Possible Nursing Student w/Kidney Failure

windsurfer8, BSN, RN · Jul 2, 2015

If you are doing what you want to do why are you sad? If someone on here says you can't do it is that it. You are going to drop out? When you dealt with "mean and nasty" nurses did you notify the head nurse of your concerns? If you pass nursing school and pass the NCLEX you will be an RN. From that point on it is up to you whether you can deal with 12 hour shifts..weekends and holidays. Good luck.

Lev, MSN, RN, NP · Jul 2, 2015

If I were you I would not go to nursing school until I got the transplant. Nursing school is grueling for anyone including people who aren't chronically fatigued and feeling crappy from chronic renal failure. You don't want to do this now. Nursing school is also time consuming. Are you going to change your dialysis schedule to fit in nursing school clinicals? Let's say you have clinicals two days in a row? In my opinion your health comes first and if you were my patient, I would advise you to hold off on starting a nursing program for now.

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN · Jul 2, 2015

I applaud your decision to become a nurse but I would also advise to hold school off till you get transplant. Your health and, in this case, your life, must come first.

You can make an appointment with your school advisor or even Dean and work out an individual plan of study so that you might continue to take non-clinical courses in the meantime. Your clinicals can be split into less than 12 hours shifts or scheduled the way as not to interfere with dialysis schedule. You and your school need to make plans for the case you'll get transplant and so have to go to hospital for a while. But this all should go just as far as your health permits it.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Jul 2, 2015

I would honestly wait. Your mind and body are under an enormous amount of stress. Have you spoken to your doctor about this? I think he will be the best to advise you. There is a physical that must be taken before nursing school. Your doctor has to sign off that you are physically capable to do the program.

Nursing is more than just having some intelligence. It is a physically, emotionally, and mentally tiring job. I cannot even imagine what you are going through. I really hope you can find a donor and get a transplant. In the mean time, focus on you and getting yourself the strongest you can be. Nursing school is rigorous.

This is coming from someone with a couple of chronic illnesses. Mine are nothing compared to yours, but it did take me some time to get my body and mind healthy enough to go back to school. And I am very glad I did. I had some really exhausting days. One of my 12 hour clinical days was on Thursday. Then I had 2 classes on Friday that were 4 hours a piece. Some weeks I would have 2 tests on Friday and my Thursday clinical day. It was not easy. But one thing I have learned in life is that if you are not at your best, you cannot take care of things efficiently. Good luck!!

TeeZee · Jul 4, 2015

I wish you the best of luck with your choice. I am not in your situation exactly, but my husband is close! 'I' am the nursing student, and 'he' is the one in renal failure. He is PD though, which is SO much easier on him than hemo. Which do you do? He still works 50 hours a week. It practically kills him sometimes, but at this time there is no choice. He is up for a double transplant (P/K) and the wait is much shorter (he is near the top of the list now!). I could honestly say he 'might' be able to do it, IF he didn't HAVE to work. ONLY if he didn't have to work. Do you have to work?

What is your school's max % of missed time allowed? (my school is ONE day per semester! or 3 tardies)

The classes are mentally exhausting, but that is doable. My current clinical is the typical 'on your feet running around all day' type thing, are you able to do that now? Each semester is more and more too. It's NON-STOP mental brain-drain, then some physical. THen the mental makes you physically exhausted...lol..

'A's in pre-req's are NOTHING like 'a's in core. I had a 4.0 in all pre-reqs but now have A's & B's. I push hard too.

Considering your transplant could be awhile (1-3 years?) if you can't find your own, do you mind waiting? Would you be willing to lose 2 sememsters when you get the transplant? (one for the minute you have to quit for the transplant, the next (possibly) for the one you need to recover).

From everybody in my husband's support group, they say over 90% over people are back to 100% REAL FAST after surgery, but you can't really drive for a month/ do work for longer.

Nobody can decide but you, but too give 100% you have to be 100%, and I can only imagine how you must be feeling.

Can you knock out ALL pre-req's first?

Tracy

murse_antonio, ADN, RN · Dec 4, 2016

@TeeZee Hi, its been a while since you responded and hopefully your husband has gotten that transplant. I have reached the end of my pre req journey and although still in kidney failure I am in a whole different state of mind from when I first posted this. I am applying for the nursing program and my illness although difficult and tiring, has not, and will not stop me from completing my goals. I posted this because I needed someone to tell me I could do it, but I don't feel like I need a push anymore. My own motivation is enough. Thanks for you input!