I am afriad to go to nursing school...

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hello everyone my name is Anthony I am currently 24 years old I have been out of school for 7 years and would really love to be a nurse. I love helping people I am the type of person that will pullover and help someone that needs help or stop and buy a homeless person a meal. I am so passionate about helping people and making people happy before my own happiness. Here is my problem I READ too much junk on the internet and that stops me from going after my dreams. I am afraid that I will spend the next 5-6 years at my school going through nursing and I will never get a job because I hear it is very hard to get a first job as a nurse. I have never posted anything on the internet but I am just so stuck in life and have no direction and am letting all my fears get to me as a child I was diagnosed with ocd so yes I obsess over things and I irrationalize things. I am sorry for the long question but basically this is all very scary to me even being a man at the age of 24 I live with my parents and have a job that is part time and they are very great people and just want me to be successful. I don't want to let down the the people in my life anymore. Can anyone give me any advice that would help me to go after nursing I don't care how long it takes to get a job I am just a worry wart and I am thinking I will get a degree and will never find a job EVER. I have great customer service skills and communication skills and people skills also have a very caring personality if that helps any lol..................Please help me.

Specializes in Med/surg, Tele, educator, FNP.

Nursing is not that easy to get into with all the politics going on such as RN vs LVN and ADN vs BSN. My suggestion is to really try to shadow a nurse or volunteer at a hospital for a month see what you think. If I were you, knowing what I know now, being in the times we are in now I would be a pharmacist. That's just me though. Nursing is a great job and I love it most of the time. I couldn't risk possibly not getting a job though and that is a very true reality in these times. I hope you find what you are looking for.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses.com

Nursing school is HARD... finding a job is HARD... but both are doable

do what makes you happy

You will never know until you try. Start with an appointment with a counselor at your local community college.

They will guide you with aptitude tests, etc.

If the counselor feels you are a good fit for nursing.. pursue your studies.

I firmly believe that the current nursing employment problems is ready for a MAJOR shift to another nursing shortage.

However.. if you truly want to be a nurse... you need to grow major cojones.

It's NOT a profession for the faint of heart.

Specializes in LTC, Psych, M/S.

There is a Ebook on amazon.com titled Nursing Sucks: 101 Reasons not to go into Nursing. I suggest you read it. Granted it has a somewhat cynical title but it actually gives some good insight into the nursing profession. Good luck in whatever you decide.

Specializes in Pediatrics, Emergency, Trauma.
You will never know until you try. Start with an appointment with a counselor at your local community college. They will guide you with aptitude tests, etc. If the counselor feels you are a good fit for nursing.. pursue your studies. I firmly believe that the current nursing employment problems is ready for a MAJOR shift to another nursing shortage. However.. if you truly want to be a nurse... you need to grow major cojones. It's NOT a profession for the faint of heart.

^Agree.... :yes:

There is a Ebook on amazon.com titled Nursing Sucks: 101 Reasons not to go into Nursing. I suggest you read it. Granted it has a somewhat cynical title but it actually gives some good insight into the nursing profession. Good luck in whatever you decide.

^and THIS....

Also pick up "How to Survive in Nursing School" and "How to Survive in Nursing."

Also if you decide to enter this business, pick up a critical thinking and nursing judgement book...all books available on Amazon.

I enjoy being in this business; I call it the guerrilla/military of all professions (except the military, lol); it takes a TON of diplomacy, advocacy, thinking and creativity...also one has to remember to do self care in this business-hence the "not for the faint of heart" statement; among other things.

While it may be a major influx in our business, one cannot foretell the future; I had one nurse attempt to talk me out of starting in this profession about almost 20 years ago, when the last "hiccup" of a financial crisis occurred before; I have been a nurse for about 8 years, 7 as an LPN, (no problem getting a job, specializing, and enjoying my career), 1 year as an RN (BSN, desiring more flexibility); while this last year was a long wait in transitioning to practice, I am doing well at my current position and have two offers for jobs in a very saturated area; meaning, there is a challenge sometimes to enter this profession to get experience; once you are in this profession, there will be options; remain flexible and cast you net wide, once you've done enough research and you have made a conscious decision to take this step into nursing.

Sending positive vibes on whatever you decide! :up:

Specializes in public health.

You never know what it's like to be a nurse unless you try it. Every time you drive a car you put yourself at risk of getting into a car accident and possibly death, but you will drive. Why? Because you need to get to places so even though other people tell you how dangerous it is to drive, you still drive. You may read many posts here that talk about how hard it is to find a job. The truth is there are lots of people who don't find a job within 6 months; there are also a lot of people who will find a job right after graduation. Fear holds people back and disables them to realize their dreams. You can do it.

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

thread moved for best response

I'll start by saying that you should change your user name IMMEDIATELY - and implore the site administrators to delete your post.

The last thing that you want to do at the very beginning of your possible journey toward becoming a nurse is to leave a public trail wherein you innumerate your doubts, insecurities, weaknesses, diagnoses, and foibles.

After that, try to get a sense of what nursing really is. A desire to put the happiness of others above your own will probably lead to frustration and burn-out as a nurse (and life in general, to be frank).

Finding one's first job in nursing is a challenge but one which thousands of people overcome each year; it can be done. It may, however, mean doing work that you don't really like and moving to a place that you'd rather not be.

At nearly 50 years old and progressing through my 5th year of nursing, my only real regret is that I didn't pursue this path many years earlier than I did.

You've gotten good advice. No industry is a sure thing. Nursing gives you different opportunities... you could work in a hospital, or long term care facility, as a school nurse, or a camp nurse.

There really are good OCD books out there. See if you can find any at your local library. Most people with OCD have above average intelligence and are analytical. But you need to manage it so it doesn't steal all your time and talent. My husband is an attorney and he has OCD. It actually helps him in his job, but he doesn't want it ruling his life. He really wanted to treat it without medication because he learned that statistically people with OCD struggle after a few years on the medication. Reading books about OCD and making behavioral changes has completely transformed his life. Some people have success with a combination of both medication and behavioral therapy.

You are so young. You have a very bright future ahead of you, whether it's in nursing of some other field. Good luck.

Don't let fear control your life.

"Everything you can imagine is real." Pablo Picasso :)

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