luquacious

Believe it or not I can't wait to buy "fun" scrubs. We have to wear all white with a very ugly (did I happen to tell you how ugly this thing is) apron. It will be so nice to be able to wear color and to have people think of me as a nurse instead of a candy striper (OMG they haven't been around for years!!!!). Most importantly, I want to take my 2 little girls to Disney. My first was 1 y/o when I started school and my second was born last summer. I want to do something so special for those two little angels that I have to leave behind and sometimes push off onto Daddy so that I can study. The other thing that I want is to do is some serious modifications to truck. My husband and I are die hard F-150 Harley Davidson edition truck lovers. We both own one and we can't wait to get them ready to show; this is our thing and I miss doing this with him. I miss him and my girls :redpinkhe. But thank goodness I graduate in May (not the end of the road, but at least it will be the largest chunck) and I will be able to feel somewhat normal again (whatever normal may mean ) Hey these little icons are fun!!!

Too funny I didn't read the first messages until now and what it took me to say in a "HUGH" paragraph you saind in a few lines (lol) kudos to you and my sentiments exactly

Sorry you feel that way about us 30-40 somethings chasing after a nursing career. I am 42 and will be 43 when I graduate. I didn't do anymore time "chasing" than anyone else (same as the 18-20 somethings lol!). I chose to begin my life differently by raising a family first and than pursue a career. Please forgive me I am not here to defend my choices but offer some advice... if you want something (whether it be nursing or something else) than it doesn't matter how long it takes or how old you are... you should just go for it. Before I started college (at age 40) I was hesitant because of my age (feeling old with all those "yungins" around) and when I told my older sister she asked me a simple question, "how old will you be in 3yrs?" (response 43) She than said, "Well I guess you'll be 43 with a degree or without a degree; it's your choice" You should not worry about how old you are or going to be and continue to go after what your hearts desire is. If your not feeling nursing is it, than my friend don't waste your time or money, but if you do feel that it is your desire, don't let anything get in your way (even a slight delay in time). I completely understand about feeling disappointed due to the wait time for an opening. I actually moved out my home state and went to one that had more more colleges with more openings. When you have a dream you have to be willing to do what ever it takes to make it happen. I wish you luck in your decision making and your future. Hope to hear that something good and wonderful has happened for you.

I agree with alem992 you need to find what makes you happy. Nursing is a career you must be passionate about. I don't think that you can half way it or do it because it is a good paying job. I believe the very cranky nurses (to put it politely) are either burned out or never really enjoyed it in the first place and they should look at changing careers. I know everyone is telling you to finish and get your degree, but do you want to keep paying for something that isn't going to make you happy. Why not transfer to another field of study that you will be happy in. Just that other day I had this conversation with a nurse, she has been nursing for 3yrs and wishes she had become and elementary school teacher. I asked what was stopping her. She stated to me that she had become so accustome to the money that she proabably couldn't make the change now. How sad, she feels stuck in a job she absolutely hates. In the end you must do what is best for you. Good luck with your dicision.

You're my hero, survivor08!!!!!

No I am not so happy with it. I will not pursue my BSN through my current school. Do I think that it has challenged us yes, however, our first year was taught by some wonderful ladies (very knowledgable) who just didn't know how to teach. Most of us do not feel prepared to enter our last semester and are scared to death that we might not make it. About 10 of us are getting together over the holiday break and studying. No rest for the weary, but this is a must for us, we have worked too hard and come too far to not pass our last semester. In the end we are the ones truly responsible for what we learn, it just would have been nice to have it delivered in a more "user friendly manner" (not spoon fed).

You should do this!!! I am now 42y/o and graduating in May 09 (will be 43). I started taking classes when my daughter was 9mons (now 3y/o) and I now have a 4mon old too. If I can do you it so can you. Can't wait to hear when your grad date is!!! Best of luck.

Like r.oxymoron I too bought one that downloaded to my computer. I have been able to burn some disks or copy to jump drives so other students who missed classes could hear the lecture. It's also been great for when I had to miss a class, I'd get it to one of my friends and they would record the lecture for me so I never missed a word spoken (even the breaks b/c they never shut the recorder off [lol!]). I bought mine off of ecost.com (Sony ICD-P520) last year for about $50; worth every penny. I highly recommend getting one that downloads, that way you'll never have to erase any material and you can always go back (even in future semesters) for a refresher course. Good luck in school!!!

As a lot have already said, a good recorder, lot's of binders, and some great orangizational skills. Keeping everything in order is a must to stay on top of everything. Aslo, the best careplan book I have bought is the 8th edition of Nursing Diaganosis Handbook by Betty J. Ackley and Gail B. Ladwig (Mosby ISBN:978-0-323-34826-2). I am a book buyer and buy anything that I think will help me. I LOVE the "Made Easy" series and I completely agree with the "Nurses Pocket Notes", it's the best to carry with you. Tips for studying are: you really should read before class, take your own notes and fill in the blanks with the instructors lecture notes and record the lecture. After class get atleast 3 hours of study time a day. Listen to your lecture on the recorder with the book open, that way you will catch anything that you've missed. I know it seems like a lot especially if you have other classes, but once you get into the routine it just happens. I am a 42y/o mother of 2 (3yrs and 4mons), my husband works nights, and I don't live anywhere near family. In other words if I can do it anyone can. I know it's not easy but I know you can do it.Good luck and congrats in advance on your completion of the program.

I completely agree. I was sick for a week and missed 2 days of school. Even though I find school taxing I couldn't wait to get back. Sitting around on the couch isn't for me either. BY the way I love you screen name, I too have an intimate relationship with coffee.

You are absolutely right! In every area there is something, and as "Yankee" as I am "you guys" is a very disrespectful way to address someone. Unfortunately, as I have had to do with "honey" you just have to get over it! I will always have a hard time for the lack of respect it shows when someone younger than me calls me honey, but that lack of respect is a cancer on society that has grown too big to treat and I am not sure that we will ever get this ground back. But as long as at the end of the day, I can say that I taught my children how to be respectful and that I have been respectful, than I can say I've done my best.

I agree!!!!

I will be 43 and the mother of a 3 y/o. My sister asked one day (when I was deciding whether to go to school or not), " How old are you going to be in 3 yrs?" I said,"43". She asked, "How old will you be in three years if you go to school?" I said, "43". She said, "What's the problem than? Either way you are still going to be 43, so why not go for it and be 43 with a degree." :idea:So needless to say, I am currently in school and though I must say it begrudgingly (lol), my big sister is right and I thank her for encouraging me to follow my dream. Thanks Suzy!!!

I am a yankee who lives in the south and though "honey" is more previlant here I have found that even most of the nursing students that I attend college with don't appreciate being called honey and don't aprove of it being used in reference to a patient. I must confess, the first time a little 18 year old girl called me hon I thought I was going to blow a gasket! It just isn't appropriate where I come from to address an adult like that. I still think it is disrespectful, however, I have adjusted and I truely believe that I am probably called "hon" more than I know; it's just what people say here and it's become common to me. How I feel while in nursing school.->

All I know is that I had to move from NH to Kentucky to get into a nursing program, due to not enough slots available. The reason being not enough teachers to make the classes larger and the reason for not enough teachers is the pay is low. These instructors not only risk licensure, but they are some of the lowest paid professionals (with master's degrees). The instructors at the private college that I attend have jobs outside of teaching. They all work in the medical field, most still at hospitals. I did a research paper on this subject, if I can retrieve it from my english professor I will send any and all info. that I gathered.:balloons:

Hi this is my first post and I must say I was very prompted to write. I too am a new nursing student and I am very upset with how my school has handled the acceptance of students. The requirements are 21 on your ACT and a GPA of 3.0 or better. There are many of us who attained these requirements and exceeded them, however there were many that did not and were also excepted. I can't tell you how angry some of us were. Why set the bar high and then lower it so that you can fill your available slots. I am sorry for saying this but if these women couldn't make the grade with their gen. eds. what makes them think that they are going to be able to make the grade in the nursing program. I guess I am so upset because I am 41 year old student, with much going on in my life, (including a new baby). I haven't been to school in years and worked really hard to meet the schools criteria, only to find out that you really don't have to work so hard. I will not drop my standards because of this, but it just doesn't seem right that this is how it is. By the way, I go to a very expensive private school with an elite nursing program and if they are lowering their standards as to who gets in, then what are other schools producing? This concerns me greatly. Please don't think me prideful; if I come off this way I am sorry. I just needed to vent somewhere safe. As one of the rules for nursing school states, "don't talk about anyone (or anything while in school) rumors start quickly" Thanks for listening