My Next Life Starts tomorrow.....

Nursing Students General Students

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Specializes in Trauma/Burn ICU, Neuro ICU.

Hi Everyone,

My orientation for a Second Degree Accelerated Program is tomorrow at a big university/teaching hospital. Everything has just fallen into place over the last year, from finding and completing pre-requisites,to leaving my current job (high school science teacher), to getting into my 'dream' program. I am so appreciative of my good fortune.

This amazing time we live in didn't really exist until a few years ago. People like me can just leave what they're doing, and find new and exciting things to do instead. The universities have become quite accommodating to the second degree people. Second degree careers are BOOMING!

I've met some of my new classmates/cohort, and it looks good. I have been reading threads on this forum for over a year, the good and the bad about nursing, and nothing will stop my enthusiasm about my new beginning. There is so much well-being around us all the time, and I prefer to be mindful of that, and respond accordingly.

I sold my house, in a market that is hardly selling, am building a new house, and am moving with my husband 60 miles away to be at the university.

I have all my 'stuff' ready. But I can't sleep tonight. I feel like a child, giddy with the anticipation of a new adventure,

Anyway, thanks to all of you who write here.....you have opened my eyes, helped teach me what to look out for, and spurred my determination to excel. I am no naive kid by any means, but I am totally geeked, thrilled beyond words, and very, very grateful that I can just pick up my life and move it somewhere else to do what I've secretly wanted for many years.

Life is good. And really people.....All is Well.:redbeathe

Regards, Susan K

Specializes in Critical Care.

:ancong!:

I would be

:hpygrp:

(jumping up and down)

Too !

I hope all goes well tomorrow!

Congrats on getting accepted to nursing school!

I am like you as well, nursing is a second career for me. I spent 14 years working in a corporate job that was going NOWHERE.

In Jan of 2007, I started nursing school. My job was kind enough to allow me the first semester off to see "if nursing was for me". By the summer, I was offered a generous voluntary termination package and I jumped on it with the quickness. There is no looking back.

I was lucky enough to save enough money to pay all my bills, including my mortgage for the first year during nursing school. I still got a 401-K and cash pension that I havent even touched yet, but it's there if I need it.

I took on a job as a Nurse Intern to work during the summer. I am happy. I only work 3 days a week and I can spend the other days with my son and other family.

Life is good. I will be going on to my dream career. I will be graduating next May. My bills are paid and I am not struggling financially. I am truly blessed.

I'm glad I took this "walk in faith".

Good luck to you in your journey!

Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

well, as a science teacher you should find some similarity in the rationality of the science behind the nursing. don't let the nursing leaders try to convince you, however, that it's all science and you have to be stoic. i fell for that for a few years and it nearly smothered the reason i went into the profession although i was good in math and science. when i started letting a few emotions out and showing and sharing more compassion with patients i was a lot happier and i think the patient's appreciated it a lot better as well. yes, they want competent, smart nurses, but often when people are at some of the lowest times in their life, they also need a sympathetic smile and listening ear. giving of one's time and self isn't always on the list of required clinical skills in the nursing lab. best of luck to you as you start your new endeavor. make sure you check out the many weblinks on the sticky threads of this and the nursing

student assistance forum. you'll especially want to check out this thread:

Good post Daytonite . . :-)

Susan - I started an RN to BSN program 3 weeks ago at a university and I'm loving it. The first class is Professional Nursing and last night we studied Jean Watson. Actually she was here a few weeks ago and I attended a breakfast where she spoke. Her entire focus is on bringing caring back into nursing.

Lots of other theorists to go . . .

Have fun and congratulations!

steph

Specializes in med surg home care PEDS.

I agree I too am a second career student going into my senior year, unlike you I am struggling financially but I knew I would.

Yes, I agree I went into nursing for the caring and compassion, the science is essential and interesting, but the clients are my main focus.

Specializes in L&D, OB Triage.

Good luck! I started my 2nd degree/Accelerated BSN program a few weeks ago and I love it! Just know, though, that when they say "accelerated" they aren't joking! I am currently wrapping up a pharmacology/pharmacotherapeutics class....it took 3 weeks and the class is normally taught in 15!!!!

It's amazing though, and it's fun, excited, you'll meet so many new people and learn so much and so much about yourself (and I'm only 2 weeks in!!)

Enjoy it! Best of luck and congratulations!:D:D:yeah::yeah::yeah::lol2::lol2:

Specializes in L&D, OB Triage.

P.S. the other great thing about accelerated is that I begin clinicals in 2 weeks. Talk about excited and totally geeked! I've been cheesin' ever since I found that out!!!!:D :smokin:

Congrats Susan,

I am so glad you are happy. I started an accelerated program last september too (its 2.5 years, you get BN at the end, but there are no prerequisites, you do everything, even the basic prereqs in those 2.5 yrs).

I too was amazed like you, when i started about how lucky i was, and what good times we lived in, and how despite setbacks here and there over the past year, everything is still going amazingly. And that is the best part.

Its the best decision I ever made.

Congratulations... I hope you have a great experience in your dream program!!

I know how you feel... I keep feeling like things just keep falling into place for me. I got into the program I wanted, when I wanted to; I keep getting the clinicals that work out best for me, and I have had fantastic instructors (mostly).

I have even felt like something spiritual is guiding me on the few times that family obligations kept me from studying enough for a test. Very strange, can't really explain it, but I keep telling myself that this MUST be what I am SUPPOSED to be doing!

I can't believe I am so lucky to have this opportunity!

Best of luck to you (neighbor)!

Thank you for this thread!

This is exactly what I needed to hear and be reminded of right now...

I go back to the summer semester of my 15-month program next week and needed a reminder of how grateful i am to be there for so many reasons.

It is, however, so easy to lose track of that feeling sometimes when you feel overwhelmed by the course load and are surrounded by negative, complaining classmates....

So , Thank You! and never forget how you feel right now!

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