If your nursing dreams took "forever", I need to hear about it

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I was going to post this in the student section {LPN to RN}, but realized they are still students, and I need to ask those of you who have successfully made the transition from LPN to RN or higher.

I feel so discouraged, I know I can't afford any more loans d/t when I was younger and in college. I know I can take my gen ed classes and probably afford one at a time, but I'm thinking it's going to take me 20 years to finish this!!!

There's nothing wrong with me being an LPN, but at 36 I'm thinking- what am I going to do when I can't run the floors anymore?

I know there has to be nurses out there who beat the odds, and even after years and lots of their own money, finally made it. They do exist don't they? This is possible right? I worry alot, I know.:bugeyes:

Thanks :hug99:

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Specializes in CMSRN.

I did not make the transition from lpn to rn but I went from at home mom to RN.

I had always wanted to be a nurse and did not really make the committment till I was 30. I had a few prereqs to take but I told myself I was going to do it. My hubby said I could not do it and I made sure I did not listen to him. I was also discouraged at a younger age which is why it took me a long time to go back to school.

My first prereq I got prego and already had a 1 1/2 year old at home but I was not going to let that stop me. My hubby made ok money and we were just going to do whatever to get through school (He backed up my desire after some huge arguments)

One month before I started my first clinical my husband looses his job (due to somthing he did) and it took him 3 months to find another job. Making 1/3 of his previous salary. My kids were 1 and 3. I kept going and said this will not stop me. I was mad at him for his stupidity but I was not going to stop. I begged for help with the kids while he worked 7days a week and all he made was enough to pay the mortgage.

We went into MAJOR debt and struggled for two years. Almost lost the house. But I got through it and it was worth it. It has been a little over a year since I graduated.

Recently my hubby got laid off due to his plant closing and it is ok.

I am 35 now and happy with how everything worked out. We found that just about anything is possible. With or without money.

Since I have been working I do not sweat the small stuff. I find things to laugh at and enjoy the challenge of life. When something comes up I deal with it. I try not to worry. NOthing is set in stone except that time

marches on. It is all about how you use your time.

You never know what will happen. Go for it. You can only try. If you walk around saying what if and never do it than you are missing out.

I know I sound like one big cliche but it is all true. Took me a long time to stop and actually think about it. Makes life all the "more funner".

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Specializes in Government.

I'm a second degree BSN. I was a probation officer full time for 10 years. About 6 of those years I went to night school 3 nights a week for my pre-reqs. It was literally a hand to mouth existence with often no money for food. After I got my pre-reqs, I found that I had to leave my full time job for the clinical part of my BSN. This was in the 1980's when there were far fewer options and nothing less than full time day programs.

I scraped and saved and got into an accelerated BSN program.

That was 22 years ago. I still think of all the sacrifice with pride. A lot of people told me it absolutely could not be done, including nurse educators. A very sweet nun at a Catholic university told me about accelerated programs.

For many of us the road to a nursing career is long and challenging.

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Specializes in critical care; community health; psych.

It was 1975 or so when the bug first bit me. I graduated in 2005 with my ADN. So, yeah. It can take a while. Lots of bumps, twists and pot holes along the way with the occasional long detour and welcome hand up.

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Specializes in Corrections, Cardiac, Hospice.

I went to college right out of high school. However, due to intolerable situation at home I had to move out. I worked full time and part time. My days were like this: Work 9:30-5 for a doctor, school 5:40-10 and waitress 11-4am. I could only do this for short periods at a time. So I would take a quarter off now and then. At a friend's party I met my husband and we got married when I was 21. He is the main supporter for me. He really encouraged me to keep going no matter how long it took. I got all my pre-reqs in and applied. Graduated with my BSN in 1998. All together it took 10 years from start to finish. I am still paying on my loans but it is well worth it.

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Where will you be in 7 years if you don't chase your dreams?

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Specializes in Peds,ER,FP,Med/surg/oncol, Hospice.

I knew about 12 years ago that I wanted to be a nurse someday. I started out as an EMT. When my husband and I got married in 1997 he kept pushing me to goto nursing school but I was happy making minimum wage as a EMT/Paramedic (The hospital was a dinky bandaide station in upper PA that didn't pay alot) After I moved back down towards philly I decided to get a job as a receptionist for a family Dr.s office, from there I decided to become a MA, I then took a position as a Phlebotomist and helped run a lab for about a year. All the while hubby kept telling me to "goto nusing school" About this time I got pregnant with our second child. About 3 months after he was born I decided to goto school. I couldn't do full time so I had to start at the beginning. Fast forward 10 years and 2 babies later and I just graduated from nursing school last August at 38. Failed my boards the first time through and am studying to take them a second time. I have a job lined up and I'm ready to go. Point to the story NEVER GIVE UP if it is your dream FOLLOW THAT DREAM and it doesn't matter how long it takes YOU WILL GET THERE

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Where will you be in 7 years if you don't chase yoiur dreams?

Succinct and well-put! You will still be older in a few years, whether you have your dreams realized, or not.

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Specializes in med surg.

i think if it is what you really want to do you should go for it, I was an aide then and LPN then an RN then BSN and now MSN. I am 58 and still poking along!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Wound Care.

I started the RN program in 1976, dropped out in 1977(got married...BIG mistake). Got my LPN in 1984. Started taking prequisites for RN in 1990...one at a time. Graduated from the RN program in 1998. Yup....took the long way and it was worth every year invested.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Geriatrics, Wound Care.

There are programs available that do night or online classes for the LPN-RN bridge. An RN degree would normally take 2 years, but part-time will take longer. I'd see if your work offers some type of education benefit (directly paying for or reimbursement of classes), and work your way slowly - 1 or 2 classes/semester. It'll take a while, but it's possible.

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Specializes in MedSurg.

I started my journey to be a nurse in 1999 at the age of 44, and graduated from nursing school in 2005 at the age of 50. When I look back now, I realize how quick time goes and that if I hadn't made the decision to make this career change, I would still be wishing I had and working a job that couldn't support and didn't challenge mentally. Yes, I have a student loan, but the monthly payment, once they were all consolidated, is low and I will, eventually, work on paying that off, but for now I am extremely happy in my nursing career and having been at it for 3 1/2 years now (2 1/2

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