Im unsure and confused...

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Ok first of all, I should give a little background on my self.

I have been a stay at home mom since I was 17 got married when I was 18 and now we have 4 kids. I am now 31, never had a job, I didnt even finish high school. I just recently passed my GED on the first try. That was a BIG accomplishment for me, I SOO thought I wouldnt be able to do it.

I have always wanted to be a nurse, but been to busy with the family. My oldest is 14, and now my baby is 7, and I feel its time , or actually, I feel I have waisted alot of time, to get on the ball in becoming a nurse. I live in the Bakersfield area. Ok, now, I know I want to be a nurse, that works in a hospital, I have always wanted to work in a hospital. So Im thinking I should go for RN at BC. But I was looking at the pre-req's, and boy oh boy, there is alot of em. I was just gonna go ahead and go for LVN but I want to work in a hospital not a LTC.

First off, I feel Im too old to go for RN, and quite frankly, I dont know if Im smart enough for RN. There are more pre-req's than LVn and more educational classes I would have to take. I also keep hearing that its harder to get in a rn program, and the chemistry is really hard, I barly went to high school, so I never took chemistry. Also I hear its hard to get in the LVN-rn bridge program as well. So as you can see, Im totally confused on what route to take...go for LVN or straight for RN!

I was hoping some of you can give me some advice and try to guide me in the right direction for my area.

Thank you so much for taking time to read this post.

Barbara.

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I also thought of something else. I hear that the LVN courses are more intense and harder than the RN. My husband works full time in the oil fields, so I am the one to take care of the kids, and dropping them off at school and picking them up, so I need flexability. And I have read that the RN route is more Flexible than LVN, so that might be for me! But it doesnt seem easier than LVn because of all the pre-req's and other classes I would have to take. (Plus I am scared of algebra)LOL

Now I have registered at Bakersfield College and taken the orientation online (and I was hoping that someone here is attending BC or planning on it) but I have not takin the assesment test yet. But after I take that test, I get to speak with a student advisor or a counsler, and I am sure they will help me with these decisions im having trouble with, but I wanted to ask some of you what you think.

Thanks again!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

Hi, there. . .

I lived in Bakersfield for 2 years (2003 to 2005) before moving away. My parents still live in Southwest Bakersfield.

Anyhow, I completed an LVN program in 2005, and I will graduate from an RN program in March 2010. The LVN program was much more intense than the RN program due to having 24 hours worth of clinical rotations per week in addition to 16 hours of classroom theory.

My mother ended up in a local ER and she states she had an LVN caring for her at that particular hospital. However, most of the LVN job opportunities will be in nursing homes, hospice, home health, clinics, and doctors offices. Good luck to you!

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Hey thanks for your reply. I have actually decided that I should go ahead with the Rn program, but NOW im really starting to worry about the math the require.I Just recently got my GED, but I didnt go far enough in actual school when I was younger to learn alot of algebra, that stuff really boggles my mind! I am probably gonna need to take quite a few extra math classes to get to the point they want me at. (PLus, I never took chemistry either) The Lvn program requires elementary algebra, still boggles my mind.

Even still, I would like to become an RN. I can see myself working in the hospital, mayby in ICU or the maternity ward, I dont know. Baby steps!

Thanks.

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Specializes in Case Mgmt, Anesthesia, ICU, ER, Dialysis.

If you tell yourself you can do it, you can do it.

Your college will most likely have a math and science help center - you're not the only person who struggles with these subjects - and it's free tutoring. Your instructor is available, and there are other options (local high school chem instructors, grad students, etc) who will tutor cheap, if needed.

It will not happen overnight. Don't bite off more than you can chew - better to take a couple of years to do all your courses and do very well in them all, than take too many at once and have your GPA suffer.

If you want to work in a hospital while you're going through nursing school, get a job in a hospital as a unit secretary. You will get a feel for how things work in the "system" and the various roles different positions play within them. I know you said you wanted to eventually work in L&D, but any unit secretary job will give you a good background.

And I'll say it again: If you make up your mind you're going to do this, and nothing's going to stop you, you will do it. There's always a way, and if you hang out here, we'll help you figure out what that way may be.

Good luck, and God bless.

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Specializes in Emergency Department.
I Just recently got my GED, but I didnt go far enough in actual school when I was younger to learn alot of algebra, that stuff really boggles my mind! I am probably gonna need to take quite a few extra math classes to get to the point they want me at.

don't sell yourself short because you might live up to that expectation! i was out of school for 19 years (tanked algebra in high school) before i tried my hand at taking college seriously. i took the math placement test and ended up in basic algebra, somewhere along the lines of 6th grade math :chuckle. i've since completed elementary algebra and just took my final in intermediate algebra yesterday. hopefully i made it through with at least a 'c' so i can get on to actual college level algebra. it is a complete foreign language to me. some parts make total sense, while some are completely lost on me.

you can do it and you won't have to start out hard. it may take a while but either way you'll grow old :) i'm 40, by the way.

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Specializes in labor and delivery.

I have everyone topped by my age-50!. I took chemistry for the first time ever 3 years ago, I was so scared, I hired a tutor before the class even started. It was really worth it, the tutor helped me not to be anxious and I really understood what I was doing. I actually got an "A". I also took statistics over winter break-it was only 3 weeks but 7-8 hours a day. I also got an 'A' in that class. I hadn't taken algebra since I was a freshman in high school. Somehow I was able to do it. Don't let your fear get in the way! I was amazed and so were my friends that I got such good grades, I was known as a math doofus. Not anymore.

I am also a single parent with a mentally ill daughter, if I could do it, so can you.

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Specializes in Trauma ICU, Peds ICU.
I feel I have waisted alot of time

You haven't wasted time. You got married and started raising 4 children. That's awesome, and it's life experience that will help you in nursing and nursing school.

But I was looking at the pre-req's, and boy oh boy, there is alot of em. I was just gonna go ahead and go for LVN but I want to work in a hospital not a LTC.

If you know that LTC isn't for you, shoot for the RN, or don't do it at all. It's that simple.

First off, I feel Im too old to go for RN

My graduating class had students who were 68, 56, 43, 42, 38, and 31-years-old. You're anything but too old.

I dont know if Im smart enough for RN. There are more pre-req's than LVn and more educational classes I would have to take.

I don't know, I've met some RNs who weren't very smart. Okay, I'm joking... mostly, and I don't think you're not smart enough either. I haven't spent much time in Bakersfield (grew up in Santa Clarita), but there's got to be a community college nursing program in the area, right? Why don't you go have a chat with a counselor, and that might give you a better idea of whether or not this is something you think you can handle.

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Specializes in LTC, MDS Cordnator, Mental Health.

My only option was our local Community college. the nearest university's were 90 miles or more away. So it was LPN to RN It took me 3 years. I started at the age of 45. The LPN Program was hard but I worked full time nights and went full time during the day. the pre-req's and Co-reqs were easy. the Core classes were the hardest (for the RN) I was lucky they had a part time program for the RN 3 semesters. the last 2 semester were 7 credits... and believe me that was enough..... I have been an RN for two years. I work in LTC. I love it.

after doing Clinical in a hospital setting I knew I could not....would NOT work under those conditions. To may Patients and no CNA's ....not worth the pay.

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I am 46 and started back to school when I was 45. I finished all of my prereqs within 18 months and was accepted to the College of Nursing at a university in AZ for this fall. While I think that Chemistry was one of my hardest classes, I think I was able to learn because it means a lot more to me this time around. I think you should go for it full speed ahead. I believe that as we get older, we put more value in to our education. You will be amazed at what you will learn and you will look at things completely different from before. Get started on your dream - if you keep waiting, then when will you go. Now is the time, life is short. Good luck.

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pjb63,

How were able to finish pre req's so quickly? Did you take the standard courses (Bio 156/general Chem etc.) in H.S & just need the College's pre req's?

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You can do it!! I turned 43 in April and will start Nursing School in 13 days and it is the best decision I have made in my life! It means so much more to you when it has been a lifelong dream coming true. I feel the older we are the more serious we are and therefore we put a bit more effort into what we are doing and are rewarded by doing so! Don't give up, but don't keep waiting for the "right time" to start. The right time is NOW! Sign up for a couple classes and you will be amazed at how awesome it is! Good Luck

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