More doubts... but practicing my affirmations!

[tripp3horn]

Hey Everyone,

Well, school has officially started for me as of Monday. By this spring my pre-req's will be completed and will be getting ready to apply for nursing school. I was shocked(however, I also understand) to see how many people are enrolled in the private college I attend. The parking lot is over-flowing and the halls are packed. My health science classes are completely filled. And of course, it seems like 90% of the students are going for nursing. It is frustrating for me when someone asks what my major is, both in and out of school, because they instantly look at me like I have just jumped on the band-wagon to get into nursing.

Now, I thought long and hard about what I wanted to do with my life in terms of a career. To me, success is defined as doing something that I can be proud of, something that will make a difference in the lives of others, and something that does not require me to put my morals or ethics on the line everyday that I work. For years, I tried to come up with ideas that would fit this description but never really came up with anything solid. Until one day I asked myself what I enjoy doing the most. And my answer was being a mom. I thought that it would be pretty cool to be a professional mother! Anyway, I tried to think of a career that was similar to motherhood. That is when I thought of nursing. It took me several months to make my final decision. But once I did, I knew that it was something I wanted to do. Besides motherhood, I have never been more serious about anything in my life as I am with nursing school. I really feel like this will be my place in the world.

What bothers me are the other students in school. In my A&P class, so many students just want to learn the bare minimum in order to get an A on their test. It annoys me how they overlook the fact that they will be nurses and should WANT to learn about the human body, and NEED to learn EVERYTHING about it. With so many of them, not all of them of course, their desire to pursue nursing seems superficial. The other day, I even heard one lady saying she didn't even want to be a nurse. She is just doing it so she can have a good job while she pursues something else. It annoys me because there are people like me, who genuinely want to be a nurse, that will have even lower chances of getting in because there are so many students going into this field because they believe it's a "sure thing."

I realize this is something I have no control over but I just needed to vent. I have worked really, really hard on my studies and I am afraid that I will not get accepted. However, I see nursing students in school everyday, so I know that IT IS possible. These students made it, and so can I..... I hope.

Thanks for letting me vent a little. Words of encouragement will be greatly appreciated!

[bluebird123]

"The other day, I even heard one lady saying she didn't even want to be a nurse. She is just doing it so she can have a good job while she pursues something else."

**This person most likely will not make it through nursing school. YOU will. Don't doubt yourself. :)

[TiffyRN, BSN, PhD]

First off, your dedication gives you a better chance than others to succeed. Keep plugging on.

Secondly, don't waste your energy worrying about other people. You can't control what they do or do not do, and can't change the system to keep only the more dedicated ones in the program. Having said that, I knew of a couple of people in nursing school that outwardly put on a really tough front, stated they were just doing the RN program for the money. This one particular student was in reality extremely tender with elderly patients but she continued with this tough girl act outside of clinicals. She purposefully went into geriatrics, rose quickly in the ranks, and within 5 yrs of graduation was the DON of the nicest most respected LTC in the city. And reportedly was greatly respected by her co-workers.

And lastly, this is not over after you get out of nursing school. You will always work with others that are not as caring and don't do as much as you do, but somehow get the choicest positions, best assignments & rise successfully to management positions. That is life and is not restricted to nursing.

Best of luck! Keep up the hard work and we'll see you out there on the floors in just a few short years!

[matchsticktgt, LPN]

We started with a class of almost 40, and are now down to (at last count) around 18...you will be amazed at the attrition rate...some won't pass, some will decide it's too much work, and some will fail the random drug tests...some may even fail the background checks...there are so many reasons that so many drop out/get dropped out. It is very infuriating to sit in class and hear the people whine, complain and moan about how much work it is, and how they hate doing the careplans, and why do they have to do a drug card for all 14 medications that there patient is on, and why do they have to be tested on them when in "real life" they will have a drug book to look the drugs up! I started in April and have kept a safe distance from most people - especially the more vocal of the complainers...you want to figure out who the "smart kids" are and sit closer to them...eventually so many will get weeded out. Nursing school take a TREMENDOUS amount of time, time management and self-discipline, and so many people lack the necessary amounts of one or more of these to be successful. Just keep on keeping on, and don't let any of them get to you...remember, you went into nursing for yourself and your contribution to the world...not to make friends or to please other people. I wish you the best of luck and TONS of patience!!!

[Orca, ADN, ASN, RN]

I went to a community college. The median age in my class was about 35, and two of my classmates were over 50. These are people who know how the world works and they were focused on what they were pursuing. Contrast that with the fresh-out-of-high-school bunches we encountered in the hospitals from four-year college programs, and the differences were stark.

The rigors of the program will shake out the pretenders. Nursing school dominates your life. Those who believe it sounds like a fun thing to do and those who believe they will just sit at the desk, look pretty and order other people to do things will fall by the wayside, and it won't take that long.

You have your own motivations for going. Don't let anyone belittle them. You have noble goals, so stick to them. Best of luck.

[tripp3horn]

Thank You Everyone,

You're right. I shouldn't worry about others so much. Those who are cut out to be nurses will make it through school and those who are not won't get very far. Thanks for taking the time to read my post and for replying with such encouraging words. I feel better now. :wink2:

[diane227, LPN, RN]

I don't want this to sound like it is going to sound but I was one of those students who did not study. I took notes but I did not do any required reading. I would read over my notes before a test. I did great in clinical and passed my boards with no trouble. Nursing school was just not that hard. I did not graduate with a 4.0 average. I made A's in clinicals but B's and C's in classroom work. I just hated to study. But you know, it all worked out . I know my H&P, chemistry and path, and micro. Most of us get there, we just get there in different ways.