Cupcake2018

Your student loan amount is around the national average. You were smart to go to a school close to home as this cuts back on living expenses which can be over half the total cost of higher education. There’s nothing wrong with living with family while going to school, and these students are probably less likely to get in trouble under the influence of dumb college kid behavior often seen in dorms/student housing compounds. I would not consolidate or make any payment plan set in stone just yet. As a nurse, you may have many loan repayment options available to you at the state, federal, or workplace/organization level. Many employers offer tuition reimbursement plans as part of a benefit package to recruit new nurses/healthcare employees. There are also tax breaks and surely other option I’m not aware of. Really depends on many factors, including the location you plan to work. I don’t know all the particulars so find someone, like an advisor, who might. Google is helpful. And student loans are not a non-traditional student problem. They are a reality for most students. Good luck.

“I almost think at this point it's anxiety and fear going into procedures knowing that it'll probably happen and it does.” Absolutely! The same thing happens with panic attacks. The flight-or-flight response is super scary because it has both mental and physical components. Nothing quite like being in a state of fear and then having all of these weird bodily sensations to make matters worse. Those two components just feed off one another too and it’s really quite awful. I feel for you and have dealt with this myself, just not in a student situation. Maybe get some help with the anxiety. It takes a toll on the mind and body. Good luck.

It's very concerning to me that your program would write you up for an excused absence (provider note and all) after telling students that they are not to attend clinical when ill. Makes little sense. Even worse that they decided to dismiss you. You should attempt to utilize the formal appeal process outlined by your school/program before trying to get into another program. If the reasons for your write-ups and dismissal are as you state they are, then you might have a plausible reason to take legal action. Good luck.

I agree. Things don't tend to work out well when operating under 'extremes'...

Perfection. I lean liberal, but I am no hyper-liberal. Hyper-liberalism is destroying people's lives. We have no real standards, because in the name of celebrating 'diversity' (whatever that means now) and personal freedom, truly anything goes...and the consequences are real....very, very real.

Just because you can't cope with death now doesn't mean you won't learn how to cope with it from here on out. No need to give up on your goal of nursing. Worst comes to worst, pick an area of nursing where patient death is unlikely. School nursing, nursing education, provider's office, outpatient setting, and psych are just a few areas I can think of where you probably won't have to deal with death much. Don't give up!

I agree with other posters in that it sounds like you are overwhelmed.You're human. Try talking to someone, like maybe a counselor at school, and se if they might be able to offer some ways in which you can reorganize your life so that you can realize success. As far as academics go, focus your energies on the actual nursing courses. If need be, maybe go part time until you feel situated. This might not be possible in your particular nursing program, but it's an option worth looking into. Lastly, even though it may be extremely difficult at times, just try to have a 'can do' attitude. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy kind of thing. If you tell yourself that you don't think you're gonna make it, then you probably won't because that thinking will lead to the types of behavior that will make the initial thought a reality. Good luck and I hope things get better from here.

Good for you! Sounds like you worked out a feasible plan for yourself instead of whinnniiinnggg like so many people in this country do. All the best for you!!

Do you have $85,000 to spend on tuition? If not, and you plan to use loans to finance your education, then no it is probably not worth it. You'll be making almost $1000 monthly payments for the next 10 years or so and newly graduated nurses don't make a whole lot of money. $50-60 grand may sound like a lot, but once bills are paid and children are taken care of, it will be difficult to make that kind of monthly commitment, especially as a single parent. Go local or relocate to an area that has a more reasonably priced school. Stay away from for-profit schools. They are junk and overpriced - they prey on the vulnerable. Work hard and do well. Eventually, you'll find a good and reasonably priced program.

Nursing school provides the foundation of knowledge needed to learn how to be a nurse and pass the NCLEX. The real learning will likely come through actual experience working in the field. I'm a student too and there are times when I feel clueless, but that is because I'm inexperienced. We all are, so you are not alone.

If nursing programs aren't interviewing prospective students in person, then they are surely "interviewing" them on social media...

What evidence do you have that suggests an impaired mobility issue besides just bilateral edema? Does the patient need assistance when ambulating or doing ADLs? Are they unable to move freely in their bed? Has the edema caused them to spend more time in bed than normal? Does the edema affect the patient's gait or step?

Honestly, I'd find a per-diem CNA job or two. There's plenty out there. Per-diem will allow you greater flexibility. For instance, if you have one week where you're going to have a couple of exams and a paper to write, then perhaps, you'd pick up less hours. You can make up for the loss during weeks that are more 'slow'. If you can't get health insurance going this route, then maybe you could check out the Market Place to see if you can find an affordable plan that covers your needs.

If you believe that it is over for you, then it will be. The most important thing I've learned as a nursing student thus far is that we have to fake it till we make it. It's a self-fulfiling prophacy kind of thing. If you believe you can do it then you probably will. There are so many aspects about this line of study/work that can be phycically, academically, and emotionally challenging. When the self-doubt thoughts creep in, do the opposite of what they're telling you. A year ago, I was petrified of clinical, I had no measurable confidence in myself or my abilities, and took on a minor so I could work on that and postpone the clinical for a semester. That was a mistake. I'm still scared at clinical at times, but I act confident. As a result, I am better able to do the things I had previously convinced myself I couldn't do, which has given me some of the real confidence that I need to move forward. For instance: I gave my first IM injection yesterday. Let me tell you, I hate shots! The thought of sticking needles in people scared me. But I chose to see it as an oportunity to do a new skill and I pretended to be excited and made sure those around me knew it. I ignored the evil voice of self-doubt. I gave the shot, and wasn't all that nervous doing it. Everyone survived. I now know I can do this skill in the future. It's hard to change bad thinking patterns and it's a lengthy process, but the results will be worth it. Start with your thinking.

I'm a CNA, not a nurse, but I did the same exact thing this morning. I had several nights in a row with very little sleep and when I got home last night, I just passed out hard and didn't fully wake until four hours after my shift started. It was a no-call/no-show, which is something I'd never dream of doing, and I felt really bad about it. I called my work and ended up talking to the head honcho. I don't think they were happy, but I haven't been punished yet. I apologized and offered to pick up shifts to make it up. You're human, and sometimes this stuff happens. Be nice and offer to pick up a few hard-to-fill shifts for them. Hopefully, that will help smooth things over a bit. Good luck.