grad2009

I had dropped out of high school 19 years ago. On my first day of college, I was so terrified I had the runs, but I took my Pepto and showed up for class. I had heard about A&P I, so I had spent 2 weeks before school studying chapter one. Well, our professor spent that first day getting to know us and making us feel more comfortable. When I took my first test two weeks later, he handed me the results (an A) and he smiled at me and said,"You are on your way to becoming a nurse!" I never will forget the confidence that gave me.

You are right; it is scary. I am 37 years old, and I will be 41 when I earn my ADN. We have to take this one step at a time, and we must remind ourselves that it is worth all of our efforts. We could spend the next 3 years in a dead end job, becoming increasingly depressed, or we can invest in our futures and come out 3 years later with a career we love.

Ah, Anatomy II. After passing A&P I with an A, I have more confidence. For A&P II I had to switch professors and books (grrr). My new professor is great, so knowledgable and so much fun. I sold my old A&P book on ebay, so that wasn't a total loss. My first exam was scheduled for Wednesay and wouldn't you know if, my old beater wouldn't start. You see, my husband gave my Lexus to our 17 yo daughter so she would have a safe vehicle. That left me with his 80 model pickup truck. It has stranded me twice in two weeks. As for the exam, the only way I can make it up is by taking an essay exam which will be given the week of finals. My 17 yo daughter is a senior in high school and she is currently taking A&P I. She wants to be a nurse too (I am so proud!) It has been great fun to help her study what I have already learned, and she is getting a headstart on A&P II by helping me study. I am taking it easy this semester. I have keyboarding at 8:00 a.m. Mon & Wed., A&P 11 at 1:20 p.m. Mon & Wed, and Developmental Math at 9:00 p.m. Thursday nights. I am feeling left out because my fellow students are busy getting their applications ready to turn in on January 31st. Our nursing school accepts students based on their earned points (2-13.) I will only have 8 points in January, and a minimum of 9 points are needed for acceptance into the program. This means I will have to go another full year before applying in January 2007. I plan to use this extra time to take Chemistry, Diet and Nutrition, Medical Terminology, and Spanish. These courses are not required but will certainly be helpful to me. I am working on the Endocrine System, the Reproductive System, and Growth and Development of the Fetus this week. I am a nightowl and often stay up all night to study. I can concentrate for long periods of time. I love my textbook's website http://www.anatomyandphysiology.com. I am probably one of the only students in my class who actually reads the textbook. I read each chapter at least twice. I also read my daughter's textbook as well. It is a condensed version written by the same author. I have difficulty with slides, but I am learning to master the microscope this semester. I have found that you really have to have a VIVID imagination when comparing actual slides to textbook photos. School is going great. I love my classes and my schedule. I just wish that I had some friends. I am very shy and have never been good at casual conversation. When I am at school, my palms are so sweaty. It is so embarrasing. I leave "handprints" all over my desk. My last challenge is the most difficult of all. I need to lose 160 pounds in order to reach a weight 0f 175 pounds. I want to accomplish this before nursing school, and I want to accomplish this BEFORE we are issued our white uniforms:nono:! I am so tired of being broke and I look forward to earning that first paycheck!

Well I did it! I am officially a card carrying college student! (You should see my ID, but that's a whole different story.) I was so nervous today. I slept till noon in order to help keep my anxiety down. Actually, I cat napped and watched the clock. At noon I got up and had a bowl of cereal and then a quick shower. Right before it was time to leave the house, I got the runs. Good thing it happened then, and not in line at the college, and GOOD THING I decided against the pizza. I was so worried that I wouldn't be able to find my way around the college but when I pulled up in the parking lot there were tons of signs saying, "registration, this way." When I opened the front door a police officer asked to see a picture ID, kinda weird I thought. From there it was pretty much a fast paced process that took forever if that makes any sense. There was no time to think or take in my surroundings. It was fill out this form, good, now turn left and go to the second door, then fill out this paper and go west into the next hall. etc. etc. It was a giant maze. When I reached the "fun part", actually choosing my classes, I discovered that the Anatomy teacher I wanted was all booked up, as well as the time slot I wanted. That meant that I have to take Anatomy on Mondays and Wednesdays instead of Tuesdays and Thursdays. That puts me going to school 4 days a week instead of 2. Also, the adviser talked me out of taking my Composition and Rhetoric class online and advised me to take it on campus instead. That puts me at school at 8:00 AM sharp....oh joy. They say God has a sense of humor, well He was certainly in fine form today. I need college to get me up and moving and out of the house. Well, I'll be up and out now, won't I. Next it was financial aid. I had taken out a loan for 1,000 to cover tuition and books. Since this is my first loan, I have to wait until February for the funds to come through. So, that meant getting a temporary loan. The college would only loan me 800 on the temporary loan. That left me 200 short of the funds I needed to purchase books. I got all of my books except the books for A&P. I put in a call to the loan officer who said she could get the school to lend me the other 200 I need for those books. WHEW...boy was I worried....where was I going to get 200 by Tuesday?! So I'm taking... Anatomy & Physiology I Monday & Wednesday Developmental Math, Composition and Rhetoric Tuesday & Thursday General Psychology online.

My 16 yo daughter thought she had her career path all figured out, a dental hygienist or dentist, until I decided to become a nurse. My enthusiasm and a few episodes of scrubs have her rethinking that decision now. I think it's the whole "I saved a life" versus "I saved a tooth" issue. That, and the fact that Christy, my daughter is a great people person who can do many things at once, do them fast, and do them very well. She would be great in ER. I think she needs that additional human contact that she would get with patients as a nurse. Also, a hospital is such an exciting place to be. Whichever field she chooses, she'll be great. I realize the dentist/nurse dilemma is totally different from the doctor/nurse one and my post is totally irrelevant to your problem it just reminded me of my Christy. It's cute at 16 when she is stressing and crying because she can't choose a career. Of course, my advice to her is the same everyone else's to you. Do you basics, shadow someone if possible, talk to people in the business, and it'll come to you. Which one do you dream (literally dream) about? I dream about nursing all the time. BTW....Echo Heron's books are great.

Thanks for all the prayers and concerns. Just to let you know, I have been in counseling for about one month now, even though its difficult for me to know what to talk about. All three of our kids are in counseling too! They are very good at expressing themselves and use every minute of their session to the fullest. I truly love my husband with all my heart and don't want to go through life without him but I realize how unfair things are for him right now. I mean, it's no fun having a 333 lb. depressed housewife who is not doing her chores to come home to after a 12 hour workday. I have been doing better this week. I've pushed myself to keep the house picked up and to cook for hubby. (JUST DO IT has been my motto.) I started the Zone diet on Monday. I have cut back drastically on bad carbs and have increased my fruits and veggies. I do fine during the day but I wake up several times during the night and then I get up and snack. At least now I'm eating healthy snacks. I'm working with my psychiatrist to find a medication that keeps me asleep all night so the snacking won't be a problem. Just to clarify, going to school is my idea. Yes, hubby wanted me to think of SOMETHING to keep me busy but he never specified what. I was a good student in high school and always wanted to go to college but never had the opportunity until now.

My marriage is dying daily. Funny thing is, it's all so polite and calm. None of the kicking and screaming and gasping for air that you would expect. A nineteen year marriage is ever so slowly, peacefully slipping away with nothing but silent tears to mourn its passing. How can this be? I got married at 16. Hubby was 19. I didn't know I had married an alcoholic! I didn't even know he drank, and we had been going out for three years. Hubby bought alcohol the first night we were married and the abuse began. He wasn't physically abusive, but oh he was verbally and emotionally abusive and neglectful. But, no matter how bad it got, it still wasn't as bad as my family of origin. I coped by becoming a martyr. I was a damn good one too! I became the perfect wife and the supermommy. ( I had my first child at age 20.) I was so good, an excellent housewife, and a devoted Christian homeschooling mother. All of this worked very well UNTIL HUBBY QUIT DRINKING. Suddenly, he was the bad one that needed to get his act together anymore. He became responsible, available, dependable, and I lost my role. Now, he began wanting to see changes in me. This, along with many other things, led to my breakdown. I spent a month in the mental hospital where I was diagnosed with bipolar and major depressive disorder. When I came out of the hospital, hubby's demands changed. Now he just wanted me to make it through the day. He treated me with kid gloves for a year during which time I learned to depend on everyone else for help. Due to the medications, I also started gaining weight like crazy. In the past year, Hubby has decided it's time for me to get off my a** and get my life back together. He hates the weak, dependent, fat (333 lb.) person I've become. He has pushes me really hard this past year to no avail. You see, I don't want to be supermom anymore! That's fine with him and he understands that but I've got to get back to a normal level of operation ...housecleaning, meals, taking care of kids, etc. I'm so depressed with being at home alone while the kids are at school that I sleep all day....NOT GOOD! So, I've decided to go to school. I'm excited, I'm scared to death, I'm so nervous I wish January 18th would just get here before I back out. This is a major undertaking and no one is going to be able to do it for me. I'm on my own as far as schoolwork is concerned. My family is very supportive and my 16 year old bought me makeup and hair curlers for Xmas to encourage me to look nice for class. They are willing to help out around the house if they know that I am busy with school instead of sleeping all day. I'm praying that going to school will help me gain the independence and self growth I need in order to save a marriage in trouble.

HeHeHe, I got my "present" early this year. Yesterday, Hubby hands me a 25.00 gift card for Target and gives me the "It's not much but I don't have much time or money" speech. I don't mean to sound ungrateful but it's the same gift card that his boss handed him (not much time or effort involved.) A fitting gift for a marriage in trouble, I guess. I decided to make the best of it and bought myself a black tote bag for my schoolbooks and a black dayplanner to match.

Deep breath....so here goes...... I've been a housewife for 19 years and a stay at home mom for 16 of those years. I was a home school mom for 12 years. You know the type...I spent my days teaching, gardening, canning, sewing, baking, scrubbing, going to church etc. I was always busy and never bored. I loved my "pioneer" lifestyle. Then came my breakdown. Don't ask me what brought it on, because I still can't piece it all together. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and major depression and put on the appropriate medications which I take every day. However, I came out of the hospital a month later a totally different person. I am no longer that "pioneer" women. NOT EVEN CLOSE. I no longer garden or can at all. I very rarely sew. Cooking and cleaning are minimal and my heart is not in it. Homeschooling is out and we seldom attend church anymore. I am no longer sastified at home with my own company. The old "homebody" is dead. I am not depressed, I am just bored. ( My meds are working great.) So, I've decided it's time for a career. I start college in January. I'll be taking my nursing prerequisits for three semesters and then four semesters of nursing school ( if I get in according to plan) for a graduation date of May 2009. I'm so excited and scared to death. I wish school would hurry up and start. If it doesn't start soon I may back out!:rotfl: My family is very proud of and supportive of my decision. I'm hoping school, and then work, is just what the doctor ordered to fill this void in my life right now.

So, I've finally realizing my dream. 19 years after high school, I'm going to attend college for the first time this semester. I want to become an RN someday. My problems are as follows. 1. At 333 lbs. will I fit in a school desk? 2. Will I be able to take off enough pounds in order to pass a physical and perform the physically demanding job of nursing? I have 3 semesters of prerequisites and then four semesters of nursing school during which I SHOULD be able to lose the pounds. I appreciate your prayers and support. ********************************************************* OVERWEIGHT NURSES What do you think? Are they able to fully perform their jobs or are the putting patients at risk? Sound off...

Can you believe it? 19 years after dropping out of high school and two years after being hospitalized for bipolar disorder, I've decided I'm going to become an RN! What, you say! Can it be done? The stories and encouragement I've received on these message boards assure me that I can. I have to get on the ball. Registration in January 11th and classes start January 17th at my local community college. I've already turned in a FAFSA, and an application and I have found out that I am NOT eligible for a Pell Grant. So, I will have to pay for my education with student loans. I feel a bit like a hamster on a wheel because once I start going to school I can't stop! I'll have to earn that degree and get a job in order to be able to pay back my student loans. Anytime, I drop below 6 credit hours for 6 month (summers not included of course) the loans will go into the repayment phase and I don't have the money to repay the loans until I go to work! So, I will be in school from January 2006 until May 2009. Of course, I plan on taking it slow at first. I'm going to ease back into school and get all of my General Education Classes out of the way before I start RN school. That way, I'll prove to my husband, my teachers, my counselors ( college and mental) and myself that I really can do this thing! Also, it will give me time to build up a reputation so that they can write persuasive letters on my behalf that I can use to petition the board - (declaratory) This January I am taking Developmental Math II from 10:40 to 12:50 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Human Anatomy and Phys. I from 1:20 to 3:55, also on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I am taking General Psychology on the internet, (boohoo, I would love to take it in a classroom, but cannot find a time that suits.) I am also taking Composition and Rhetoric (might as well get this one out of the way!) This will be a total of 13 credit hours for my first semester. I can't wait to get started!!! January here I come. BTW, I have a dear husband of 19 years, and three precious children ages 16, 12, and 8 who are ready to see me do something productive with my time. Before you say, "But wait, you are a wife and mother, you are doing something productive!" you should hear the whole story. Up until a couple of months ago, I would get up at 6:00 AM with the kids and see them off to school. Then, I would sleep from 7:00 AM until about 2:00 or 3:00 PM. In September I found a club called the Friendship Center. It is a house about 30 minutes from where I live and it is open from 9:00 AM until 2:30 PM. Now, I get up with the kids, TAKE them to school, drive to the Friendship Center, spend the day there, PICK the kids up at 3:15 and drive home. Of course, that means that I'm not at home during the day to clean house, but, hey, I wasn't cleaning it during my sleep...that's for sure! The kids help me clean house each day after school. My 16 year old daughter is especially helpful and she promises to help me out while I'm in school. She, the 8 year old, and I can knock the house out in about an hour, excluding laundry. The 12 yo boy has ADHD and a BIG anger problem. He isn't very helpful around the house. His jobs consist of his room, the trash, and cleaning out the cars and those come with much prodding and threats. Also, he CANNOT be trusted to watch the 8 yo girl. He hits her and is a general bully. I am hoping and praying that this will change in a year and a half ( the time it will take for my oldest to graduate.) He will be 14 then and the little one will be 10. They SHOULD be old enough at that point to be left alone together when I have clinicals. I can't depend on my oldest forever. She plans to go to college too! Well, now y'all know about me. Tell me about your school plans.