I'm a highschool dropout with GED starting pre reqs for nursing school very anxious

emKayLPN · Sep 28, 2014

Honestly, I decided to start with LPN. Part of it was the fact that I have a lot of trouble focusing on school for more than a year or so, mainly due to my own anxiety issues that distract me from every day life. There also were financial reasons that contributed to my doing LPN first.

i got through LPN school and have been a nurse almost a year. I'm getting ready to go back for my RN now.

dont worry, sometimes it's not about how book smart you are but how bad you want to succeed.

RunBabyRN · Sep 29, 2014

I think the first step is getting the bipolar disorder and anxiety under control with a good therapy and med regimen. Having good coping mechanisms and a support system will be VITAL to your success.

Some hospitals want high school graduates, just FYI, and they will ask where you went to high school. Is it possible for you to go back and graduate?

Start slowly when it comes time for college courses. Start with one, then two, and so forth. You'll need to keep your GPA as high as possible in order to be competitive. Also, most colleges have a disability department where you can work with someone to get you the right modifications to help you succeed, such as extra exam time, a quiet space, etc. This can be very helpful! I know it was helpful for me to have access to this.

I think many of us feel anxious and like we may fail, to some degree, but there's only a certain amount of this that's healthy, rather than too much, where it interferes with your ability to function productively. Hopefully with the right therapeutic approach, you can get on the right track. Good luck!

MotoMonkey, BSN, RN · Sep 29, 2014

I feel like the biggest worry you have is your mental health issues. If you can get that under control then your college courses will come much easier.

Focus on getting in a healthy place and then kick some butt in school.

Good luck, Let us know how things are going!

MM

TSM2017 · Oct 25, 2014

I think that once you get your mental health in order you can do it. I received my GED. I started back to nursing school for my RN and I had a 6 month old and an 18 month old. I did it. Yeaaa!!! Now I have 5 children and I just finished my BSN, took some time, and I am applying for graduate school. Also, I have never had my GED be an issue when it came to applying for schools or jobs. Having a GED will not stop you. Only you can stop yourself. Good luck.

pmabraham, BSN, RN · Oct 25, 2014

Good day, iris222:

My mother went back to school in her 50's to get her GED. She then went onto work with a local ambulance crew after becoming an EMT. Then she went to school and became an LPN. A doctor encouraged her at the hospital at which she was working to become an RN; she took his advice and encouragement and went onto be a RN, and worked in ER at the same hospital for which the doctor encouraged her until she retired. Don't let the GED issue hold you back. Do deal with what's going on nervous system and though process wise.

Thank you.

SummerWertz · Oct 25, 2014

I was just diagnosed as Bipolar type 2 back in June. It started getting worse the last two years of college to where I wasn't able to attend classes or take care of myself. Everything made so much sense after my diagnoses. I got on the right type of medicine and it has made all the difference and I'm doing a lot better in school again. I sometimes worry about the future and progression of my disorder, but I think we have to take things one day at a time as they come. I think it's definitely possible for you to succeed if you make some changes. Get in with a good counselor, try medication, make sure you're eating well, sleeping well, and exercising and you'll have lots of improvement.

I wouldn't worry about the GED too much. If you start off at a uni or tech school taking pre-req classes they shouldn't ask you too much about it as long as you show that you can do the work and do well in it. So, make sure you do really well in those pre-reqs.

nifty_n · Nov 2, 2014

I would suggest starting out SLOW. Take one pre-req a semester if you need to (including summer sessions.) The biggest mistake you can do is taking 2, 3 pre-reqs at a time when you are not mentally stable; It will only stress you out more. While you are taking your pre-reqs make sure you have a hobby also. For me, knitting really relieves my stress and calms me down. I suggest you search for some videos on youtube on how to learn basic patterns.

For becoming mentally sound I recommend you read or listen to positive material. I love positive self help books and listening to positive audio posts. Fill your social media accounts, television programming with only positive messages. I enjoy shows that aren't the greatest but when I was going through my own issues I stopped watching all of them for a while until I felt I was in the right head space.

ISingTheBodyElectric · Nov 6, 2014

I dropped out at 17 and got my GED. I don't want to completely discount RunBabyRN's experience, but I went to community college, transferred to a 4 year school, and never looked back. I am 33 and nobody has EVER asked after my high school education once they know I graduated from a 4 year university. I would most definitely NOT waste time getting your HS diploma.

With that said, you really need to make sure that you're in a good head space before taking on a heavy course load. I worked as a tutor during my schooling, and every semester I had a couple students who really obviously didn't have their head on straight and they always crashed and burned. Nursing prereqs are tough; give them the respect they deserve.

Also, one last but of advice, and this is controversial, but .. be really careful in getting accommodations. Many professors HATE having to work around complicated accommodations (extra time, specially tailored exams), and while they're legally mandated to give you the accommodation, I know that if you need a letter of recommendation, many professors will write you a very poor one if they feel that you passed their class only by taking unfair advantages. To be clear, I am NOT talking about accommodations like having a dedicated note-taker, testing in a distraction-free environment. But rather accommodations whereby you're really not taking the same class / exam as the rest of the students.