the nursing identity

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hi all - Here I am dwellling on my recent rejection from the local nursing program. As I was taking the prereqs, I was acquiring the persona of a nurse. I was imagining myself as a nurse. I was sure I'd get in. I had a 3.8 GPA, hi TEAS scores and a bachelor's in an unrelated subject area ,French, Italian and linguistics. So now, the nurse persona has stuck with me and there is nothing to substantiate it. I am truly lost. I applied a second time this month and will hear again in September, but I am reluctant to get my hopes up. Despite an apparent good record, reality doesn't always reflect what one would expect. I am trying to get my mind off it by registering for an applied music course in violin and piano. I don't know if that will do the trick. I see other RNs and respiratory therapists who have been successful in their callings, but they don't seem to be particularly intelligent, polished, articulate or astute. I am don't want to be conceited, but I know where my strengths are. I believe that I fit the bill of the previous sentence. Are these attributes not important to the nursing profession? As I said, so many people I've encountered around here are simply quite ordinary.

Any thoughts? Merci beaucoup!

As always llg speaks the gosh darn truth.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My apologies to you all. I'm a product of my upbringing. I am trying to change that and all of your opinions made me realize that I still have a long way to go. I was raised in a educated and snobby household. My parents gave us many advantages and always encouraged us to be well-rounded. It was their thinking that if you were educated, "cultured" and interesting, you would reach your goals. I am disappointed to realize at this late stage in my life (middle age) that that is not the case. I got carried away and am truly embarrased by my attitude. I really am not a conceited person. In fact, I am quite the opposite. I know that I am looking for my self worth in all the wrong places. A few years ago, I so loathed myself that I was self-destructive. I didn't think I counted for anything. I'm not at the other extreme. I am only trying to navigate the world to find my place in it. Will it ever happen? God knows. Our time on earth is limited anyway.

Again, I am sorry to have offended you all. What else can I say?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

It is rather unlikely that taking an applied music course in piano or violin would increase your potential to be accepted into a nursing program. Perhaps volunteering at a local nursing home or hospital would be more useful. Many "ordinary" nursing school applicants humble themselves by undergoing training as a home health aide or CNA and working during the period of application to gain experience and exposure to the world of nursing. (In fact two nursing schools in my area require certification as a CNA as a condition of application/enrollment unless you are doing a bridge frm LPN-RN).

I can honestly say prerequisite courses, like microbiology, psychology, and growth and development, were definitively not indicative of the experience of nursing school.

Perhaps your personal evaluation of your application and credentials is as not consistent with the admissions department criteria as you believe.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

OP, nursing is a big game. You have to play it. So as other posters have said, you gotta find out from people in the program and from staff what the heck is it they are looking for. Most times you will have to put on a "dog and pony" show of some sort, but nursing will always require you put on some sort of a show. Find out what needs to be in that show, and if you are still willing, do just that.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

Violin9, it's totally possible that the people who got in had 4.0 GPAs. I know of more than one school in which that happened. It's so highly selective now, it's mind-boggling. However, there are only so many spots for students in programs. If 300 apply and there are 40 spots, some qualified candidates won't get in. Once a school takes the scores into account they consider other factors. Let's say 50 people have 4.0 GPAs and there are 40 spots (spots are regulated by how many clinical instructors there are--where I live and many other places, a clinical instructor may legally only have 10 students per group. Often there are just not enough instructors available.). Specific courses are given points, TEAS scores, if used, are given points, and residency in the area may be given points. If 50 people have the same number of points, then schools look at the other courses. Let's say everyone still has the same number of points. Then they look at experience, volunteer work, community involvement, application essay, if any, and might interview students. At some point if everyone remains equal, they might randomly draw names to fill the spots, only drawing from the highest scores. Schools would like to let everyone with high qualifications in, but it's just not possible. Other degrees don't tend to matter as far as admission goes.

I think it's possible your 3.8 wasn't high enough. Your TEAS scores might not be high enough, either with or without your 3.8. It's good you reapplied. Sometimes people who got in won't follow through or will go somewhere else where they were accepted, and spots will open up.

If you don't get into the program you chose, please consider other options, as the previous writers suggested. There are lots of roads to becoming a nurse. You don't have to give up on your dream for yourself or the identity you're feeling. I empathize for the grief over this loss that you're feeling. You can turn it around. Maybe the window that opens will lead to a brighter life than the door that's closed would provide.

Being intelligent, polished, articulate or astute is quite valuable. However, it's what you do with those qualities that matters. It doesn't get you very far to just have them. It could be you don't see those qualities in others because you don't know them well enough yet. Nurses are amazing people. They save lives with their intelligence, polish, articulation and astuteness. Ordinary people have those qualities. Lots of times they use them for the quality of their lives and the quality of other people's lives without advertising their strengths so others notice. I'm very proud to be ordinary.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

When will my mother's programming wear off? What a fool I was to have allowed her to have such an impact on me growing up. If only I could turn back the clock and get my revenge and do it all over again. It's a rainy Sunday and I am down in the dumps. No one is home and this environment is not good for me. unbelievable. so that is really where I'm coming from today.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Sorry to have showed myself to be less than mainstream

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I didn't register for applied music to improve my chances for acceptance to the nursing program. I did it divert my attentions for a bit.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Mental Health, Medical Research, Periop.
My apologies to you all. I'm a product of my upbringing. I am trying to change that and all of your opinions made me realize that I still have a long way to go. I was raised in a educated and snobby household. My parents gave us many advantages and always encouraged us to be well-rounded. It was their thinking that if you were educated, "cultured" and interesting, you would reach your goals. I am disappointed to realize at this late stage in my life (middle age) that that is not the case. I got carried away and am truly embarrased by my attitude. I really am not a conceited person. In fact, I am quite the opposite. I know that I am looking for my self worth in all the wrong places. A few years ago, I so loathed myself that I was self-destructive. I didn't think I counted for anything. I'm not at the other extreme. I am only trying to navigate the world to find my place in it. Will it ever happen? God knows. Our time on earth is limited anyway.

Again, I am sorry to have offended you all. What else can I say?

Sometimes we have to step back and re-evaluate ourselves. No one is perfect. We all have flaws. I was actually one of those 4.0GPA students Whispera mentioned. I did get in first and only attempt, I realize now how I took that for granted. I can only imagine the many applicants who did not get in. I recall taking Microbiology with a student who was retaking the class for an "A" because she believed her "B" was too low to get into the nursing program. I thought that was ridiculous than, but now I see maybe it wasn't ridiculous. I have never had to repeat a college course, so I didn't get it. Keep trying and remember just because you didn't get in doesn't mean you should criticize those that have. We do not know the circumstance. I wish you much luck in your future endeavors!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I hope I am forgiven for my folly.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Sometimes it comes out to plain old numbers. At my school you pretty much needed a straight 4.0 in the courses they looked at. I think I read that you had a 3.8 (forgive me if I forgot) which is an absolutely wonderful GPA, but if all of the other people had 4.0 there's nothing you can do. My shcool looked strictly at the required classes and entrance exam. Nothing else. The only way people could raise their rank was to retake courses and the exam to try to improve. You may be well rounded and I think that should count for something, but it doesn't always :(

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, ER.
s
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment