New about to be Student with Questions

luvmy2angels · May 17, 2006

Welcome to Allnurses!! This is a great community!!

What exactely would you like to know????

myonlyboyluke · May 17, 2006

I guess I just wanted to know what is really involved with nursing school. I am 33 with six children and my husband and I own a heating and cooling business and I actually wen to school for court reporting. I chose to have a family instead of pursuing that career and I just always feel as though I'm missing something in my life whenever I see a nurse. It's just where I really want to be.

I've been doing medical transcription for 6 years now so I'm not totally in the dark. Is the schooling really intense? I'm so afraid that I just do not know enough to do this. What do I start out doing?

See....I have a zillion questions and I'm a nervous wreck. I'll stop here as I'm just going on and on.

Thanks so much for getting back to me so quickly!

Lee Ann

luvmy2angels · May 17, 2006

I am 33 also, although I only have 2 children (3 if you count my hubby), ages 4 and 7. I started school in Sept of 04 and just graduated this past Feb. In fact, I just passed my boards last week, so I am a "freshy". Nursing school for me was one of the best experiences of my life. It was hard sometimes to study but my husband was very supportive and helped out a lot with the kids so I could get work done. First level was the worst, I hadn't had that much homework since high school, but each level got easier, and the reward of actually being a nurse has made every second worth it!! I went part time in the evening, I don't think i could have made it through the full time day class. There is sooooo much to learn and they tended to go pretty fast at my school. Not sure if you are going for LPN or RN, I went to LPN. I made some wonderful friends along the way, I would do it all over again!!!

I worked as a CNA for 18 years before I got up the nerve to go to school, I am soooo glad I did though. If this is something you really want, you will do it!! It is hard at times, but well worth it!! Good luck. You will find lots of support here, I came here many times during school to vent, ask questions, etc...It's a wonderful place to belong to!!!

We started out learning the basics, A & P, nutrition, growth and development. We learned how to do a bed bath, assist with ADLs, just basic stuff. Level 2 we got into pharm, med administration, injections, assessments, and level 3 we were pretty much working as nurses! We did clinical in local nursing homes and one hospital where we got to observe operations, endo and cath labs, it was never boring, there was always something interesting going on!!

myonlyboyluke · May 17, 2006

I want to go for my RN. I too have an extremely supportive husband who will help me all the way 100%. He always has. :)

Do I have to be reallly good in one area or another? See, you were a CNA. The closest I am is doing my medical transcription. Do I have to be really good in math? Chemistry? Those, I guess, are what is making me so nervous.

Congratulations to you!! You must be so very happy!!

It took you 2 years by going part time at night? How long is going full time during the day do you know?

Thanks again!! (Told you I had a gozillion questions!!)

Lee Ann

MIA-RN1, RN · May 17, 2006

Im about to graduate w/ my associate's degree and I am not great at math nor am I good with chemistry. I still did fine. There are some math concepts (dimensional analysis--sounds worse than it is lol) that I struggled with. I had my teenager explain them to me and they made sense.

Most everything we needed to really know was taught to us in the nursing program. I didn't remember anything at all about acid/base balances and other physiology/chem stuff but they taught it enough in the nursing classes that I got it.

A friend of mine is a medical transcriptionist with no medical experience and has been doing fine. You do have an edge if you have some patient care experience simply because you are already used to physically handling patients but don't let your lack of experience hold you back. Not everyone in my program has worked as a cna or tech before.

Tweety, BSN, RN · May 17, 2006

Hi!

Nursing school probably is going to involve you taking some pre-reqs and co-reqs first, like the maths and sciences. Each school is different. You do have to understand basic Algerbra. Most schools have placement tests that will put you in the class to start with. I had Algerbra and high school in high school and didn't have to take them again for my RN, but needed to know basic Algerbra and chemistry for the other courses.

It's intense, it takes all you've got, will power, drive and determination and family support. Most important of all it takes self-confidence. So stop, take a deep breath, no freaking out allowed and tell yourself, "I can do this", "millions of people are nurses, millions of people work have families and no experience and become nurses, I can and I will do this".

Just take one day, one course at a time.

Good luck to you. Please always fell free to ask any question you'd like. We're here to help and encourage.

luvmy2angels · May 17, 2006

It took me 18 months part time to get my LPN. Most places around here (PA) to get your RN is 2 years full time. I would have loved to have gone for my RN but for all the RN schools you must have a lot of college pre-reqs like algebra, chemistry, English. There was no way I could have done all that!! I figured if I at least got my LPN i can take online course on my own time to get my RN.

We had a few people in my class that came from different occupations as well, one was an accountant, another a stay at home mom with no experience, a bank teller...all types of career people and they all made it through!! Your experience will come in handy with medical terminology!! Any kind of medical experience is a plus, but not needed to make it through school!! All you need is the desire, and sounds like you have that!!

Nony · May 17, 2006

I am 29 and I am about to be student nurse too. I am starting in August and I have my own share of nerves too. I am single and I have no kids but I am going to have to work fulltime while in NS. This is due to the fact that I am supporting my aged parents. I know of nurses who were married and had babies while they were in nursing school, I have also met people who worked fulltime while in NS. So I think it takes a healthy amount of determination and hardwork. You will make it.

dvas00 · May 17, 2006

Hey Lee Ann,

I'm a medical transcriptionist (nearly 10 years!) who is working toward nursing school! :) I'm married, with three kids, and my work hours are very flexible, but I'm also figuring at some point I'll have to quit or go very part time. Best of luck to you!!!

Dana

medicarelpn · May 18, 2006

Your about to embark on a very exciting and hard road. I have been an LPN for 3 years and this Monday I start the RN program. Don't worry about the experience, when I was going through school for my LPN my 2 best friends were also going to school. Neither of them had any medical experience whatsoever, and they are two of the best nurses you have ever seen. I would love to answer any questions that you have. Feel free to email me if you would like.

medicarelpn · May 18, 2006

Congratulations, you are about to embark on a very exciting and hard journey. I have been an LPN for 3 years, and am starting RN school this Mon. I would not worry about having experience, when I was going to LPN school my 2 best friends were also going neither of them had any medical experience whatsoever and they are 2 of the best nurses you could ever ask for. I would love to answer any questions that you have, please feel free to email me.:welcome: