Rine

I'm smiling !! Thanks StPaulieGirl ! Deep breath......gathering up my #2 pencil.....making sure I have change to buy my parscore sheet at the bookstore, and off I go!! hee heee -- like a little leaf floating down the stream!! Can you tell I've been studying blood flow and peripheral resistance? Okay, I'm silly now....pre-test jitters... ps: I loved SAN ANTONIO !! I went to visit cousins a few years ago and I cried all the way back to California ! I had a good ol time !! I was in heaven at the rodeo -- the men were sooo nice -- even got called Ma'am a few times which just melted me !! Stay in touch StPaulieGirl......

Hi StPaulieGirl, Oh I'm right there with you. I'm only able to take Physio right now. Last semester I took Anatomy, Spanish II (still can't speak spanish) and an online course AND worked fulltime. Almost put me in the hospital, and nearly drove all my friends, family and boyfriend crazy with my huge stress-related fits. I'm attending a community college where the GPA sounds like it's much more generous than what I'm hearing on these boards -- so I better be grateful for that. I'm taking a very similar approach.....for myself, I won't be devastated if nursing turns out to be a bad match for me. I will have my AS degree and that can work for me in many other areas. I have a greater appreciation for the nurses that do make it -- I never realized how HARD it was to become a nurse. You don't see me spouting *medical facts* at parties these days -- as in my pre-college days when I used to think I knew so much after watching an informative Oprah show....dear lord !!! So much to know and learn yet! I still don't have a clue because I'm not even in the nursing program yet. I do admire and respect the nurses that have made it.......I hope to see us all get there too!! Thank you for the support today -- Rine 2 hours till Exam time and I'd better get going

Hi Shock-Me, So beautifully put!! You reminded me that my eyes do light up -- even in Physiology. I get giddy because I realize that I'm actually understanding this stuff!! I can remember when electrons,ions, and chemical equations used to blow me out of the water and now it's all part of what I know. I believe that's how nursing will be -- overwhelming and almost over the top at first, and then we'll relax into those situations as we take on new and more challenging situations. Thanks for your message

Thank you tookewlandy, I know I do have good people skills -- even though I am shy too. Your message has helped reassure me of what is important. It is so calming to hear other people talk about feeling nervous or overwhelmed.....it's strange how knowing I'm not alone with this makes me feel empowered and brave enough to keep going forward. Thank you all again -- Rine ps: 5 more hours till Physio Exam !! hee hee Pump Pump Pump the Heart !!!!

Hi Angie and Cathleen, Thank you both for writing! It makes me feel better that others have/had doubts too. Cathleen -- I'm going to be 43 in three weeks and I know what you mean about now or never. I am sure that as a manager you have developed great skills that you will need in nursing!! I was an executive admin assist for 20 years and I've dealt with the Good Ol Boys Club but I hear the medical world is even rougher than that. I'm still getting all the definitions down so I can't answer your question about the differences between RN and AMA. If I dig something up, I'll post it for you. I've often thought of Alternative Nursing as I'm really interested in that. I can really relate to what you wrote -- it sounds like where I am coming from too. I am no where near giving up -- I'm going to start researching other areas of nursing and see how they are. I am still very hopeful that there is a place in nursing for me. One of my family members is a nurse and I am blown away at the griping and stress that she vents about during family get-togethers. I sit there, quietly horrified, thinking, Oh GAWD what am I getting into?!!! There's gotta be alot of happy (even satisfied) nurses, right ??

I sometimes have second thoughts about nursing. I wonder if it's because the journey to get from start to finish is so long and as I continue chipping away at my prereqs it's inevitable that doubts creep in from time to time. I sometimes doubt I've got the assertiveness that nursing requires. Many of my classmates are the classic outgoing, outspoken types that I tend to envy thinking they will indeed become the best nurses. I'm a introvert by nature, however after spending 20 years in high tech I've managed to learn how to shift into a more assertive personality when it's necessary. My goals include taking some assertiveness training while I'm on the waiting list. I hear that the reason that nurses are in short demand is because of the hazing from upper management and burnout. I really hope that's not true about nursing as a whole. I haven't pinpointed the area of nursing I want to go into yet, although I'm drawn to mental health and maybe chemical dependent patients. I guess I'm just having one of those days and I'm running into people who have negative perspective on nursing and that what I'm being warned about isn't true for all nursing areas. I'm not interested in a career, no matter what the pay is, where I come home each day feeling mowed over. Maybe this feeling is because I'm having my Physiology midterm in about 6 hours -- ughh. Tension is high. I don't mean to be a bummer -- any input?

Hi PTGirl1, I'm in California too -- up here in Santa Cruz! I'd love to hear what you thought about the pyschiatric technican program. That's an area I'm very interested in and I am looking for resources to see if it's a good fit for me. I'll be 43 next month and I am hopefully going to be able to apply to the Nursing progam at the end of the Fall semester -- add a two-three year waiting list and I'm looking at graduation around age 47-48. I'm excited about it. Time seems to be flying as it is now!!!

You remind me to realize how far I've come -- there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I remember two years ago, looking at my long list of prereqs and general ed and I can't believe that I'm almost through those. I enjoy the youngins and it does feel good when they hang close like I'm their big sister! hee hee I don't have any children -- I was actually pregnant during summer school when I was taking English 1A but had a missed miscarriage...it brought me to my knees, but I was back in class the following week. It seems like it's been one family tragedy after another since I've gone back to school......I'm hanging tough though. I am in recovery and have had 3 wonderful sober years, despite the pains, it's made me stronger..All of these experiences are giving me a compassion and understanding that I will carry with me when I am a nurse.....I I am so glad to be here ! Thank you all for writing.....Rine

Hi PixiesMom, I was a straight A student all the way until I started the science classes. I have never studied harder in my life. The community college I'm going to requires at least a C in Anatomy and I was fortunate enough to get a B. For Physiology and Microbiology we have to get a combined minimum of a C+, but I'm not taking any chances -- I have to strive for better. It's so strange how when I was taking Anatomy everyone was telling me that Anatomy was the hardest class. Now that I'm in Physiology, I'm hearing that Physio is the hardest, and then lately I'm hearing that Microbiology is the hardest! Looks like this coming Fall will be another challenging semester when I take Microbiology.........I'll be stringing up holiday lights and studying for finals !! yipeee !!

Beary, Oh now I'm having a belly laugh with that last post Beary! I needed that! Thank you for the support! I am so glad I signed on today!

Hi Beary ! Oh you are so lucky ! I did really good with the ion channels, sarcomeres and muscles, BUT now we're on to the heart. Geesh!! Turkey baster-?! Yeah right ! That's how the instructor wants us to imagine it. hee hee I had the coolest chemistry teacher -- she used to look right at me and say, "Quit freaking out! You know this stuff - you just gotta KNOW you KNOW it!" and for some weird reason that relaxed me and I got it! I have my tape recorder going through the entire class and then I listen to it every day which is helping alot. Wish you were tutoring at our school!!

Hi MissJen and PixiesMom, It's so true about getting into the groove and really enjoying being in school. I can actually feel the neuropathways reconnecting and getting stronger than ever! I have a funny feeling that i will miss school when it's over. This kind of pride that I feel is different than anything I've felt so far in my life. I know it's coming from the hard work and stick-to-itness in what I have and what I WILL accomplish when I'm through. I may gripe about not having a life or that it's so hard, but I am very grateful for the experience. I used to be a *backrow* student, but these days you'll find me front and center, right in the middle of it all. Thank you for sharing, it makes me feel okay for the pre-semester tears......Rine

Hi Everyone, I'm so glad I came by and read many of your entries. I am 42 years old and having been laid off from my job in Silicon Valley three years ago, I'm now enrolled in a community college - wrapping up my prereqs for the Nursing Program. I can identify with starting new again, especially in my forties now. I thought that there was something wrong with during those first few semesters because I would sit in the parking lot before the first day of class and cry in my car. I was scared to death to go to my class. I'd grab my new binders and backpack and put on a pair of sunglasses as I ventured into the young people on campus, afraid of standing out. I have to say that all of my prereqs have been awesome. Public Speaking was often terrifying and I have some great stories to comfort anyone with stage fright -- you couldn't possibly blow it worse than me, but I got an A in the class all the same. I struggled through Anatomy and came away with a B, and now I'm freaking out in Physiology. Next is Microbiology and that scares me. I sometimes envy the people in the pottery classes as I trudge by their rooms on my way to Physio. I'm so glad to be here and I will be back often!!!!