I feel so hopeless ! :(

Published

Well...

I want to be a nurse. I thought " Ok..go to college, get awesome grades and get your bachelors"

Not so simple..

After reading many posts here.. I realize that nursing school is a GAMBLE! They turn away qualified applicants ALL the time.. and in my area there aren't many nursing programs (miami)

I feel like its been a BAD idea for me to actually read all these posts >.

Then I thought.. well my back up plan can be LPN. But I've read so many posts on how LPNs are underpaid.. and treated badly :/ I've worked so hard in university.. 3.8 GPA.. to settle for that kind of treatment..

And to make matters worse.. I- need-to-work NOW. I'm only 19, turning 20 in about 6 months. However, with the recession my parents have been hit hard, and I really want to help them. Not with some whatever part time job..but as a nurse with a nurse salary to pay them back by taking care of them for being such amazing parents ( THE BEST!:redpinkhe). Its the least I can do. And to add to that.. I really want to move in with my boyfriend already:redbeathe, he's in another country at the moment ( Europe) and well.. I need to work for him to come here. And I don't want to leave the US for Europe.. I want to stay here. And..to add to that, I can't work at the moment. I'm usually taking 4-5 classes and need time to talk to my love who is in a 6 hour difference! We've already been apart for almost 2 years.. visiting twice a year ( both doing school at the moment), he is amazing, the one!

Is it possible for someone to have ALL these thoughts in their head :uhoh3: and still study for a 8 chapter microbiology exam in 2 days! ( I've been studying like a mad woman!)

Someone..please words of encouragement..words of reality. Any advice?? I know I shouldn't rush something like my education..i feel so blessed to be able to learn and keep learning, but the financial circumstances don't allow me to take my sweet time. I'm a good student.. I work really hard. But I feel like it wont be enough for nursing school.. even MDC nursing ( who just added some bull---- general education requirements.. Speech.. ect. Excuse my french)

And I should add.. I have nowhere else to go career wise. I am not into business.. education. marketing.. ect. I actually picture my self as a prenatal nurse or working with the elderly (they tug at my heart strings), I can't see myself doing ANYTHING else. But it's not just about me.. I have to think about the people I care and love, and I want to start life and get out of this limbo of having no idea if even all this hard work will get me into nursing school.

Ok I've vented enough.. Thanks listening!

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never know until you apply

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Specializes in EMT-P.

Many things in life are a gamble. I quit a $75k a year job to go back to school and do something that would make difference for a lot less pay. I have no idea how things will go for me when I apply for nursing school, and I'm not sure what I will do if things don't go my way. I just decided to bust my hump, do the best I can and a little faith in myself.

I am not thinking what if, or failure, as this will only get me down and be a distraction. Some things in life are just not easy, but if they were where would the adventure be? Did Louis and Clark quit when their raft fell apart in the Colorado river? No, They went on.

Go for it:)

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Specializes in Home Health, Hospice and Med/Surg.

I know the last thing you want to hear is you have time - but at 19-20 years old, honey, you have time! Cherish the time you have while you are young to go to school. Work hard, keep up a can-do attitude and you will reach your goals.

I'm 32 years old with four children. I work a professional 8-5 job where I make slightly over $70k per year. I'm currently finishing my pre-reqs for nursing and as soon as I get into a program I'm quitting my job. It's a gamble and I have a lot on the line (husband, children, car payments, mortgage, etc.) but sometimes you just have to take chances.

I take anywhere from 10-19 credit hours per term (this term is 10 but that's with A&P 1 and Statistics). Last term I took 19 credit hours. I have a 4.0. Now, if I can maintain all that with work, children, husband - (not saying that to pat myself on the back) - you can do this! You can! Keep focused, set your mind to it and you can do anything! :)

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I wanted to chime in and say I feel kind of the same way, except my situation is far bleaker than yours. :) My GPA is a 3.0 cum, after...almost 90 quarter credits?

Really what I wanted to say...is go for it. You have a 3.8 GPA - that should get you in almost everywhere (least where I'm from). If you have to relocate a little bit away, maybe pull out some loans...it's to pursue your dream. You'll make it there. Right now, I don't have the option to pursue my dream (I'm "stuck" doing nursing) and I wish I could be in your boots. Enjoy what you have - your classes, your boyfriend, everything. Make the most out of your undergrad years. You won't regret it.

If you want to talk at all, PM me. =) I'm good at listening.

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Girl, a 3.8 GPA? Be fearless! I think that every one of us at one point or another has gotten a little freaked out and discouraged by the gamble that we call "Nursing School". But have you seen your local hospital, clinic, doctors office? Do you see the women and men walking around in scrubs with RN and LPN on their name tag? They did it. They made it. And so can you:) Good luck and have faith! Keep me posted.

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I know the last thing you want to hear is you have time - but at 19-20 years old, honey, you have time! Cherish the time you have while you are young to go to school. Work hard, keep up a can-do attitude and you will reach your goals.

I'm 32 years old with four children. I work a professional 8-5 job where I make slightly over $70k per year. I'm currently finishing my pre-reqs for nursing and as soon as I get into a program I'm quitting my job. It's a gamble and I have a lot on the line (husband, children, car payments, mortgage, etc.) but sometimes you just have to take chances.

I take anywhere from 10-19 credit hours per term (this term is 10 but that's with A&P 1 and Statistics). Last term I took 19 credit hours. I have a 4.0. Now, if I can maintain all that with work, children, husband - (not saying that to pat myself on the back) - you can do this! You can! Keep focused, set your mind to it and you can do anything! :)

Wow, a 4.0!? You're an inspiration :)

I know I'm young, and I see my classes as a blessing. I love to learn, I love to educated myself. It's just I got a bit bummed after reading all those posts. But ultimately you are right, I'm young, I have a family and boyfriend who support me in what I'm doing, and its my DREAM to be a nurse.:nurse:

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Girl, a 3.8 GPA? Be fearless! I think that every one of us at one point or another has gotten a little freaked out and discouraged by the gamble that we call "Nursing School". But have you seen your local hospital, clinic, doctors office? Do you see the women and men walking around in scrubs with RN and LPN on their name tag? They did it. They made it. And so can you:) Good luck and have faith! Keep me posted.

Thank you sweetheart :)

Your comment made me smile and I will definitely NOT give up!

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I wanted to chime in and say I feel kind of the same way, except my situation is far bleaker than yours. :) My GPA is a 3.0 cum, after...almost 90 quarter credits?

Really what I wanted to say...is go for it. You have a 3.8 GPA - that should get you in almost everywhere (least where I'm from). If you have to relocate a little bit away, maybe pull out some loans...it's to pursue your dream. You'll make it there. Right now, I don't have the option to pursue my dream (I'm "stuck" doing nursing) and I wish I could be in your boots. Enjoy what you have - your classes, your boyfriend, everything. Make the most out of your undergrad years. You won't regret it.

If you want to talk at all, PM me. =) I'm good at listening.

A 3.0 is good! And I'm sure you will be able to bring it up. That's problem with nursing school though, that a 3.0, 3.5, 3.8 sometimes isn't enough because they're so short on staff that they can only allow a few students per year. It's all about how hard you work though, let's make sure we're those people they accept each year! But why are you stuck doing nursing? It's not the only option if you feel stuck, there's other fields you can go into with the pre-reqs from nursing. Physical therapy assistant, dental hygienist just to name a few.

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Specializes in Maternity.

i'm not (obviously) the first one that is going to tell you that nothing in life is guaranteed. you have to ask yourself if the pros outweigh the cons. to many of us on here, the prospect of not meeting our goals is hugely outweighed by the prospect of meeting them. so, we "press on" with the best attitude possible.

good luck

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A 3.0 is good! And I'm sure you will be able to bring it up. That's problem with nursing school though, that a 3.0, 3.5, 3.8 sometimes isn't enough because they're so short on staff that they can only allow a few students per year. It's all about how hard you work though, let's make sure we're those people they accept each year! But why are you stuck doing nursing? It's not the only option if you feel stuck, there's other fields you can go into with the pre-reqs from nursing. Physical therapy assistant, dental hygienist just to name a few.

I'm stuck because I desperately need out of my house. Nursing is the quickest way to make enough money to do that - to be able to make enough to survive on my own and never have to live here again. I'm well aware that it's hard and it sucks - I'm emotionally struggling through the pre-requisites because I really, really don't want to do it. But it's my happiness versus my emotional stability. So I'll stick it out to get out of here. I'm lucky that my CC only judges on pre-req grades. So far I have an A and a B, and then I have Bs currently in A&P1 and an A in lifespan psych, so we'll see.

A 3.0 with 90 quarter credits is okay. :) Just means it's going to take FOREVER to get it back up. I do have a "strong upward trend", though - past four quarters are around 3.3, 3.5, 3.7, 3.5, and I'm shooting for around there or above for this quarter (impressive since this is the most credits I've ever taken). ...to be honest, I want to go to graduate school. 'd like to go to veterinary school, or even vet tech school. ...but 'm stuck. So I'll stick it out for the freedom.

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Specializes in Hospice & Palliative Care, Oncology, M/S.

You've received some wonderful and inspiring comments here so far, but I also wanted to throw my cheerleading in ...

I returned to school at age 32 with a 1.32 GPA (totally blew it when I was 17). I didn't even think the community college would accept me!!! I worked hard, realized that I loved learning, and changed my major to nursing about a year later when I realized my heart belonged there.

I was accepted into my nursing program with a lower cumulative GPA (3.15) but the last three years I carried a 3.9. You have a WONDERFUL GPA!!! Congratulations are in order for that. :)

You have this dream. I know there are a lot of things that may seem to stand in the way, but follow your dream. Search around Florida for nursing programs that may be a little further away but still attainable. Talk to your parents about your concerns. Apply for scholarships, loans and federal grants.

Follow your heart.

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