Experiencing repeated rejections or major medical issues that seem to be blocking your RN dream? I have been there and shed tears, felt extreme frustration, and have been depressed. However, I refused to be defined by the problems going on in my life. I never gave up on my dreams.
When I signed up on this site in 2006 I was at my second college and trying to get into the nursing school there. I was not a successful student at my first college (due to college shock and illness). When I transferred I thought things were finally going to change. However, things got worse.
In the space of one semester, I went from feeling faint sometimes to passing out almost every day (and being a well known visitor at the local ER at least 3x a week). My grades were not that great but I was pulling through and applied to nursing schools and I was repeatedly denied. Eventually, I left that school due to chronic syncope and took a semester off and moved back home.
In Fall 2009, I transferred to a school that allowed me to be a commuter student. Despite being the sickest I was in life (at that point), I was determined to do well and decided to redo all my science prereqs while completing my BA in History. I got a 4.0 my first semester and continued on that trend.
I was set to graduate in Spring 2011. However, the day of my APII final I passed out on campus and had to go to the hospital. That weekend (on Mother's Day) I had a stroke. Thankfully I did not have any lasting effects due to a quick medical response. I basically had to pull out that semester and take Incompletes for all my classes.
That Summer I eventually began to show sign of epilepsy and by the end of the Summer, I was having grand mal seizures at least twice a week. However, I refused to stop my life. That Summer I attended an intense language immersion program I received a scholarship for. I got sick up there several times, but I refused to let my illness define me.
I went back to school in Fall 2011 and graduated in Spring 2012. I graduated magna cum laude with a GPA of 3.79. However, despite having the GPA, at this point, I could not pass the physical for nursing school due to uncontrolled epilepsy (despite being 3 different meds).
I decided to go another route and considered MPH programs. However, after graduation, I got so sick that I was literally housebound. I was having a seizure ( all types) practically every day, several times a day. I was extremely unhappy and I decided to take my medical issue into my own hands and found a second opinion.
Eventually, it was found out that my issues were caused by a hormone imbalance that I was diagnosed with as a teenager that became severe as an adult. However, sometimes people cannot see the forest through the trees, and my doctors became very tunnel visioned. It took a new doctor to find the issue.
Today, I am completely healthy. I have a full-time job. I finally got my driver's license. But most of all, I will be starting nursing school in the Fall. I will be moving to attend a direct entry MSN/CNL program that is 21 months long. I hope to become an adult acute NP one day and maybe become a CRNA.
Sometimes, when life happens it seems like our dreams will never come to fruition. However, keep on going and NEVER give up. It took me 8 years to get to this point but I don't regret the journey. It made me a better and stronger woman.
You have no idea how much you encouraged me with this article. You faced uncontrollable setback after setback and still pushed through. Amazing! Now I have no excuse, I'm not going to feel sorry for myself and I'm not giving up
Thank you for sharing your experience. I'm encouraged by your strength and perseverance. May God bless you with good health & success in your future endeavors.
I was accepted into the nursing program last fall, but had an accident and had my leg amputated below the knee on the day when school was supposed to start. I reapplied for the fall of 2014 and got in. Yes, I am walking on the prosthetic, but I know I can do it. Good luck to all of us
That is great words of wisdom! I am having some bouts of depression and identity crisis while I am living away from home. My main problem is having the energy to sit down and continue to work for extended periods of time. Right now, I am sitting with two weeks to go in my second year of a bachelors program. I currently have a 78 in my pharmacology course when it needs to be above an 80. I probably am going to have to wait an entire year to get back into school. What happens is the nursing school kicks you out once an 80 percent isn't achieved and then go back the next year to re-complete the course. My hope is that next year I can take sometime off school to figure myself out and get back to school with a better attitude. I am 20, but it does suck still to have the realization that you need some more time to get through school and figure yourself out!
Wow...thanks for the post. Gave me a complete paradigm shift. No longer will I complain about the "pre-req" course that is full, saying "it's not fair, this will take forever, what's the use". Thanks...best of luck to you in nursing school. Thank
You know, I am going thru a difficult time right now, not health but other issues. All day I have saying ; I have my health and I have my job for these things I am truly grateful and the rest will eventually work itself out. SO when I read a story like yours I am so thankful that you got to fulfill your dream and realize that it is the getting back up that is important , no matter how long it takes.
Thank you all for reading my story. I did not expect so many be touched by my little story. However, remember no matter how long or how hard the journey might be....never give up!!
It is incredible what someone's drive and passion in life can let them do. I applaud you for not letting your medical issues keep you in the way of your goals. I hope everything is good and you're healthy.
rnhope2b
164 Posts
You are a REAL inspiration!!! God Bless you for your tenacity and endurance against all odds!