Overwhelmed

Published

Good Morning All,

I'm a pre-nursing student working towards getting into the nursing program hopefully in March. Short bio of myself, I'm pursuing a second career as a nurse as my first career as a firefighter is coming to an end due to an injury sustained on the line of duty. I'm also a military member of the reserves, have a wife and son, and also have a side job to make ends meet. I'm second guessing myself due to the workload of having to complete school, and meet my financial and family priorities. I've looked hard and searched deep within to make sure this is the career that will fulfill my needs financially and intellectually. It took me almost a year to decide. I'm excited and know this is the right choice for me under all the circumstances. I'm not choosing nursing for the money, but it will provide a comfortable income for my family. I don't know if I have a question or I'm just venting. Anyone with a similar situation? How did you get through it?. How do you juggle all the responsibilities?. My wife is amazing, supportive, and a great mom. Understandably though, she gets upset sometimes because I'm gone from home with my military obligations and the fire department, and then when I am home, I'm stuck in the books. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Hope you guys are enjoying your summer. Be safe.

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Specializes in Prior military RN/current ICU RN..

Prioritize and execute.

I was kicked out of my parents house at 16. Joined the military and used the GI Bill to get my BSN. Not an easy road, but I don't want it easy. Actually all this...it is simple. You do it.

If you are "venting" because it is not easy...well..not much I can say about that. When you are in nursing school look around the class...everyone is making it happen no matter the odds. Same with you...you are fully capable of doing this. You are not "stuck in the books" as you always have the right to quit. You CHOOSE to go to nursing school and for every action there is a reaction.

My advice? Do it or do not do it. That is it. Simple. Prioritize and execute is what I live by. Good luck man.

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It IS hard.

I'm sure once you get to nursing school you will (or maybe not) find comfort in knowing there are going to be a lot of men and women in the program in similar situations as you. When my husband was going through PA school, a good portion of his classmates were married with kids, mortgages, and all the fun that goes with it. You get through if you really want that end result.

Does your wife work outside the home? Could she consider doing so, at least part time, to take off some of the financial burden from you? Are you actively applying to scholarships? Is there more financial aid you could qualify for? I know it's hard, but she will need to understand this is a temporary situation. She needs to be on board with you.

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Really discuss with your wife the impact that this will have on your family, good or bad. Allow her to be completely honest. Ask yourself if you have been/will be supportive of her future desires to return to school/pursue a hobby she hasn't been able to.

When I met my husband, he was planning on going into the military for med school, and I really gave thought into what that meant for me (moving, time commitments, etc). I'm sure your wife did the same. However, she probably wasn't preparing for you to want to go back to school for nursing, so please talk to her and be realistic about the time it might take for you. I have to say, nursing school didn't take up as much time as other people say it does (in my opinion) so besides one full day of clinical it was quite manageable.

The other advice I have is to make sure when you pursue this career that you make time for your family. You can put down the books for a half hour to go for a walk, take your wife on a date, play with your son so she can go out, etc. Just prioritize what is important to you and you'll be good to go!

You sound like a nice person who has really thought about this and isn't making a rash decision. Good luck to you, I'm sure you can do it!

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Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care.

My journey is also a career change going from approximately 30 years in IT to become a RN; Jesus willing, I graduate this coming fall 2016. Like you the change wasn't for the money; I was actually making much more money in IT towards the end than most entry to mid level nurses.

My suggestions are as follows:

  • Learn your learning style:

  • Learn test taking strategies:

  • Learn about what to do after you fail or do poorly on a test:
    -- also if this happens (prerequisites or in the program), PROMPTLY see the professor to go over the exam, your thought process on why you picked what you picked, the rationales for all the selections for questions you got wrong, etc.
  • https://allnurses.com/pre-nursing-student/how-to-get-846733.html has helped me from prerequisites onward.
  • Based on the above article, I've found planning to be essential.

For planning, I use Google Calendar along with Evernote's reminder system; I also update a family calendar so my wife knows when/where for classes and clinicals. I also set up phone alarms in advance for each clinical/class for the semester. I make the alarm label a short version of the clinical location plus the dates or date range for the sites; then turn on the alarm when it's near the 1st start date, turning off the alarm after the specific clinical site (we go to several per mini-semester/semester) is done.

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Specializes in Emergency.

It sounds like you're well balanced and determined- perfect nursing material! Something important to consider is will the program of your choice work with your military & fire station obligations? I'm afraid I don't know much about either. Most nursing programs have very ridged schedules, if you miss more than a few days it counts as a failed class.

Since $ is tight, I'd suggest a nursing school at a cc. Also, depending on where you live there are loan repayment/ scholarship programs that will give you up to $10,000 if you agree to work in an underserved area for 2 years after you become a licensed RN. You can even apply a second time after your 2 years is up for $11,000 in exchange for another 2 years. There's a lot of hidden scholarships out there, even one for left-handed bowlers!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Just want to chime in - if you sustained an on-the-job injury which has impacted your ability to continue in your current career, have you investigated any disability/career training benefits that may be available? Also, if you have not already exhausted these benefits, you'll probably be eligible for a Pell Grant. Talk to your program advisors & admissions office to get this ball rolling.

You're setting a wonderful example for your child.

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