Im losing my interest while waiting for letter

Melina · May 31, 2006

I totally agree that you need to get out of the way for ppl who really have a calling to this profession. It irresponsible to your family, as well as everyone else waiting to get into your school, to invest the time, money, etc. that it takes to pursue a goal you aren't even excited about reaching. There will be days in school, and especially at work, that will SUCK, and if you don't have the passion for your work to hang on to, you won't make it.

anonymouse · Jun 1, 2006

I have a mixture of feelings: So excited that I finally finished the pre reqs and that I did so well. Happy to be at home for the summer with my kids taking it easy. But dreading the thought of the stress of full time school in the fall. Maybe it's just the summertime blues.

My husband started his own business and things are going really well for us. I will be able to count on him and others if I need to (carpooling with neighbors, cooking, etc.)

As far as having a "calling" for nursing-- I cant say I ever had that. I do know that working for a surgeon for 15 years was the most satisfying job I have ever had. Caring for people, helping people, going the extra mile for the patient and their family was something-that 'spiritual thing' that helped me make the decision to pursue nursing. I always wanted to learn more, and I had a lot of OJT with a very encouraging and enthusiastic boss/doctor. He is gone now, but he was certainly an inspiration to me. When I think of all of the patients and their families that I met through the years and how we were able to help so many of them, I get a 2nd wind.

It was only possible for me to pursue school again last year. At first I didnt know if I wanted to be an RN or if I wanted some other allied health position. But after much research - both inside and out - I decided on the RN. It is something that I know I will be able to do. But I guess I am having 2nd thoughts/cold feet/feeling lazy and dissappointed in myself that Im not more excited at the thought of finally being ready to start "the program"

When I say -- I cant turn back now-- that is something that I have placed on myself. Im not a quitter and I always tell my kids that they cant be quitters. Make a decision- and stick with it, sometimes you may need to change your plans- but you cant turn back, you cant quit.

I have also thought about the student whose place I would be taking. The gung ho student that was born with the "calling" and would give anything to have a seat in the fall nursing term, but didnt study like I did and didnt make the dean's list--am I taking his/her spot? Well, Ive thought about this and Im thinking: No. I busted my butt, if I get accepted, Im going. With a bit of fear and trepidation and, Im sure, excitement.

Im hopeful that my feelings of 2nd thoughts will recede and I will conquer nursing school and beyond. But for now, I do have feelings of self doubt.

It was nice to read all of your different opinions. And it is also nice to know that Im not the only one with mixed emotions.

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Jun 1, 2006

I have a mixture of feelings: So excited that I finally finished the pre reqs and that I did so well. Happy to be at home for the summer with my kids taking it easy. But dreading the thought of the stress of full time school in the fall. Maybe it's just the summertime blues.
My husband started his own business and things are going really well for us. I will be able to count on him and others if I need to (carpooling with neighbors, cooking, etc.)
As far as having a "calling" for nursing-- I cant say I ever had that. I do know that working for a surgeon for 15 years was the most satisfying job I have ever had. Caring for people, helping people, going the extra mile for the patient and their family was something-that 'spiritual thing' that helped me make the decision to pursue nursing. I always wanted to learn more, and I had a lot of OJT with a very encouraging and enthusiastic boss/doctor. He is gone now, but he was certainly an inspiration to me. When I think of all of the patients and their families that I met through the years and how we were able to help so many of them, I get a 2nd wind.
It was only possible for me to pursue school again last year. At first I didnt know if I wanted to be an RN or if I wanted some other allied health position. But after much research - both inside and out - I decided on the RN. It is something that I know I will be able to do. But I guess I am having 2nd thoughts/cold feet/feeling lazy and dissappointed in myself that Im not more excited at the thought of finally being ready to start "the program"
When I say -- I cant turn back now-- that is something that I have placed on myself. Im not a quitter and I always tell my kids that they cant be quitters. Make a decision- and stick with it, sometimes you may need to change your plans- but you cant turn back, you cant quit.
I have also thought about the student whose place I would be taking. The gung ho student that was born with the "calling" and would give anything to have a seat in the fall nursing term, but didnt study like I did and didnt make the dean's list--am I taking his/her spot? Well, Ive thought about this and Im thinking: No. I busted my butt, if I get accepted, Im going. With a bit of fear and trepidation and, Im sure, excitement.
Im hopeful that my feelings of 2nd thoughts will recede and I will conquer nursing school and beyond. But for now, I do have feelings of self doubt.
It was nice to read all of your different opinions. And it is also nice to know that Im not the only one with mixed emotions.

IMO, you're almost being flamed. Not completely, but teetering on that edge...

You don't sound any less convinced of what you want to do than any of the rest of us here...you sound like you have your mind made up to me....don't let these naysayers get you down! I think if you DIDN'T have second thoughts you'd scare me more!

You have a lot on your plate. You have kids, you have a husband, you have other roles that you know you'll expected to handle when you're also just a student like the rest of us. My DH spends a majority of his time in the Middle East in his job with the US military - we don't have children, but sometimes I want to throw up when I think OH MY GOD, I have to go to school go to clinical manage the house pay the bills keep an eye on the ferrets take care of the cars check on my elderly mom make good grades study hard remain sane (pant pant)...I can't imagine if we had kids.

I think that the lull following the mad rush of application prep and writing essays and gathering transcripts and studying for finals is COMPLETELY ANTICLIMACTIC. I got my acceptance letter and, of course, went nuts...but a group of my classmates and I who will be at Duke together had dinner recently and we were all like, "so, this is it?" We're excited, but it's like waiting for the other shoe to drop - and it feels like that start date is SOOOOOOOOO FAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRR off.

I look at August 28th on the calendar and I think, D*MN - that's not EVER going to get here...so I don't think about it. As I posted earlier, it's not real. It's like saving up for your dream vacation...you buy your tickets in February, but you're not going until July and you just can't think about it anymore. You've done all the hard work, you've paid for your cruise or plane or whatever, and now you're just WAITING to leave...ho-hum, big deal...I know what you mean. The adrenaline levels are returning to normal and I think a bit of a blue funk is perfectly acceptable.

I think you've been misinterpreted, and I don't think it's fair. I think you're just fine.

The day before school starts WILL come, and we'll all be wide awake until odd hours of the morning, nervous and excited and scared to death...you'll see; you're fine. :nurse:

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Jun 1, 2006

I have also thought about the student whose place I would be taking. The gung ho student that was born with the "calling" and would give anything to have a seat in the fall nursing term, but didnt study like I did and didnt make the dean's list--am I taking his/her spot? Well, Ive thought about this and Im thinking: No.

Hey, not to flame you because you have the right to your feelings and opinion. However, I want to speak up as one of those students who did not get an acceptance letter for this Fall.

I am a 4.0 student with high test scores who is far from lazy or stupid. I too worked my butt off but unlike you, my family is not financially secure.

I have two kids and a household I have to take care of alone because my husband is in the military and deploys often. The money getting me through school is NOT coming from hubby's wonderful successful job (he gets paid in dirt and pebbles so I am being sarcastic). It is money I saved up on my own over the past years working crappy jobs.

So guess what? You may be actually fooling yourself when you say the above to make yourself feel better! Do not assume a person who will be rejected is/was an inferior student to you. :nono:

The competition is stiff... many 4.0s with high test scores are rejected these days. We are in NO WAY inferior to you as a student and in many ways we may even be better students. Not only do I have the brains to survive Nursing School, I also have the fire and motivation! :monkeydance:

The reason I was told I was rejected was because I had not finished as many courses as others who were accepted. The way you describe yourself, that is ALL someone like you has over someone like me. :uhoh21:

I am rectifying that discrepancy this summer by completing all of my non-nursing courses. Not another one of you (and I know a few) should get in over me this Spring. :nurse:

Good luck. Maybe at some point you will appreciate what God has bestowed on you including Nursing School if and when you get accepted?....... Or maybe not.

barbnyc · Jun 1, 2006

I'm starting nursing school in the Fall. When I got the letter I said "thank you God" at least 50 times. I did have a back-up plan if none of the schools applied to accepted me. I was hoping God will show me the way.

My observation is that the process to get into nursing school is very discouraging and exhausting in some areas of the U.S. The competitive nature of some of the programs brings out the beast in people. In NYC, the ratio of applicants to available spots is about 50:1. I made the decision to apply to more than one program and kept on doing all the pre-requisites and co-requisites and hoped God had it all worked out.

I'm over 40 and already have a graduate degree. A Masters degree is easier than an undergraduate because your area of study is your choice -- don't let anyone deceive you to the contrary.

I'm nervous about the Fall, but I am grateful I completed every non-nursing course so I will only have to take nursing courses for the next 2 years -- a lot less stress.

Before you ditch the idea of not becoming a nurse, at least try one semester to make sure it's not for you. Try not to listen to any negative comments since everyone has a different interpretation on the meaning of challenging or difficult.

The world will not end if you come to the conclusion: "I thought about becoming a nurse, took the prerequisites and tried one semester of nursing school and realized it wasn't for me."

Thanks to those who posted positive comments. I'm looking forward to getting started in September.

Melina · Jun 2, 2006

thanks mba2brn. i was going to make the same point. i also want to say that just because a poster is passionate about his or her reply doesn't mean he or she is flaming. the op asked for ppl's opinions.

llg, PhD, RN · Jun 2, 2006

I don't read anything in the OP's post about why she wanted to become a nurse -- or that she ever really wanted to be a nurse at all. ... And why can't she back out now?

As other people have said (or implied) ... too many people are going into nursing today for the wrong reasons. They take up valuable space in the schools and then cost their employers thousands of dollars in orientation costs, only to quit the profession within a few months or years.

If you don't truly want to be a nurse -- then get a backbone and tell your family that you have decided not to go to nursing school. Your kids will learn more from the positive example of you finding your true calling than from you being miserable and then quitting nursing after making a huge investment.

If you want to be a nurse, but just don't want to go to nursing school, then get a backbone and do the work necessary to fulfill your dreams of being a nurse.

Either way, decide what you want to be when you grow up -- then start being that person. Give your kids the positive role model of someone who knows herself well enough to make wise career choices. Don't prevent someone else from achieving his/her goal of being a nurse because you wasted a place in nursing school because you didn't know your own heart and mind.

llg

chiquiraveloski · Jun 3, 2006

Hello Anonymouse,

You haven't received an acceptance letter yet? I would wait on that one first and then decide. If you feel the same way as you feel right now...then withdraw from it. There are a lot of applicants sitting on the waiting list praying for somebody to back out. I am one of them. I have been on the waiting list in my school since April 3, 2006. Frustrating.

tofutti · Jun 3, 2006

I think it would be normal to feel the way you do over beginning such a big endeavor, and also normal to have the excitement fade when you have to wait so long...it's like your mind's way of coping, perhaps. :)

anonymouse · Jun 4, 2006

Thanks again for your support. I can see that there are definitely 2 schools of thought going on!! (what an understatement!)

I should hear from my school by 6-15. Im thinking I will be completely excited if Im accepted. Hey there is always that chance I wont be.

Im glad Im not alone. Thanks for sharing your positive thoughts with me. :icon_hug: Although I dont post a lot on this forum, I do lurk quite a bit and have gained a lot of insight from reading here.

[EVIL]And to Nurse Ratchett- :troll: - [/EVIL]

I sure hope I dont ever have you at my bedside when I get that new spine replacement surgery!

smilin_gp · Jun 4, 2006

Good luck to you, and congratulations if all of your hard work pays off. I think that it does take a certain amount of passion to set out to do something and really put in all the effort to make it a success, and it sounds as if that is what you have done thus far. Just because someone isn't as outwardly vocal about how nursing is their 'passion' and what they were 'born to do' does not mean that they are dispassionate or uncaring. Some people just tend to keep that passion internal. Good luck!

Travellpro · Jun 4, 2006

There are soooooo many threads on being nervous and second guessing yourself before school starts on this forum, especially under the general nursing student section. Sounds like it is completely normal to me and the only people who are ticked at you are the ones who are on a waiting list. Don't let them get you down, just think about what's best for you and if it's something you really want to do. I'd say to give it a shot. You didn't work this hard to give up.