Need nursing guidance??

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Hi everyone!

So first off let me start by saying how much I love this website. Allnurses discussion forums have given me so much insight and information about the wonderful field of nursing. If you all wouldn't mind, I'm struggling with some career choices and would love some feedback.

So here's the rundown (I apologize it's long. Please bear with me!):

Ever since I could remember, I told my parents I wanted to be a nurse. I daydreamed about the day I would walk across the stage at my nurses pinning ceremony and beam at the audience. I imagined myself standing over an operating table, bracing a patient while she delivered her first baby, holding the hand of a child during chemotherapy. This came as a surprising choice to my parents. You see, I was an excellent English student...and a relatively subpar science and math student. I passed these classes with B's but I have always been the type of kid (and adult) who loses herself in a novel. I could write term papers with no effort but make me study physics and I was a goner.

Much to my (and my parents') surprise, I got into my top nursing school. I felt immense pride at doing just what everyone told me I couldn't: get into the ultra-competitive world of undergraduate nursing. Well, freshman year arrived...and I blew it. I got caught up in "college" and spent my time staying up late watching Netflix with my roommate, blowing off class and cramming for lab practicals when I had to. I was becoming more and more unmotivated as the year and more and more intimidated at the girls who could look at a complicated chemistry problem and know the answer within seconds. Not surprisingly, my grades (and self-esteem) didn't pull through. I started getting nervous and anxious thinking about clinical placements that would inevitably happen and I did what I never thought I'd do: I left the nursing program, after a mere bout with pre-reqs.

I switched to a Public Health degree and excelled. I liked my major, I enjoyed the topic matter...but I got to my junior year and hit a wall. I wasn't fully satisfied and was asking myself: what was I going to do for a career? I didn't want to work in non-profits or in a school system. I didn't want to work a desk job or rally at government meetings for a new bill to be passed. I gradually started to regret my haste as an intimated 18 year old freshman, bolting the minute things got tough. I started looking into nursing again and before I knew it, I was obsessed. I made the decision when I was a senior, about to graduate, that I was meant to be a nurse.

As much as I want to do this, I am scared and don't have the support of my parents, which honestly is really hard. When I left the nursing program initially, my dad looked at me and said "Well that's a good thing, you were never good at math and science anyway." What I wanted to tell him was that I had retaken courses I didn't do well in the first time and got A's. But I didn't. I believed him when he said I wasn't good enough.

So here I am, a graduated 22 year old working as a waitress/medical scribe, spending my days researching nursing programs whenever I have time. I can't pinpoint the moment I decided I wanted to be a nurse...I just know it's what I'm supposed to do. I know it sounds weak, but that's all I can say.

So with that background, my question seems relatively elementary: what tips can you give me about how to excel in an accelerated nursing program (I want to get through the program and start working in my field as quickly as possible, that's why I want accelerated)? Life advice on the career would be great too.

I'm sorry this is so long...I just don't think anyone can help me the way you guys can.

Thank you!!!

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

Just do it. I did. Study hard and you will make it.

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So what's going to be different this time? It's important to know why you struggled the first time to be successful for this round.

Just to make sure I understood your post, you have knocked out all your prereqs? Research your program thoroughly. Look at NCLEX pass rates especially.

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Specializes in RN, BSN, CHDN.

Moved to pre-nursing student forum

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Hello cracklingkraken,

I feel that the main reason I left the first time was because I was not mature enough to deal with the intensive nature of a nursing program. I was intimidated by all the other girls because they seemed so much smarter and I got afraid. It's stupid I know hahah. This time around I feel that I have grown up and matured a lot more (I'm now 22) and am ready to face this challenge!

As for my pre-reqs, I am currently finishing a sociology class and chemistry.

Thank you for your response!

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So you're still going through your prereqs?

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If you put the same passion and effort you used to write that post, towards studying to be a nurse, you will do great.

Remember being a nurse is 80% heart, anyone can pass chem or bio. Study hard and you'll make it. You sound very determined, I have no doubts you'll reach your goal!

Good luck :)

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Specializes in LTC and Pediatrics.

Do it and do it now. You know what you have to do this time around to make it through. Way back when, when I was in High School, my parents and advisor persuaded me to drop the idea of nursing since my math and science grades weren't good enough. This was back when the 3 year diploma was offered and worked with the local college. Well, I listened to them as they convinced me I couldn't do it. Fast forward many years and I went to nursing school in my 50's with the intent of doing the ADN program. I rocked the Science and Math classes. Wish I could have gone back and did an "I knew I could do it," but it was too late for that.

I have regretted ever since that time that I didn't go back to school for this a long time ago.

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Specializes in psych.

My main advice would be; don't be shy about asking for help when you need it. There are nursing tutors, the professors themselves, and my school has a nursing learning center set up just to help anyone who asks for it. There are open tutoring hours on our campus for all subjects and the hours are really flexible to work with almost any schedule. I've returned to school after having a career in education. My first go at college, I wasn't ready for it and it took me a while to settle down. This time around, I know when I need to ask for help and I've found that that's the best thing I could do for myself. However, hard work and putting in the time will get you there if you really want it. Good luck!

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Sounds just like me. I always knew I wanted to be a nurse. I got into an incredible University with a great nursing program. I took chemistry and became very intimidated at the knowledge level of everyone around me. I decided that something needed to change and I applied to the ADN program at my community college and was accepted! Sometimes being the big fish in a little pond is a lot more encouraging and motivating. The ADN program I'm in is so hands on and everyone is one big family just trying to help each other make it to the end. I think that is your best bet!

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I feel like I'm on the same boat as you are i'm 22 also have a degree, I wanted to do nursing when I was about 19, but let my fear of social anxiety and public speaking stop me, so i took the easy route and got a degree in criminal justice. It just hit me one night after my girlfriend broke up with me lol, I was like what do I want to do with my life do i want to really be a cop or something in the cj field or anything else, then I found this site, looked around researched it motivated me, people have the same fears I do and I learned a lot on how to cope, I don't really have the best support from my parents either they just feel like im wasting time but whatever I know what I want and so far I got a 4.0 in my A&P 1, and 2 classes and now im onto Microbiology so far so good. Just stay in there figure out what you really want to do If it is your passion it will come, but you cant have your life be all studying I also went out and enjoyed myself on the weekends there has to be a balance

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Specializes in Med-Surg; Infectious Diseases; Research.

Depending on your gpa, do not dismiss a traditional nursing program. 1-2 more semesters is not that big of a deal. Plus, traditional program students get an entire summer to pursue an internship or study abroad; something accelerated students do not get to do. Accelerated programs are intense and admission committees do not like to accept students who present any risk of not succeeding. The greatest predictor of future behavior is past behavior so you are a risk. Sometimes the committees will reject the application entirely or reject the application for the accelerated program and encourage the student to apply to the traditional program.

No matter what, attach a letter to your application owning your mistakes and what you want to do differently. Being passionate about nursing is good but it's not enough. You will have to demonstrate to them that you have a genuine commitment to finishing.

Have you looked into therapy or talking to someone about your fears? If you're really going to do this this time, you need to be emotionally strong. Nursing programs are tough emotionally and physically.

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