....yep. So so so very sorry I vented on your sacred ground.

Give me a break....

[RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN]

This is beyond rude and condecending.

She was venting for the same reasons you have vented I am sure over the years...I wonder if anyone has ever answered any of your posts in this manner...

Frankly, I am at a loss for words for this epitomizes all of the posts where people have been saying "why is everyone so mean?" most of the time I blow those off and don't pay attention, but this got to me....

She was only looking for advice--not someone to hold her hand...are you really that cold??

I sure wouldn't want you taking care of my mother with that attitude...you may be an excellent nurse, I don't know, but your compassion just tanked.

What you think of me does not bother me. I am sorry you are offended. I am however not one who can go around the bush much. Sorry about that again.

This will be my last posting for the day. You are officially the thread hero and I am the villain

I wish some people could open their ears and eyes more and not pick and chose what they feel and run with it.

I truly do with the OP nothing but the best in whatever she decides for herself. She shouldn't keep second guessing herself as her title reads and just go for it. She has much support and many great tools to become the nurse she has always wanted.

I'd be signing up for classes today!