Help with how to become a nurse

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I am 48 and realized I wanted to leave my job and get into a Nursing Program, knowing it wouldn't be a risk because I graduated with a BA top 10% of my class, near 4.0, so its a matter of putting my focus to it, but come to find out its impossible to get into a program. I'm taking only 1 class at a time after work for the prerequisites since I can't gamble my job with that as the reality, but its a 20+ hour commitment going to lecture twice a week, a lab, and Im logging something like 15 hours a week in homework too. I don't have time to fix computer problems, work out, or cook healthy meals anymore, and am completely MISERABLE. And I have to do this for 6 semesters (3 Years?) only to not know if I'll even get into a nursing program? And I can't leave my job to focus on school just to find out I can't get in after taking all my prerequisites either. I am beside myself. Does anyone have any ideas, are there any other paths to becoming a nurse? I looked into becoming an LVN and paying for schools but they are all at least 30,000, so the debts would far outweigh how long it would take to pay off all the loans because I also have at least that much in living expenses. I'd have made a wonderful nurse, and this is breaking my heart.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

I don't even know what to say. You're making yourself miserable (your word) and you're only in pre-req's? How many years can you function at miserable level?

Answer this please: how much research have you done into the field of nursing as it exists today?

Do you know that there is NO nursing shortage? There are pockets of need around the US (primarily rural) but many if not most new grads are finding it extremely difficult to find a job.

Have you read any threads on this forum that have given you a sense of "a day in the life" of current nurses? Or are you just going on the knowledge that you would make a good nurse? Which of course is not to be discounted, but reality matters as well.

Your time spent in class, labs & studying are but a fraction of what they will be in actual nursing school.

Please do your research before going any further. Here's a thread written by someone who likely did not do enough research:

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/encouragement-needed-frustrated-1021890.html

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I appreciate your response and I appreciate anyone taking the time here beccause I'm beside myself,but I'd have come to that conclusion too if it were about the class making me miserable but I think the context was missed. I think there's a misunderstanding of my situation. I would love to study all the time if I didn't already have a stressful job that I have overtime for to survive it. I'd happily leave my position for full time studying but to take that gamble and end up not even being able to get into a program. Put it this way, my job has a constant level of learning and focus, leaving precious little forr anything else. I've heard different reports about nursing shortages. I tried to put a link, but basically I find articles saying that the aging baby boomers are creating a future shortage

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You're a 4.0 college grad and it's that much of a toll to take one pre req at a time? 15 hours of homework for one science class? That would give me much pause I'm afraid.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I don't know, but it seems as if you may not be meant to be a nurse based on a pretty untenable living situation/schedule. When/if you get into school the program will absolutely have to come first much of the time, so while it's possible, keeping fulltime employment, your family happy, and finding "you time" (lol--- hard in nursing school) is a tough gig and something will have to give. The school will not care that you "have no life" outside school and are "miserable".

You are darn right to assume nursing school will be very difficult and it's extremely competitive to gain admission, let alone get a job once you graduate.

You might want to really research your area, ask nurses, about job availability for new graduates. Some places, people can't get a job to save their lives, others they are more available.

I agree with the above poster; do more research before spending a lot of time and money to enter a career that may not be what you think it is.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

You are saying it yourself. It sounds dubious.

Understand: Stressful job + nursing school = likely failure in nursing school. One of them will suffer.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
I appreciate your response and I appreciate anyone taking the time here beccause I'm beside myself,but I'd have come to that conclusion too if it were about the class making me miserable but I think the context was missed. I think there's a misunderstanding of my situation. I would love to study all the time if I didn't already have a stressful job that I have overtime for to survive it. I'd happily leave my position for full time studying but to take that gamble and end up not even being able to get into a program. Put it this way, my job has a constant level of learning and focus, leaving precious little forr anything else. I've heard different reports about nursing shortages. I tried to put a link, but basically I find articles saying that the aging baby boomers are creating a future shortage

I understood exactly what you're saying. I was merely pointing out that if you are this stressed out by a pre-req, and you have to keep your job, your situation will be untenable once you do get into nursing school.

Oh, and that old baby boomers retirement myth? Lots of us BB's lost our socks in the recession of a few years ago. We're having to work many more years to rebuild our retirement $$$$. Notice how many elderly clerks you're seeing in Walmart & grocery stores? Same concept. In fact, you'll even find some threads here where the young 'uns are complaining that the BB's aren't retiring or dying as fast as they're supposed to:no:

Oh and don't even get me started on how hospitals are hiring fewer nurses and cutting back staffing in order to make a bigger profit. It's ugly out there right now.

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Your profile says you live in SF. Conservatively speaking, let's say it takes you eight years to get an RN license. Then you will be looking for an RN job as a new grad in an area that is saturated with RN's looking for RN work. And you will be around 55 years old. Based upon my experience from the age of 37 and anecdotal experiences of others I have known looking for nursing work in that area, I would have to advise you to take a good, hard look at the reality of it, and find another outlet for your energies. I strongly suggest you see about becoming a hospice volunteer. That is a rewarding way to help others and it utilizes some of the soft skills of the nursing profession. You may find it a fulfilling endeavor. Best wishes.

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I have a few questions for you.

What do you like and dislike about your job right now?

What made you decide that it's time for a change?

What made you think nursing was the correct change?

What about nursing is appealing to you?

Sometimes people get overwhelmed when they think about where they are in life and what they're contributing to others' lives. People get to a state of feeling empty and wanting do be able to do more. Nursing is a great way to do that, but so are many other things, like volunteering at a homeless shelter, finding a local Feed My Starving Children center and packaging food, volunteering at a women's clinic. The list is huge. You can make a difference in lives without becoming a nurse.

However, if your mind is set on becoming a nurse, then realize that it will be difficult. The pre reqs are challenging, and the core classes are even more challenging. It's mentally and emotionally draining at times, especially if you have a full time job. There is no easy route. It's something that will be very trying, and you will have to decide ahead of time that you're going to push through it, if it truly is what you want to do.

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Specializes in ER/Tele, Med-Surg, Faculty, Urgent Care.
I am 48 and realized I wanted to leave my job and get into a Nursing Program, knowing it wouldn't be a risk because I graduated with a BA top 10% of my class, near 4.0, so its a matter of putting my focus to it, but come to find out its impossible to get into a program.

Please explain what you mean: 1. "knowing it wouldn't be a risk"? 2. What is your BA degree in?

As former faculty, I had second degree students with Bachelor's in: Neurobiology, Art History, Electrical Engineering, English Lit, Biology, etc, Master's in Horticulture, Chemistry, Geology etc. Most struggled with nursing. Some did not. But no guarantees. I was going to mention Accelerated BSN, but since you are having difficulty with one science class that is probably not a good idea. Nursing is a mixture of science and art. It is not for everyone. It sounds like you are trying to talk yourself out of the idea.

Why do you think you would make a "wonderful" nurse? Explore this more and regroup. Perhaps making a pros/cons list will help you. Good luck.

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Specializes in Dialysis.

These entities are in business to make money by getting people to go to school. Schools that keep their accreditation by paying these entities. I'll try to find the link to the article that just recently came out stating that now the prediction is no shortage or overabundance of nurses

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