Looking for some words of wisdom

If you feel this is the right move to make, then 'good on ya girl!' Don't listen to people who are disbelievers - money isn't everything, and if you know it is the right move, then go for it!

I tried leaving nursing because of what others said - put nursing down etc. but I ended up coming back - if it's in the blood, it's hard to get rid of, and I don't think somehow you should try - I have been a nurse for 26 years, and I love it.. welcome to the nursing family!

If it's meant to be, you will never be happy anywhere else. Just strive to do your best, and make your motto: "Motivation, Determination, & Dedication!"

BTW, I am 32, with 2 kiddos. I do not have a degree in another field, but I know many do. There are many on here that can help you along the way. Good luck!

OH WAIT...edit, edit, edit!!! I'm not 32 yet, I'll be 32 this November....LOL)

Congrats on following your heart. I could never ever have a desk job. Good luck to you in all that you do! :)

hello and welcome to the wonderful family of allnurses. glad to have you with us. take care and best of luck to you. :)

Hello all!

Just found this board and am hoping it will be a great support over the next few years. After being out of school for 10 years, I have decided to pursue a degree in nursing. Unfortunetley, most people think I am crazy to make this decision. I am 36, have a three and five year old and have a WELL-PAYING executive level job with the Federal government. I started on my Masters degree in Public Administration a few months ago, but it is just plain obvious that it is not my real love. Since I was a kid, I have been fascinated by the human body, medicine and the idea of nursing. I was steered towards a degree in business as that was the "place" for women to make the dollars. I am just plain fed up with my bureaucratic job and sitting at a desk all day!!!! I am hoping to complete my pre-nursing courses over the next year (Biology in September and then A&P I and II, Chemistry, Microbiology, etc) and begin my journey to Nursing school. I will be blatently honest in saying I am TERRIFIED as I am understand the commitment I am about to take. On the other hand, after reading some of these posts, I KNOW, I am heading in the right direction. Any advice, words of wisdom etc, you all can provide (stories of other moms doing the same, other second-career nursing students, etc) would be VERY, VERY much appreciated!

Thanks!!!

Although, I haven't had a job like yours.. I also started school 10 years after being out of school. I have 2 children, my daughter is almost 2 and my son is 5 weeks old. I can only take one class a semester, but I look at it with a silver lining. I will be able to get the best grades possible. I don't want to have to put my kids in daycare so this works well for me. Take only what you feel you can handle and do your best. Good Luck to you.

Howdy! I'm 36 and left a 12 year teaching career to go to nursing school. Life is too short to spend so much time doing something we hate. I am married and have a 2 year old. I'm finding school doable, and it's not forever. I'm so much happier! Go for it!

Hello all!

Just found this board and am hoping it will be a great support over the next few years. After being out of school for 10 years, I have decided to pursue a degree in nursing. Unfortunetley, most people think I am crazy to make this decision. I am 36, have a three and five year old and have a WELL-PAYING executive level job with the Federal government. I started on my Masters degree in Public Administration a few months ago, but it is just plain obvious that it is not my real love. Since I was a kid, I have been fascinated by the human body, medicine and the idea of nursing. I was steered towards a degree in business as that was the "place" for women to make the dollars. I am just plain fed up with my bureaucratic job and sitting at a desk all day!!!! I am hoping to complete my pre-nursing courses over the next year (Biology in September and then A&P I and II, Chemistry, Microbiology, etc) and begin my journey to Nursing school. I will be blatently honest in saying I am TERRIFIED as I am understand the commitment I am about to take. On the other hand, after reading some of these posts, I KNOW, I am heading in the right direction. Any advice, words of wisdom etc, you all can provide (stories of other moms doing the same, other second-career nursing students, etc) would be VERY, VERY much appreciated!

Thanks!!!

Hello, well same as you i also am starting over again I have been out of school for 15 years, a mother of 2 ages 5(boy) and 13 (girl) I start my chemistry and english 111 on monday i'm also scared to death but I want this more than anything. I have wanted to be a Nurse since I was a child and I always helped take care of my grandfather who had heart trouble. I love taking care of people so i know this is my true calling. Also after working in a factory for 12 years i've had enough. Great luck to you, and I think you will find all the support here that you need the people are Great!!

I have five daughters (ages almost 8 all the way down to 3 months and still exclusively breastfeeding the baby). I had a lot of transfers from when I was in college before we had kiddos, however I had a few classes that still needed to be taken. We also homeschool. Obviously with my full time job as a mother there is no study time during the day so it's only done at night after they go to bed (dh has kids when I'm at class). So far I've made all A's: Philosophy, Microbiology, Chemistry, Sociology, and Physiology. I take Nutrition and Anatomy this fall and then start clinicals in January (provided that I get in the program, but I don't see any reason why I won't). Anyway, what I really want to say is that we have a GREAT income too and this isn't something I have to do and people just think I'm absolutely insane for doing it, but like you, it's in my heart and it's something that I HAVE to do, even though we don't need it (KWIM?). You can do it and you're not crazy for following your heart!!!!! Go for it!!!!!!!!!

Melissa (finishing pre-reqs fall 2005, start clinicals spring 2006)

My kiddos: Kaylee 9/14/97, Megan 12/13/99, Chelsea 8/9/01, Hannah 6/3/03, Sarah Grace 4/23/05, & 3 Angels In Heaven

rn_wannabe2008...God Bless You, you really do have your hands full, and i thought my 2 kids and mother-in-law was gonna be tough to work around, i've got it made compared to you. Money wise i can't say we don't need money cause we do with new house and 2 new cars plus paying for my BAD spending habits; which i've come to see the light of day and learned a lesson but next year when my son has had his last surgery I am going to quit full time and try to get a part time job working at the hospital or sitting with elderly so i will have more time for school and studies. I got my books today for Chemistry and Eng Comp and the chemisty might as well be written in greek for me i just hope it will be easier than it looks, I think my biggest thing will be learning to study again and learning how to remember things. Any suggestions??? Great luck to you !!

Hello all!

Just found this board and am hoping it will be a great support over the next few years. After being out of school for 10 years, I have decided to pursue a degree in nursing. Unfortunetley, most people think I am crazy to make this decision. I am 36, have a three and five year old and have a WELL-PAYING executive level job with the Federal government. I started on my Masters degree in Public Administration a few months ago, but it is just plain obvious that it is not my real love. Since I was a kid, I have been fascinated by the human body, medicine and the idea of nursing. I was steered towards a degree in business as that was the "place" for women to make the dollars. I am just plain fed up with my bureaucratic job and sitting at a desk all day!!!! I am hoping to complete my pre-nursing courses over the next year (Biology in September and then A&P I and II, Chemistry, Microbiology, etc) and begin my journey to Nursing school. I will be blatently honest in saying I am TERRIFIED as I am understand the commitment I am about to take. On the other hand, after reading some of these posts, I KNOW, I am heading in the right direction. Any advice, words of wisdom etc, you all can provide (stories of other moms doing the same, other second-career nursing students, etc) would be VERY, VERY much appreciated!

Thanks!!!

Will you be my friend?

No, really. I'm 42, and have 2 10-yr-olds (with ADHD!) as well as 24- and 21-year old stepchildren. The 24-year old is married and has a new baby.

I've worked almost 21 years for the same company, and am paid well. The job is not difficult, though it is sometimes frustrating. I am the primary wage-earner for my family -- my husband is at home with the kids and has a small home-based business.

When I was in college, there was a lot of pressure to pursue engineering or computer science, especially since I did well in math and science. I've NEVER been happy with the choice, but kept on doing it because ... well, I just tend to finish things I start. Now as I see all these corporate bail-outs and professional employees who have worked a long time for a company losing their pensions, I just don't see that the benefits of staying outweigh the risk of pursuing something I really want to do. If I'm going to have to work for the next 25 years, shouldn't it be in something more fulfilling?

Heavens no....you don't have it made compared to me. Sure we have different difficulties, but not really one being harder than the other, KWIM? Also, I didn't mean we don't need money, heck with 5 girls we need TONS of money. I just meant that people think I'm crazy because they know I don't HAVE to be doing it and so why would I, ya know? It's in my heart, that's why! lol Just like you said, even though people think you're insane to leave a good paying job, it's in your heart and money isn't the most important thing. You'll be so glad you are following your passion!!!! Anyway... suggestions: NOTECARDS (I live by them to study) haha, recorder (I record all lectures and if I miss something the professor says I write down the time on my recorder and then I can go back quickly and find what I missed when I'm studying), eating REALLY REALLY REALLY healthy, don't get pregnant LOL!!!!(like I did), precook meals(like on the weekend) if you usually eat at home because meal preparation and clean up can just be so time consuming, make sure hubby is sharing the workload of household chores, and try to find a teeny bit of 'me' time to squeeze in during the week if at all possible. If you don't have a quiet space at home where you can study or will be bogged down by all the 'home' stuff that needs to be done go to the library. Most public libraries have study rooms with locked doors where it's a little quiter than being in the big open areas. Also, NEVER be afraid to call or e-mail your professor. Being able to ask questions and not feel bad about hown many times I called or e-mailed is definitely what got me through with A's. Good luck....I think you'll do great!!!!!!!!

BTW, sorry if this was kind of jumbled up. I am wiped out tonight and my brain just really isn't functioning.