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!
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!
seriously?! Why would you waste your time reading said thread and wasting your valuable time discussing this topic? I really can't begin to understand why you would say such a thing. There are times to just skip the comment and move onto another thread. Peace.
People regret the things they don't do more than what they do. I think you are already regretting more not going to school when you wanted to so go to school. If you want to be a nurse do it, you have one life to live, don't let the economy stop you its your life
Word of advice, start growing some tough skin and I will cut you a slice of humble pie.
Wow.
At age 29, this poster feels s/he can cut others some humble pie.
Oxymoron, much?
Hopefully some day this poster will have the maturity to get out of his/her own head, and know that being courteous doesn't make you lose points. You can survive, without cutting others' throats.
Ever since i was a kid i wanted to be a doctor.I finished pre medicine, scheduled MCAT. I was so ready for med school until I heard people talking about how hard MCAT, med school was and how some students failed med school 1 year before graduation date. Their words terrified me, I was so scared of failure. I changed my mind and I decided to pursue nursing because it's one step below doctors. During clinicals, I am always surrounded by doctors and I feel so depressed that I didn't pursue my dream. Now that I know how doctors spend their day, I do not want to practice, I just want to own the title MD because it shows that I accomplished my dream( but I just don't like their job description). If I had 2 degrees,MD and RN would choose nursing in a heart beat. I love to treat the symptoms, spend time talking with the patients, etc. I will be graduating with a BSN RN degree this spring and I hope and pray that nursing will satisfy me so I can stop thinking about medical school. I am tired of seeing myself as I failure. Please do not listen to people, follow your heart, everybody is different. What might be hard for them might be slightly easy for you.
But I hope that I do not become hardened to the feelings of others. Maybe that is naive...but it's still my hope.
I also worry about that. I'm a stay at home mom and have recently decided I'm gonna go for a career in nursing after thinking about it for many years. I just signed up for a CNA course which starts Aug 15, because I will have to work to afford school (I had the GI bill through military, but because of following DH around the world the last few years, it expired before I could effectively use it. I'm always upset about that).
But anyway I figure working as a CNA will give me great experience b/c I've never been in healthcare before. I feel I understand where your coming from. We live off of one income and we get by, but it has been hard, especially lately. But you should not be made to feel bad your in a good situation. Nursing is in your heart and you should go for it. Coming to this forum has helped me realize that the nursing field isn't what I necessarily thought it would be, but I still want to do it and will go into with my eyes open to all the problems and frustrations there are out there.
I feel I am tough, but I also have alot of compassion for people. Anytime I hear of someone getting hurt, abused, etc for no reason I tear up and have thought I know I will probably just break down crying hysterically sometimes, and there's nothing wrong with that. But like you, my fear is that eventually I will become hard and jaded, to the point where I don't care anymore about patients. I do not want that, ever.
Sorry for the long reply. But there are some on here who seem to support us newbies, the others, brush em off. This forum is still an excellent resource.
There's a HUGE difference between becoming hardened and becoming cold. You do get a bit of a crust- but it's to protect you from the actual circumstances you deal with on a daily basis. Compassion can't be taught, and it can't be destroyed (though burnout can seem like it- the real person is still in there, and often frustrated that they can't do more because of their intense compassion).
I think that the core personality traits stay with you- you may joke about things that others would find horrible, but that, too, is a way to deal with intense feelings and caring. You have to protect yourself from the hard stuff you HAVE to do to help others- it's not the same as being cold. :)
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
$1K and several months for a CNA? What state do you live in? I'd check out your local chapter of the American Red Cross first. In my state it was 6 weeks (4 8-hr days) and $650.
$1K and several months for a CNA? What state do you live in? I'd check out your local chapter of the American Red Cross first. In my state it was 6 weeks (4 8-hr days) and $650.
Yes...after doing more than preliminary research I did find some less expensive and quicker options. However, I think I'm going to skip paying any more for school and just go directly to the hospital and volunteer. Apparently, I can volunteer doing patient services kinds of things (probably being an assistant to the CNA). The volunteer hours may also help me to get accepted to the nursing school I am hoping to attend (as would working as a CNA). With volunteering I can specify the hours I can voluteer so I can more easily fit it in around classes and kids....The nursing school I am hoping to attend also strongly discourages working during nursing school....Although I know that many people do.
Thanks for the suggestions though. I may still look into the red cross option.....
Yes...after doing more than preliminary research I did find some less expensive and quicker options. However, I think I'm going to skip paying any more for school and just go directly to the hospital and volunteer. Apparently, I can volunteer doing patient services kinds of things (probably being an assistant to the CNA). The volunteer hours may also help me to get accepted to the nursing school I am hoping to attend (as would working as a CNA). With volunteering I can specify the hours I can voluteer so I can more easily fit it in around classes and kids....The nursing school I am hoping to attend also strongly discourages working during nursing school....Although I know that many people do.
Thanks for the suggestions though. I may still look into the red cross option.....
I don't know what state your in but, FYI, I will not have to pay for my cna course and it will only take 12 days....you may be able to find something similar that you don't have to pay anything. But volunteering is always good too.
Yes...after doing more than preliminary research I did find some less expensive and quicker options. However, I think I'm going to skip paying any more for school and just go directly to the hospital and volunteer. Apparently, I can volunteer doing patient services kinds of things (probably being an assistant to the CNA). The volunteer hours may also help me to get accepted to the nursing school I am hoping to attend (as would working as a CNA). With volunteering I can specify the hours I can voluteer so I can more easily fit it in around classes and kids....The nursing school I am hoping to attend also strongly discourages working during nursing school....Although I know that many people do.
Thanks for the suggestions though. I may still look into the red cross option.....
With nursing school so important to you, look into how far into nursing classes you have to be to get your CNA... that was THE best experience during nursing school, and helped a lot with clinicals, and time management in my first job.. JMHO
I don't know what state your in but, FYI, I will not have to pay for my cna course and it will only take 12 days....you may be able to find something similar that you don't have to pay anything. But volunteering is always good too.
Some nursing homes pay for your CNA training, and offer jobs afterwards (most will work with nursing school classes with no problem) I taught these for a while, and they still take the same state tests as any other CNA program :) (at least in TX)...
I'm always upset about that).
nola1202
587 Posts
seriously?! Why would you waste your time reading said thread and wasting your valuable time discussing this topic? I really can't begin to understand why you would say such a thing. There are times to just skip the comment and move onto another thread. Peace.