Newbie here!

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Hello Everyone,

I just joined today but have been stalking the board for a while. Any advice about my situation is welcome and greatly appreciated.

I'm a stay at home mom, but worked to get my bachelor's degree from Liberty University via distance learning. Not long after, I was asked by my CPM that helped me through a few of my pregnancies assist her at homebirths. I learned so much, including how to perform a few clinical tasks and saw a lot of things. I discovered working with her (and a few other midwives) that I really had a knack for picking up on things others missed, and was able to remain calm in some pretty intense situations. So, I began my studies towards becoming a CPM myself. Along the way, however, it became clear that the path I was on wasn't going to pan out. It's very hard to get an apprenticeship. During my last pregnancy it was solidified that I wasn't entirely comfortable with becoming a CPM; I saw that sometimes medical intervention is needed, and if I wanted to help women the best I could, I needed to become a CNM. I really want to become a L&D nurse first. I'm sure that's said a lot, but truly I feel like this is where I have the most knowledge/ability/instinct to do the most good. So, here I am!

I'm starting my prerequisites this summer to hopefully go for my BSN through an accelerated program. I've had lots of people try to discourage me, saying nursing is too hard, that labor and delivery isn't all sunshine and rainbows.... I've experienced first hand how tragic it is when a client loses her baby due to a cord accident; I've seen severe PPH that scared me to death. I am actually terrified now though with everyone saying that this is impossible. It's such a huge financial investment! But, I can't imagine doing anything else with my life. I'm trying to keep an open mind with it all, but I wonder if I am being unrealistic.

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Specializes in Pediatrics.

Don't worry about what they say (I know that's easier said than done). They're projecting their own insecurities onto you. If this is what you want to do, go for it and forget what anyone else has to say about it.

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I do agree with PP. If nursing is what you crave, then go for your dreams! I understand what you mean when you say it is a huge financial commitment. I am, too, a second degree student so by the time I will graduate from ABSN (granted I am accepted), I will have a lot of money to pay back! But what I will say to you is what I say to myself: take one step at a time, worry about completing your pre-reqs with As, then worry about getting accepted into the program of your dreams, then worry about staying afloat and graduate, then worry about getting a job, and, finally, worry about paying off your loans! So, yeah, go for it!

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If you feel deeply that this is your calling DON'T ever give up!! You can do it!

It has been an incredibly long road for me. I live in California where our nursing programs are impacted and very competitive selection wise.

I've had to put myself through college because my Mom was a single mother of 6 and unable to help me much, but helped in every way she could. I've had to stop college a few times due to financial and personal reasons but always went back because I knew nursing was in my heart. I've finally completed my pre-reqs and I've been able to apply but I'm terrified now.

I'm scared of how discouraged I'm going to be if I don't get into a program, I'm intimidated by all of my fellow nurses who I may fall far behind, I'm mostly scared about flunking out of nursing school. I've never been so scared in my life, but I saw this quote that resonated with me. It goes like this...

"If your dreams don't scare you, they aren't big enough!"

So I keep trying to tell myself that it's a good thing that I'm scared, I've worked so incredibly hard to get here and deserve every bit of the success coming my way, there's always going to be nay sayers but they aren't doing what I'm doing, and I need to keep pushing forward because I CAN DO THIS!

And so can you! Don't listen to the negativity if you know you are destined for something. I truly believe some of us have callings in life ;)

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