Need Some Motivation Please!!!

[luvajleen]

Hello, I'm 22 years old and I'm a wife and a mother of 2. I have 2 girls ages 6 and 3. I live in Hawaii and my husband is in the military. Since I got married in a very young age, I had to put my life on hold. I've dedicated 6 years of my life being an at home mom and a military wife. Now that my kids are old enough to go to school, I've decided to continue my education and pursue nursing. My whole family is in the medical field so in a very early age nursing has been a job that seemed to fit right for me. We have about 2 and a half more years in the marine corp. and would like to go back to our home town. I want to get my 2 year associates degree as an RN. I thought about the LPN but I know that I wouldn't be happy with that. I want that RN title and of course the pay as well. I'm reaching out to other RN's out there that know how it is to go to school,raise children,and be a wife at the same time. I'm a little bit nervous because I've been out of school for a very long time. I just need some motivations and please if anyone has any advice for me that would be great. I know that I'm making a big step but I feel as though it's a great oppurtunity for me to make something of myself and for my children as well. I'm affraid of going back to our home town and not being able to survive because I myself haven't finished school and doesn't have a good enough job. Being in the military you get many benifits that you normally dont get as a civilian. That's why I feel as though me finishing school is not an option. It's something I must do. So please if anyone can help me and give me advice on what I must do first that would be great. Right now I know that I can only take my associates in RN. I will then continue on my education for my bachelors. Please anyone who can give me advice that would be great! Thank you.

luvajleen

[Katnip, RN]

First, welcome.

:)

Second, rest assured it's very possible for you to go to school. You're only 22 it hasn't been that long. I went back in my 40s and managed it. With kids and everything. You can too.

If you're nervous, for one semester take only one or two of your prereqs just to get your feet wet and your confidence back.

And last of all, good luck! Let us know how you're doing, and enjoy the boards.

[AndyLyn]

I second that, cyberkat. You sound determined and committed, and it can be done luvajleen! A few classes at first to get back in the swing of things is a good idea (it worked for me at 27!) and helps ease everyone into it. The first full-time semester was the hardest for me and my family, after that it got better.

Good Luck and keep us posted!

[Agnus]

You stated you are a military wife and will be for 2 more years. You have a wonderful oportunity in that. Take advantage of it. Even stationed overseas you have access to american colleges and universities. Go to your base education center and sign up for some classes. You will not be able to take nursing classes but you will be able to get many of the general education courses out of the way. English one year, intro to sociology, general psycology and and psycology across the life span courses.

You may be able to get in your Chemistry , mirobiology, and and anatomy and physiology courses depending on what is available at your base.

Nutrition is often a requirement.

Besides these it would not hurt you to get in some math. sometimes a general biology course is required.

Other courses that are not necessairly required at all schools but is helpful and relevent are ethics, and (sorry forgot what I was going to say)

Anyway start taking some classes now. It sounds like you have all the motivation you need. Just get going. Lots have gone before you and done this. The vast majority of nursing students are not fresh out of High School any more. You will find you are actually a youngster in any associate degree program. I was 50 when I graduated.

[chris_at_lucas_RN, RN]

Hi! I started college in my husband's first active duty year (after supporting him and our son through his ROTC program), and it wasn't bad at all. In fact, there were advantages (like cheaper tuition) for military and dependents.

I did finely hone my multi-tasking abilities. And as my son got older, he learned to do a lot of his own tasks, and to do them well, very early.

It helps if your Marine is supportive of your going to school--if you and he both see your education as a part of the way to your future together, he may be more openly supportive, and you may be less grumpy, when things get a little difficult, which they will--but then anything worth doing is going to take some effort!

Check out the colleges around you, and also the online ones, which often have tuition breaks for military and the courses you will want/need for your pre-reqs.

If there is a nursing school near where you expect to settle down, check and see what their requirements are--you might develop a relationship with the school before you come back home, and that never hurts. And you can get an idea of what and whether they will accept courses from the local schools, University of Maryland (are they still doing that in HA?), the onlines, or whatever. You can also take CLEP exams, which count as courses.

Consider this: You are the wife of a Marine, you can do anything! (That got me through part 2 of a root canal once, with no anesthetic.... nursing school is definitely more fun than a root canal! :roll

Good luck and stay in touch!

[foreverhope]

If being a nurse is something you really want to do, then you can do it!!

I am 38 and in my first semester of an ADN program, and I have 4 sons at home. I spent the last 21/2 years taking basics. You could at least start with whatever pre-req's you need and then start trying to get in RN school. The first step would be to contact a local college or university and see what classes you should start with!!

Don't even consider that you may not be able to do it-- because if you set your sights on the goal of becomming a nurse and just take one step at a time you will succeed!!!