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!

[Altra, BSN, RN]

If I had to take time to decipher the hidden meanings or read the OP's mind in her writing, I would be in big business:). But as you see, I don't.

You may have to enlighten me on where it was that

1. Her previous careers were successful or otherwise.

2.She took time off work to care for her family.

No we don't know the answers to any of these questions which is why we respond based on the writings we have- in other words, what we DO actually see.

I don't presume to conjecture, perhaps you shouldn't too.

PS- As to that helping hand, when or if I do take you up, it will be on the forum.No PMs now, can't be trusting you like that:D

I'm not suggesting any waste of your time ... simply that the whole point of this thread of 95+ posts is OP's plan to go to nursing school after being a SAHM for some period of time. Curious how you missed that fact ... that she has not been working because she is home caring for her family.

And no, OP has not specifically commented on whatever success she may have had in previous careers ... so I'm not sure where your comment comes from in post #74:

"You've had two tries and none of them good."

Conjecture?

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

"My first two degrees were not wasted and I am glad that I got them - and as I've stated

before, I could write a book on why I don't use them anymore (children adopted from

orphanages with attachment and other health issues necessitating

that I be a SAHM, 80 hour work weeks, etc...). "

Clearly stated...Sorry - couldn't help myself...

Some posters here lose control of their keyboards.......they should put them down and back away....quickly...

Don't let the naysayers get you down. Nursing is hard, nursing is challenging, nursing is....

Being a Nurse Means ...

You will never be bored.

You will always be frustrated.

You will be surrounded by challenges.

So much to do and so little time.

You will carry immense responsibility

and very little authority.

You will step into people's lives

and you will make a difference.

Some will bless you.

Some will curse you.

You will see people at their worst -

and at their best.

You will never cease to be amazed

at people's capacity for

love, courage, and endurance.

You will see life begin - and end.

You will experience resounding triumphs

and devastating failures.

You will cry a lot.

You will laugh a lot.

You will know what it is to be human

and to be humane.

By Melodie Chenevert, RN

[klone, MSN, RN]

Most "non straight out of high school" people I know who have gone into nursing have had at least two or three careers before nursing, myself included. it has nothing to do with "no staying power" or being flighty.

[mazy]

I've tried to end this many times. And people keep bashing me...and I defend myself. There is no 'baggage' that others have not thrown in the ring. Someone asked why I can't be a CNA - I answered. If they don't want to know...don't ask.

You are right about one thing...I'm done with AN. I will suspend my membership - I will keep those in mind who offered help and I will take the experience of "nurses eating their young" with me. I will go, and not come back. This place is hateful.

I thought nurses were SUPPOSED to be caring individuals.

As long as I'm leaving anyway - let me tell you - my opinion of AN is not unique. I've seen others get shooed off of this board as well and have talked to them as well. By ridiculing anyone who does not agree with your sensibilities you are slowly creating a community of all like minded individuals for whom there is no disagreement. How boring.

You can have it.

Thanks, very sincerely, to all of those who oferred help. I truly do appreciate your kindness, or your candor or whatever.

I will be a nurse...I'll be good one...and I'll do it without AN - and I'll sleep better and do it more happily that way.

Throw your party now...I'm done.

Hit the unsubscribe button and move on with your life. No need to keep coming back here and trying to explain yourself, this thread has morphed into something else anyway.

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

i've tried to end this many times. and people keep bashing me...and i defend myself. there is no 'baggage' that others have not thrown in the ring. someone asked why i can't be a cna - i answered. if they don't want to know...don't ask.

you are right about one thing...i'm done with an. i will suspend my membership - i will keep those in mind who offered help and i will take the experience of "nurses eating their young" with me. i will go, and not come back. this place is hateful.

i thought nurses were supposed to be caring individuals.

as long as i'm leaving anyway - let me tell you - my opinion of an is not unique. i've seen others get shooed off of this board as well and have talked to them as well. by ridiculing anyone who does not agree with your sensibilities you are slowly creating a community of all like minded individuals for whom there is no disagreement. how boring.

you can have it.

thanks, very sincerely, to all of those who oferred help. i truly do appreciate your kindness, or your candor or whatever.

i will be a nurse...i'll be good one...and i'll do it without an - and i'll sleep better and do it more happily that way.

throw your party now...i'm done.

a kind administrator gave me some sound advice.....

if a particular member is getting under your skin in a single thread, it's time to step away from the keyboard.

please consider using our ignore feature:

you can click on " myaccount " select " user control panel " from the drop-down menu, scroll down to settings, and click on, " edit ignore list »" then you can enter a member's name in the box. this is handy for keeping track of everyone you have on ignore.

nrskarenrn

an admin team

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Just came across this thread in my bb wandering tonight...since OP feels thread has run its course, closing.