I of course am new here, and so happy to find this forum!
I am a 36 yo, SAHM... who has been a wife and mother for the past 10 years. Now that my two youngest (twins) will be in school full time next year, I am considering going back to school for a nursing degree... something I have wanted to do for years!
I am so scared of going back to school to begin a career! Is anyone else here my age, have a spouse, kids, home to care for? I feel like I am already spread pretty thin, but this is something I really want to do.
Is it doable? Is anyone else in my position or similar, doing it now?
Can it even be done???
Thanks for any suggestions or encouragement! Honesty is much appreciated!
This is the problem I have with older ladies wanting to go back to nursing school...they don't have a concept of reality...Nursing school is not reality...where are the posts about the stay at home moms who went back to school, passed boards, became licensed and now work...The reality is this...nursing is alot of common sense...just because you get into nursing school does not mean you will be a good nurse when you are done...another thing I am seeing is that women who start a nursing career when they are older may not be physically accustomed or physically able to actually do the work....I am founding doctors not liking these "brand new nurses" who are just starting out and some of them are in their 50's...it is annoying to them and actually to be honest it is annoying to me at times...I'm annoyed because many show poor judgement and still at an older age...mom or stay at home moms lack critical thinking skills...I'm not trying to be negative about you wanting to be a nurse...I am not so sure you are realistic about nursing as a profession...If you are going to do it...you need to get your Bachelor's because if you look at the slim job market for nurses ...that is the minimum required....Good Luck...think really hard about the money and time you are going to spend and decide if this is what you really want to do....for many of us nurses our profession is our passion...and we feel that people who do no have that passion for nursing our slighting us and the profession.....
Wow. You really sound ignorant. You clearly have no idea what it's like to be a mother, or an "older lady". Perhaps you need to gain some life experience yourself before make blanket statements that so clearly show that you have no idea what you're talking about. I'm not sure I've been privy so such ignorance in some time. Nice one.
Do it!!!!! :))) I'm a mother of two, ages 4 and 6, I also work (p/t for now) and am a full time student. It gets very hard at times, but it is not impossible. Working, scheduling school, doing homework, making dinner, and keeping up with the house is very hard, but where there is a will, there is a way. YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU PUT YOUR MIND TO!!!
Im 32 from Ontario,Canada.married & working mom of 11 yr old boy, I've been a Dental Assistant for 10 yrs. now.I love my job but for 3 years now i've been working as a Dental Admin. Pay is not bad and job very light.I just dont know why i'm so unhappy with what im doing lately and everyday ask myself if i should go for another career:confused:?My mom is a Nurse and even though she never pushed me to become a Nurse, I always knew she wanted me to persue it. I havent told anyone but im trying to get in Nursing School next fall.:) Everyday i check the website to read posts, let me say how grateful I am for all the encouragements this usually makes my day a little better....I can't wait to begin another journey of my life.THANK YOU!!!:heartbeat
Wow, ittibittinurse, so glad I've never had to have you as a nurse! Holy jesus! Talk about negative and rude. YOU give the nursing profession a really bad rap. Bottom line is, WHOEVER wants to become a nurse has the right to do so, without fear of annoying you, oh princess ittibittinurse. Good grief! I'm doing it with 5 kids, hope that sets well with you.
Go for it ladies! Don't let anyone stand in your way.
hey Jen, I decided on a career change, so quit my job a little over a year ago. I'm 40, married w. 2 kids. My husband is v. supportive and he picks up a lot of the slack. I'm now in 2nd year BSN w. two more years to go. It's challenging and takes a lot of juggling but it is doable. Do my kids suffer? Maybe a little because I can't participate in family game night or family movie night; however, they see how hard I work at school. I give them lots of attention following mid-terms and finals. I hope you do get to transfer some of those credits - really push for it. I had already taken 3 required courses and completed all of my electives before entering the program and there is still a lot of school work. Good luck.
I'm 36 and waited until my youngest was in first grade before making the switch from full-time employee to full-time student. It has been tough juggling two kids, their sports schedules, husband, house, and animals, but it is manageable. My house isn't sparkling clean and we tend to have dinners I can throw together quickly, but overall, it's been well worth it. My kids have not suffered at all. In fact, I'm home a lot more now than when I worked full-time and commuted 40 miles one way.
I'll complete most of my pre-req's this semester and start the nursing program in January. I try to schedule my school so that I do not have any classes one day a week. The nursing program I'll start is designed this way - nursing classes are not held on Fridays. I use this day to study and just have some "me time", which is very important. Even if it is taking the time to go grocery shopping by myself, or taking the dog for a nice long walk, it is much needed alone time.
[i am 31] I was going to school p/t working f/t and had a daughter at home. It is doable most definitely. I am currently preggo with #3. My oldest girl Alayna is 11 Caroline will be 1 November 11th and I am pregnant due in February with baby girl Sydney. I still want to continue my education I will probably wait a little bit after I have Sydney but I still want to do this as well. I have the same concerns as you but I have done it before and I know I can do it again. Keep your chin up and get out there and go for it!!!
This is the problem I have with older ladies wanting to go back to nursing school...they don't have a concept of reality...Nursing school is not reality...where are the posts about the stay at home moms who went back to school, passed boards, became licensed and now work...The reality is this...nursing is alot of common sense...just because you get into nursing school does not mean you will be a good nurse when you are done...another thing I am seeing is that women who start a nursing career when they are older may not be physically accustomed or physically able to actually do the work....I am founding doctors not liking these "brand new nurses" who are just starting out and some of them are in their 50's...it is annoying to them and actually to be honest it is annoying to me at times...I'm annoyed because many show poor judgement and still at an older age...mom or stay at home moms lack critical thinking skills...I'm not trying to be negative about you wanting to be a nurse...I am not so sure you are realistic about nursing as a profession...If you are going to do it...you need to get your Bachelor's because if you look at the slim job market for nurses ...that is the minimum required....Good Luck...think really hard about the money and time you are going to spend and decide if this is what you really want to do....for many of us nurses our profession is our passion...and we feel that people who do no have that passion for nursing our slighting us and the profession.....
lol Really??? SAHM's you say lack critical thinking skills. :uhoh3:Where did you learn grammar honey??? Before passing judgment [which is the correct spelling by the way] you need to grow up and not feel threatened by us stay at home moms who want to give back and do something meaningful to us by entering the Nursing field. You are not the only one with passion and dreams. We take care of other people for a living already being a SAHM. Anyone with the drive, determination, passion and love for others can and WILL do this. Without your permission THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
Jen - I'm a 40 year-old SAHM of 3 and will begin taking pre-req's for nursing school in Jan. This will be a second degree for me so I'm still trying to figure out what I can transfer from my previous college experience and how long it will all take me. It's very intimidating when you think of everything in front of you, but I've decided to take it one step at a time. My mother actually became a RN when she had small children too, and 30 years later, she's still working! I also know of several others who went back as "older ladies" and they've done fine. Good luck to you!
YEP! I'm 29, married, 2 yr old and 17 yr old stepson...oh and I work full time! Thank God I'm hanging in there, and my grades are great so far. Now the dust on my entertainment center? That's another story... LOL. You gotta want it, but if you do you can do it. Some days you'll feel like this: :sstrs: But I think it's gonna be worth it. Congrats to you and good luck!!!
Boy, do you have a lot to learn. After I graduated from my night nursing program which was an associates degree program of all older (no 18 or 19 year olds)people and most of us worked during the day full time and went to school at night, some of the worst nurses I worked with on the floor were younger girls (one in particular I have in mind) and she had been out of school for 1 or 2 years. She couldn't even run a code. She fell apart when her patient coded and couldn't even get the mask opened to do the mouth to mouth on the patient. She wasted valuable time. She also couldn't even put down an NG tube on an older little man who had stroked out and I had only been practicing for about 7 or 8 months. My charge nurse asked me to do it and take over the care of the patient since the other nurse obviously didn't know what the heck she was doing. Most of the people I graduated with really wanted to be nurses and had alot more life experiences and common sense than the kids just out of high school. I think you are doing so many good nurses a disservice with your attitude and I would have not liked to work with you on the floor.
jenniepaige
76 Posts
Wow. You really sound ignorant. You clearly have no idea what it's like to be a mother, or an "older lady". Perhaps you need to gain some life experience yourself before make blanket statements that so clearly show that you have no idea what you're talking about. I'm not sure I've been privy so such ignorance in some time. Nice one.