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Discussion

Feeling lost

I need some guidance. Six and a half years ago I decided my dream was to become a nurse. My newborn daughter had gotten sick and was in the NICU at TCH for 3 weeks. The nurses really showed how much they really cared for my daughter.

I knew right then and there nursing was for me. So I worked the hardest in my pre-reqs I could with a newborn and a 2 year old but my hardest wasn't enough. I worked full time, went to school full time, caring for a newborn and a 2 year old, I made C's in my AP classes. Within that time I had another baby, who is now 3. My gpa sucked, so the RN program wasn't even an option for me.

A year and a half ago I applied to the LVN program at a local community college that only bases acceptance on your ACT score. I was denied acceptance because my score was only 18. After that I gave up.

I figured nursing just wasn't for me. I got a new job in the business office of my children's school district so it's the perfect job. I get the time off with the kids, all the holidays, etc. I love it!

I am 6 classes away from getting my associates degree so I told myself I would finish that then look into getting my bachelors in accounting. So what's the problem?

My brain is totally wrapped around nursing! I can't stop thinking about it! My sister in law is an LVN and we started our pre-reqs at the same time. I can't help but to be jealous of her.

My cousin and a family friends daughter also became RN's this past year and although I'm so happy for them because they have achieved their dreams, I can't help but feel so sad in my heart because I never took school serious enough to be good enough for acceptance.

I talked to my sister in law who works in a nursing home and she hates it. She said "If I were you, I would complete my associate's degree instead. If I could go back, I would never have become an LVN." She's now taking pre-reqs to for the LVN-RN bridge program.

I spoke to a friend of mine who started working as an RN this summer and she LOVES it! She told me to go for it still because it's a decision I will regret if I don't. I'm torn! I know not everyone is the same, just like any other career. But I just can't stop thinking in the back of my mind that what if I apply to the LVN program, get accepted then quit my job, what if I hate it????

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    I think you can have both... keep the job you love and is the perfect fit for your situation and plan on doing nursing when your situation changes - as it will.

    That is what I did... worked and is working very well.

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    "I can’t help but feel so sad in my heart because I never took school serious enough to be good enough for acceptance."

    It sounds like you did take school seriously. Taking care of a family and getting through pre-reqs is not a joke! You passed, and that's a big deal!

    If this is something you really want, you'll find a way to make it work. I wouldn't rely on what other people say about it too heavily, because you are not them. Decide whether the work environment and situations your family members/friends are describing would be OK for you, and go from there. Maybe as your children get older and you save more money, you will be able to concentrate more fully on the program and have a lot of success with it. It might not be the right time, but nursing definitely sounds like it could be the right career for you, and it would be a shame to miss out on it forever.

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    If you are afraid that if you become a nurse you might not like it, why not shadow a nurse to see what it is all about? It sounds like you are trying to talk yourself out of nursing which is hard to do if it is what you really want. You had a whole bunch of really small children when you first went through the science courses... why not just retake them now since your chilren are a little older? We can't tell you how it will turn out, but I really hope you find your niche!

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    • Author

    Thank you for responding. I guess I am in the mindset right now that if I don’t accomplish a degree or career right now then I never will. I do think A LOT about what others do and think about me (horrible I know) and the more and more I see people around becoming successful the more and more I get down on myself. I think I am honestly trying to talk myself out of nursing but I can’t pinpoint the reason why! I want to be a nurse so bad!

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    I hesitate because you say you love your current job. And honestly, the hours sound perfect when you have small kids. Think about what a major life change it will be to go to school. Will you still be able to work? Do you have a support system and someone to watch the kids if needed? Can you afford to go to school. I just want to point out the practical things for you to think about. If you consider all the angles and still decide it's the only thing that will make you feel accomplished, then go for it. Good luck!

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    I have 4 kids and am juggling school and work. It's hard but if you want it you can do it, right now I have a 99 in math and computers and a b in chemistry and anatomy. Chem and a&p in the same semester sucks but if I did t do it I'd have to wait another year to apply to the adn program. IMO you have to decide what you want my husband is a great support and helps so I can study. I get up at 5:30 and get to school at 7:30 every morning to study. Some things have suffered like the house isn't clean and it's all I can do to study for a&p much less the other classes but I take it one day and one test at a time and remind myself ALOT that I have to get through a&p I once and chm once so I have the mindset that ill do whatever it takes to do that. I think for nursi g school you have to be driven but to have kids and do it requires a lot of sacrifice you just have to decide whether its worth it for you!

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