How long is it gonna take me?

MotivatedOne · Jun 3, 2008

I say, don't let your family nor the fact that you don't THINK you can do it discourage you from trying to do it. Once you start school your classmates will be a part of your support group.

A few suggestions for you. Maybe you can start as a CNA. Training is only about 8 weeks maybe less some places. It exposes you the the health care field. Also, you could call your local doctor's offices or the HR office at your local hospital and tell them that you're interested in nursing and was wondering if you could shadow a nurse. I'm sure with there being such a huge shortage of nurses they will be happy to oblige.

If you decide you do want to become a nurse, I'm not sure whether or not you're concerned with taking the SAT or ACT for an entrance exam into school but maybe you could start at the community college level and either get an ADN or ASN, whichever is awarded and once you start working as a nurse apply for a RN-BSN or RN-MSN program, if you'd like to further your education.

Another option could be taking all of your pre-reqs at the community college and then transferring to a 4 year school...then apply directly to the nursing program which could save you a butt load of money.

As far as how long it will take goes, I honestly believe that depends on you, and how you decide to go about getting your Nursing License. In my opinion, if you do extremely well in all of your pre req's you may be able to get into the nursing program at a 4 year school after 2 years. or into the ADN program after a year or 2 of pre reqs.

Whatever you decide to do, I wish you the best in all of your future endeavors. If you'd like I can be a shoulder for you to lean on or just a listening ear. We can exchange screennames to some of the popular Messengers. Just let me know.

Take care,

Tiff

WayneStateKatie · Jun 3, 2008

I would strongly suggest you shadow a nurse to see what the job really entails before you decide to sink your time, effort, and money into pursuing the career. Although once you finish your degree and you can get into an area of nursing where you will likely not have to deal with blood, the fact that you pass out at the sight of it is a little concerning if that is true and not an exaggeration. This is a health care field and blood is involved-- there is probably no realistic way to avoid the sight of it entirely during nursing school clinicals... If you pass out doing a required skill like a blood draw you likely will not pass clinical unless your instructor is a saint.

You're going to deal with ALL sorts of other fluids too and things you would never believe-- my friend who is already a nurse has a great story involving a patient and corn :chuckle that is pretty disgusting

I am sorry your family is not supportive. If you shadow a nurse or work as a CNA first to make sure you can handle all the fluids that will be involved in nursing school course work then I say go for it. The above poster had some wonderful advice and I truly wish you the best in your future endeavors.

WayneStateKatie · Jun 3, 2008

Perhaps I could be wrong-- after some poking around on the internet it looks like maybe not all nursing programs require you to learn how to do venipuncture (which I can't believe....maybe they just omitted it from skills learned on their websites) and when you're learning in a skills lab you're likely just going to learn the skill on a dummy. Contact the school you're interested in and ask them specifically about clinical skills and discuss your phobia.

You may be able to avoid doing a blood draw during your actual clinicals. If you alerted your instructor beforehand about your phobia they might be able to accommodate you. I don't know as I haven't started clinicals yet but I naturally assumed you were going to have to see blood at some point in nursing school. What do others think? Did you HAVE to do venipuncture that you learned in skill lab on real patients during clinicals? I'm all for helping the original poster avoid blood if it really is possible in school I just hadn't thought it was.:imbar

dolphinlover · Jun 3, 2008

Thinks for the advice!I have work as a na,in a nurseing home ,but never got certified had to quit to help with my dad.He got bit by a brown recluse and he had over 21 surgeries on his bottom.It kelp on getting infected due to it was near rectum and he also had diabetes.My dad always told the doctors I wanted to be a nurse so they would let me look on when they did his wound care. It was neat to watch and I did not Pass out.It has always been with my kids getting hurt after its all over with I would pass out or my own blood,but not anybody else.I have drove a school bus and seen bloody noses and did not pass out.I just wondering if its because its my kids or me that I pass out.I will call the only hospital within 50 miles of me and see if I can shadow a nurse.I think I can do this as long as its not me or my kids.Thanks again! Mary

MotivatedOne · Jun 4, 2008

It could be the fact that it's your own blood or your child's blood that causes you to pass out. Like do you really faint or do you just become light headed?

dolphinlover · Jun 4, 2008

Well,after i watch my son get his foot sewed up i fainted.My son was 6 yrs at the time and remembers the doctor telling him your mom just took a short nap. all the other times I just felt light headed. I just remembering getting up from the floor of the er room. I remember the doctor saying Im done and thats all. Then apoligizing for passing out.