How DO YOU KNOW IF NURSING IS RIGHT CAREER CHOICE!!!

Published

Hello Nursing Community,

I am getting so frustrated:banghead: with taking the same classes over and over. I am a older student with a lot of family responsibility. I am a single mom and have read many single mom motivating stories on this website. Out of the eight children I have, I am finishing raising four more of my eight children, but my daughter has just move back with me and she has two children (single mom also) I am getting so frustrated with all my life. I want a better life, so I have been plugging away at the pre-nursing classes to get into a program by winter 2010, but it doesn't look possible for me. I am currently taking A and P this summer and was just informed by my Professor that I will not be able to get even close to a A or B in the class. I have done terrible on the first two exams and first practical. I have 3 more exams left and the final practical. I am so down right now, because this is the last class I need to get into a program. Also, i am worry about my daughter, she is showing signs of being addicted to pain meds. She has been showing signs of this for about two weeks now. She has two beautiful kids that I help with when she works, but I told her I can only help when she is working, but now she is so far gone sometimes she hasn't been going in to work. I also work at a major hospital in my area and I almost got fired, because I have been calling off to study to get through these summer classes. I don't know what to do. I have to make a better life for us. I really enjoy the Nursing field, but I don't enjoy being a CNA anymore, being my age I want so much more, so I have a plan to go to NP school when I finish the Nursing program. I still have biggggg dream for myself, but I feel that I always have to pick up the pieces for my family. Yes, it was my choice to have children, but i didn't want to be doing this alone. I though I would be married for many years more. Well, I just want to know if there is a sign or something that would tell me maybe Nursing is not the correct pathway. How would I know if I am heading in the right direction? I will have to tell you I have been trying to become a Nurse for many years now. I know many people over the many years that I have been in school that has passed me by. I also have a bigger responsibiltiy trying to get my 22 year old daughter help. Man, life has been throwing me a lot of hard balls. I also found out that the housing units where I live will be destroyed within this next year. I have to get a plan together and get my family relocated, before next summer. I am so stressed out I can scream, but I am blessed that I have my health (sorta). I just want to know from any of you, if I am making a good decision in pursuing my dreams to become a Nurse. I have about a year left in the area in which I live. I can take A and P again and wait out another year and do some other classes or I can take the C grade and run with it. What would you do. I have big dreams. I one day would like to have a house in Italy!! I live there for about five years of my life. I had the rat race and would like to take my family away to live the simple life. I also would like to have a house in California, which this is where I reside now, but I would like to live in Northern California (Sonoma) wine country :wink2:. So whom every response to this post I want to thank you I need all the advice I can get. I need to make some good decisions. Thank you again and have a great day!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

it's difficult to find out while still in school,after a few months on the floor,you would know exactly if nursing is what you want to do.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

i really think you are very close to your goal of getting into nursing school. with one class left i think you should definitely try to get to that finish line. nursing school is really hard and you have a lot of responsibilities but it seems you are dedicated enough to finish. i have heard some hospitals pay for nursing school if you work there and want to continue your studies. have you looked into that? good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I know that CNA work is not like Nursing, but i have been told by many of the Nurses I work with that I would be make a great Nurse. I continue to work where I am at now because the Nurse Manager says that the patients and Nurses think that I am great to work with. It's just getting through all the academics ( I do love school), also the drama at home. I have to make a better wage for my family. I don't make very much as a CNA and know I would if given the opportunity would make a great NP. I just have to keep plugging away, with this despite what will happen. My daughter is just adding more to the problems in my house. I am so concerned with her taking meds for pleasure not pain.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I don't think the hospital will pay for me to go through school and finish. I will look into that though. Thank you I know I will have to stick this out despite of what problems I am going through. Thank you for replying.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I definitely can relate. I am married with three children, and family responsibilities play a huge role consuming my time. I had to repeat A&P also. I tried to take the class online. I do not recommend it unless science is a natural for you. I am taking A&P II this fall. What is pushing me to continue is that I know this is what I want to do. I first thought that my A&P 1 grade will stop me from entering, but I said I am going to keep going and apply. There are many schools, so you have many options. If this is something you want to do, then do it. Many people can get straight A'S in nursing and can not really apply the knowledge on the floor. I am a CNA but currently stopped working at the hospital for my son's health reason, but working in the health field has been the most rewarding job ever.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Awww! Bless your heart! Listen, I am a single mother and I had a 10 year old son when I went to nursing school. I left a very well established career (outside of nursing) to pursue nursing school full time. I worked 40 hours a week and went to school 3 nights a week to get my pre-reqs out of the day. I even ended up with an Associates of Science degree before attending nursing school full time.

I own a home and have great financial responsibility. I still had to run my household while attending nursing school full time and raising my son. Yes, it was hard, but it's doable. Your 22 year old daughter is gonna have to help you out more, either by working and contributing to the household bills, or moving out and getting her own place.

I admire your drive and you seem very determined. If I were you, I'll take my C and run with it. I had a C in Chemistry and still got in to a very prestigeous nursing school in my area. I graduated in May with my BSN and I passed NCLEX in July. I am now working as a RN in a new grad residency program for the ICU at a Level I teaching hospital.

Don't you dare give up now! You've come to close. When life throws you lemons, make lemonade.

Good luck to you!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for the reply. You are so motivating!! You are doing a great job. I am not a quitter. I will make the best effort to try to do well my last three weeks of class. I have 3 exams left and a practical. My daughter does help, but she has been doing drugs. I am so worried. I am even afraid she will be so far gone she won't wake up.. I don't know what to do. Good luck to you. Carla

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Since you are so close to getting into the program do not give up. Are you in an area with several programs you can apply to?Is it possible to apply to a private school program that accepts more students? That is assuming you are not already doing so. The reason I am asking is the grade you get in A and P might be substantial for the private school but not the public school associate degree programs. I wish you the best of luck and hang in there! I just found out I have to wait until May 2010 to possibly start my program and I have been working on getting into a nursing school since 2007. I've been in college with pregnancy/parenting breaks since 2002. Life happens and the best things that we will value the most takes time, if you have to repeat A&P its only a short setback. Good luck!BTW summer A&P has got to be extremely tough, it might be best to just take it in the fall where you don't have to rush yourself.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks so much for replying to my post. Yeah, it has been extremely rough will all that I am going through and your so right about getting into a program. My daughter though is addicted to pain meds. She is always wanting to pick a fight with me. She has said just today that she is going to have a nervous break down. I am so upset about this. She started this when she had her first child. She was given pain meds for a C-section she had. I don't know what to do. She almost fainted today. i know i can't talk to her dr, due to her being over 20. I am so upset. I can't even write. i told her she needs to find her own place to live. I worry so much about my Grandkids. I have about 3 weeks let in school! Man why now???

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Original poster- it seems like you have a LOT on your plate right now. I suggest getting your LIFE (personal issues) taken care of FIRST and then worry about school. We all have dreams... mine too was to be a RN and I did it. I went back later in life also... graduated with honors, passed boards first time and landed a RN job two weeks after getting my license. I am blessed. On a realistic note, I will tell you.... RN SCHOOL IS HARD AND TAKES LOTS OF DECICATION AND BRAIN POWER. You must study (be able to focus) and devote your life to it. Simple as that. If you cannot do that at this time, then do not do it. Focus on your life FIRST, then do RN school; as RN school is a life in itself and it will take all of you to succeed. Good luck to you!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you for replying. I have seemed to always put my life on hold. It seems to be a taboo or something that something always happens just as soon as I am finishing out my classes. I know that RN school will consume most of time and will power. I have been at this for many years. Is my true calling Nursing or am I just setting myself for failure. I just don't know. Best of Luck to you too!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion