feeling frustrated by AN posts and second guessing myself

Nurses General Nursing

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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!

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Specializes in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds.

Go for it! Follow your dreams, follow your heart :)

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Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

I really love my job and love being a nurse. I wouldn't want to be in any other profession, and if I could do it over again, I still would do it.

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If despite everything you hear you still want to be a nurse, then it sounds like nursing is in your heart. Can't think of a better reason to be a nurse.

You're going in with your eyes open and I think that will work in your favor, it will motivate you now to start thinking in practical terms about your future. I've seen too many people who just close their eyes to the reality of the profession and assume everything will work out in the end because it's supposed to.

It'll be a hard road but worth it in the end.

Very best of luck!

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It certainly can be disheartening. Can you get some first hand exposure to real-life nursing, such as working as a nursing assistant in a hospital? Even better if you can float as a CNA to see different units as they can be very different depending on type of patient and the personality make up of the staff. Have you asked about shadowing a bedside nurse for a couple of hours? (some places won't allow this, but others will so ask, ask and ask again at different places with different people). Getting this kind of exposure before starting nursing school can only help if you continue on, or may give you insight into another direction.

It might help you feel more sure of your choice to be in the midst of the working environment that so many nurses do complain about... see how it looks and feels to you. I'm suggesting bedside/hospital nursing because that's where the bulk of demand for nurses is as well as the type of foundational work experience that makes many nurses so valuable (the license itself is barely a start, several years experience actual experience as a nurse in a an acute care setting is highly valuable even when looking beyond the bedside eventually).

Nurses are involved in many different roles. However, non-nurses can also be responsible for many functions that nurses do and have done over the years... such as breastfeeding consultant, community health education, respiratory therapy, some kinds of medical case management, surgical scrubbing, etc. So if there's a particular aspect of health care that appeals to you, there may be other pathways there. So "what do you want to *do*" is an important question, not just "what do you want to *be*".

May you find peace in your heart about whatever you do!!

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Keep in mind, People dont come onto the internet to say "Today was fine." They come on when they are angry or frustrated. so using this place for an index of nursing as a whole, might not be the best. I stopped reading the rants a while ago for the exact same reason. (Not that your rants are not valid for those of you that post them. I just like my hour on AN to be in the humor and student section :))

Do what you need to do. try taking a break from the vents. it helps. i promise!

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

If this is truly your dream.....then let no one stop you.........not everyone goes into this very difficult profession with the right intentions and are unhappy once they are here......good luck!!!!!

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I think it depends on the unit. Some nurses that I delt with on the oncology floor should not have been working there. They would complain all the time about their job and how they were overworked. They drove me crazy, but then when I worked on a ICU unit, everyone there loved their job and would ask to pick up extra shifts. Go and follow your dream, I am.

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Specializes in LTC.
I really love my job and love being a nurse. I wouldn't want to be in any other profession, and if I could do it over again, I still would do it.

Ditto ! I currently like my job right now too, if you would of asked me a few weeks ago, I was at a different job and did not like it so much. Remember that this site is where we vent too.

Go for it ! :redbeathe

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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.

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If you look at all the employed people in the world, I think you would find that most, no matter what profession they are in, complain from time to time! Nursing is tough, there's no getting around that fact. But so is education, engineering, medicine, dental hygenist, etc. Be a nurse if you want to be a nurse! Don't let this site or anyone on this sight sway you from your dream! Good luck!:nurse:

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Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.

Like I said before...you already "get it"...you are an adult and if you want to be a damn nurse then be a damn nurse!!!

I went to nursing school when I was 40:)..so this wasn't my first Rodeo either...and I also had several alphabets behind my name before I started school... it only made it a little easier because I knew the drill...as you do...

I also had little kids...but I had just gotten divorced and moved, so talk about upheaval...new area, new career oh well, I've never been one to do things the easy way...

So, don't let anyone who posts stuff on AN change your mind in any way...I can tell you've got what it takes...go, continue to read and learn...understand that the posts that seem sarcastic are usually vents and you already know from some of them what to expect...soon you will be posting those too...:cool:

but before you start school one very important question...what is your IQ???;)

the diva

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