Hey my wonderful, intelligent, HELPFUL fellow students !
I'm new to this forum but, REALLY need some help! I'm a mommy...(smiling) My son is 10 months old now and I'm finishing up undergrad as a single mother who wants to transition from a Political Science major into nursing. I know it sounds crazy but, I absolutely LOVE motherhood and I want a job that is flexible and does NOT allow me to bring my work home. When I'm home, I always give my full attention to the baby and it shows in the way that he's always bubbly and laughing. ANYWAYS, sorry for rambling but, I've taken Anatomy, Micro and Human Growth and I did OK. I got an A in Human Growth, a B in Micro and I might scratch out a B+ in Anatomy. I'm REALLY DISCOURAGED because I really don't feel like this is very competitive. I go to UF and would like to get into their program in order to stay in graduate housing and keep my kid in daycare on campus. But, my other options would be UNF, UCF, FSU, USA (Alabama), and any other school that would require similar pre-reqs and NO GRE. I'm taking the GRE soon so, wish me luck:yeah:! What do you all suggest? My current GPA is around 3.7, I believe but, I hear that it should be a lot closer to a 4.0 to be competitive. I really need to get into a nursing school to make a better life for me and the baby...He's my world...
Thanks everyone and I hope that you all get to be whatever you aspire to be.
Nursing is a great career, but I honestly wouldn't refer to it as flexible. Especially if you plan on working in a hospital setting (which I see you do). Even though many jobs allow you to work three 12 hour shifts a week, nurses usually end up working more than that. Things get busy and you will have to stay after to finish up all of your paperwork. Also, don't count on getting 4 days off in a row every week. On some of the days you are not working, you will end up making up for missed sleep. Also, as a new graduate, you will most likely have to work night shifts in the hospital. At the hospital I do my clinicals at, there are 50+ people on the wait list for day shift.
Also, don't rely on the fact that you usually do really well in school. There are so many people in my class (including me) that went through school not having to study at all and still getting A's, but we quickly realized that was not the case for nursing school. My school sent out an example study plan saying we needed to study at least 12 hours a week for our nursing classes alone.
During nursing school, you have to bring your work home. Before clincials, I have to prepare about 6 hours worth of paperwork to be able to participate.
Ultimately, I don't think you should go to nursing school for the flexibility. You should be a compassionate person who desires to take care of people.
If you think this sounds like you...then good luck :) I know people who have families, work and go to nursing school, and they are doing just fine.
tas026
44 Posts
Nursing is a great career, but I honestly wouldn't refer to it as flexible. Especially if you plan on working in a hospital setting (which I see you do). Even though many jobs allow you to work three 12 hour shifts a week, nurses usually end up working more than that. Things get busy and you will have to stay after to finish up all of your paperwork. Also, don't count on getting 4 days off in a row every week. On some of the days you are not working, you will end up making up for missed sleep. Also, as a new graduate, you will most likely have to work night shifts in the hospital. At the hospital I do my clinicals at, there are 50+ people on the wait list for day shift.
Also, don't rely on the fact that you usually do really well in school. There are so many people in my class (including me) that went through school not having to study at all and still getting A's, but we quickly realized that was not the case for nursing school. My school sent out an example study plan saying we needed to study at least 12 hours a week for our nursing classes alone.
During nursing school, you have to bring your work home. Before clincials, I have to prepare about 6 hours worth of paperwork to be able to participate.
Ultimately, I don't think you should go to nursing school for the flexibility. You should be a compassionate person who desires to take care of people.
If you think this sounds like you...then good luck :) I know people who have families, work and go to nursing school, and they are doing just fine.