nurse2b2010

There are definitely some good points being made here regarding age, but I think the decision has to be definitely yours -- follow your heart. I'm 50 and started back to school at 48 to begin working towards an RN degree. I went through first semester nursing and part of 2nd semester, but had to step back due to personal situation in dealing with father's cancer and dealing with my own stress level of balancing nursing school with everything else in my life. Also, depending on your learning style, going back to school as an older student can be rewarding but also may be a little more difficult academically. But, again, everyone is different in how they learn. I just know for me, it takes me longer to retain things than I did back in my 20's and 30's. I do intend to eventually get my RN degree -- it just might take me a little longer than I had originally planned. I am even considering going to an LPN program and then reapplying to nursing school in 3rd semester to help me accomplish my goal. The one drawback I have experienced since starting nursing school is that because I had no previous medical experience I find nursing school to be more challenging for me than some of the other students who are currently either CNAs or LPNs working toward their RN. They definitely have an advantage because of their work experience. Nursing School is very hard and it's a very big commitment. Just be prepared to apply yourself totally and give it 100% or more if you make the decision to go. Personally, I know I would not be able to work full time and go to nursing school. Even working part time and going to nursing school could be challenging. Best of luck in your decision.

Sounds like it was definitely a good move for your April! I have to talk to the director of the LPN program before I make any decisions, but it's helpful to get some suggestions and opinions! I know that when I was doing my first and beginning of 2nd semester of nursing school, I saw firsthand that the students who were either CNA's or LPN's had a huge advantage over me as far as understanding some things better and feeling more confident in the clinical environment. They definitely seemed to be a lot more confident in the environment than I was, and I am sure just having that experience of working in the environment was extremely advantageous. Experience is definitely a plus! Thank you again and good luck with everything.

Dear April, thanks so much for your advice and encouragement. You have been a big help in addressing some of my concerns. I really think I am leaning towards doing the LPN program to help me become an RN. Best of luck to you!

Hello all. I'd like some opinions and advice. I was a 2nd semester nursing student until about a month ago. Had to postpone nursing school due to father's illness with cancer and too much stress in taking all the nursing courses along with A & P and Statistics. I just had to step back because the stress of everything was really getting to me. No spring chicken here . . . . 50 yrs. old! My nursing advisor and a couple of other professors have been talking to me about applying for the LPN program (at another college) and then returning to nursing school in my 3rd semester. I'm really struggling with A & P II. At this point, I'm not sure I'm going to pass with the required C. Since the LPN program is a much more "hands on" clinical program according to my nursing advisor (and since I haven't had any medical experience prior to entering nursing school), the nursing advisor feels that the LPN program will better prepare me for returning to nursing school and things will make more sense to me -- especially where the A & P is concerned. I'm just wondering if I should invest in the LPN program or if I should stay the course with A & P II and Statistics and wait to reapply to 2nd semester nursing school again in Spring 2010. I just don't know which way to go. I've heard that LPNs are not being utilized as much, but then I've also heard that this is not so and it depends on where you work. I just need some opinions on what to do. I want to eventually be an RN, but I'm thinking that working as a LPN may really benefit me experience wise prior to returning to nursing school. The LPN program is an 18 month program and it starts in September. My original anticipated graduation date for the ADN program was May 2010, until I had to drop this semester. Now, if I get accepted again in Spring 2010, my graduation date is 2011, provided I go straight through without any setbacks. I NEED SUGESTIONS!!! Thank you.

I wouldn't say that I hate nursing school, but I will say it's been hard and a real struggle, and I can understand how others feel when they say their self-esteem has been affected by some of the nursing insructors and others encountered while in nursing school and clinicals. It is a very difficult program and the egos are VERY LARGE! I thought that being an "older non-traditional student" would prevent me from feeling so insecure at times, but no . . . . that hasn't been the case. I still feel insecure sometimes while pursuing this degree and I think it's because of the attitudes and environment we are subjected to as nursing students. Many times instead of being "lifted up" and praised for your efforts and hard work, you are being subjected to negativity and belittlement of your ideas, thoughts and questions, which can only lead to less confidence of one's abilities. I think the nursing instructors and RN's need to remember that they too were "once nursing students" and that you are still learning and as a nursing student you want to be able to do the best you can and learn the most you can in the short amount of time that is allotted. There's so much information to learn, so many experiences that are unfamiliar, and you need that instructor and RN who has compassion and understanding of your struggles and insecurities. None of us are perfect and the answers aren't always obvious. Yes, as potential nurses we need to learn to be strong, how to be resourceful . . . but we also need a friendly smile and a gentle pat on the back to say "you're doing alright, just hang in there"!

So glad you have all of those classes out of the way. Things will be much easier in that respect. Good luck and I hope you get your acceptance letter soon. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.

I am in the ADN program at Tompkins-Cortland Community College. It's a two year program, however, I've been going to school since Jan 07 because I had pre-reqs to get out of the way before applying to nursing school for Fall 08. I started my second semester of nursing school but had to withdraw due to personal situations (my father's illness - cancer) and other personal issues, but plan on reapplying to Nursing 120 in Spring 2010. The book is called "Test question logic (TQLogic) for beginning nursing students / Patricia A. Hoefler". It was very helpful. Also, if you can get A & P out of the way prior to nursing school, that will be a HUGE help. Best of luck to you!

One thing I wish I would have studied more (actually two thing) was how to take nursing school tests. The tests are totally different than any other tests I had experienced and learning how to read the questions and determine choosing the right answers (BECAUSE SO MANY TIMES IT BOILS DOWN TO TWO CORRECT ANSWERS, BUT ONE IS THE BETTER OF THE TWO). There's a book called NURSING QUESTION LOGIC and I got it from my library after the first nursing test in the first semester. It

Hi all, I truly appreciate everyone's encouragement and advice. I know deep down in my heart I don't want to give up on nursing. So, I am going to keep trying, utilize as many resources as I can from where ever I can get help, and keep telling myself that I can do this. And I agree with a comment made from Miss Gwen . . . I have invested too much time, energy, and money into pursuing my nursing career. It would be foolish for me to give up now! Hopefully, I can get the degree before I'm 60 though! LOL. Thank you again and God Bless!

Neona, thanks so much for your input. We also use the Marieb book (although I'm not sure which edition without grabbing my textbook at the moment). I will check into the quizzes you are referring to. Any help I can get would be great. Thank you again for the encouragement. I am feeling a little better the last couple of days -- it comes and goes! lol. Again -- stress! This has definitely been one of the hardest classes (actually the whole nursing school experience has been one of the hardest things I've ever done!). But I know that I don't want to give up on nursing although I feel overwhelmed by it many many times! Thanks again.

I'm actually considering looking into a different school for the A & P. I don't like the way this professor teaches. I've had her 3 semester now (had to take A & P I twice!). I'm still trying to process it all -- still trying to decide if nursing is right or accessible for me. Thanks for the encouragement! I need it!

thank you everyone. I guess I just need to keep putting one foot in front of the other and a nice long bubble bath (like the rest of the semester long! :) ) sounds nice. Back to hitting the books. Have a statistics exam coming up. :uhoh3:

Hello, I am (or should say was most recently) a second year nursing student. I just recently had to drop out of 2nd semester due to family situation (father ill with cancer) and my own personal stress level off the top. I am having so much trouble with A & P II. I barely passed AP I with a C. It was a constant struggle. Now it's only the beginning of the new semester and I'm already struggling with AP II. Failed my first exam. Walked out of class in tears (and believe me I studied!). I am at this point so discouraged I am ready to totally give up on nursing and not reapply next Spring. I have been in tears over the last week, struggling emotionally with my feelings and insecurities about abilities to do this profession. I know . . . . sounds like a big whinny crybaby! But my question is: Should A & P be this much of a struggle for me. Does this mean that I am not smart enough to do this profession.? I realize A & P is generally a difficult subject, but I'm thinking that this much heartache over one subject is not a good sign. I loved doing the clinicals at the hospital and I got good reports from my nurse instructors, but the A & P????? I am still taking A & P II and Math Statistics this semester so I can get them out of the way before reapplying in the Spring 2010. This entire week I've been struggling with whether I should change my major to something else. Has anyone else experienced this? Am I just giving up too easily or being a crybaby? All I know is I feel emotionally and physically drained at this time. The A & P is taking all I've got and I'm not sure how much I have left! Also, I've run into some not so nice RN's while doing the clinicals. Is this typical of how RNs like to treat nursing students? I'm not a spring chicken. Just turned 50 in Jan and I'm thinking I'm getting too old to put up with this crap, but it seems like it tends to be the norm in how students are treated. Why. Weren't they nursing students also at one time? I don't know -- I am really rethinking my decision on pursuing this career. I'm sad and frustrated!!! I know I have a lot going on with my father being ill and school, etc. and this is probably adding to my stress level and feelings right now. I just don't know what to do at the moment. I really didn't perceive this to be so difficult when I began (altough I had heard over and over how hard it was!).

Wow, I'm impressed -- you were able to do IV's. In our school, we are not able to administer IV's at all! I thought that was pretty strange when I found out; I mean how do you learn if you don't do it. Once you graduate and pass your boards, it's up to the hospital where you work to train you in IV admin. Is that pretty common? I have given injections, but no IV's. I've watched several RN's in clinicals administer IV's and I've had IV's myself as a patient, but I can only imagine how different it must be to administer yourself. Our med surg is in 2nd semester and our OB is 3rd semester. I am looking forward to the OB and psych clinicals. At this point, I think that I want to do labor and delivery but I have a great interest in psychiatric medicine also. Again, I'm a little apprehensive about the med-surg semester but I'll be fine once I know what's expected of me. One week left before the craziness begins. Good luck everyone. :heartbeat

Wow, I wish I could say I loved the A & P stuff! lol. I just don't. But I know I have to learn it and understand it so I will take all the advice I can get. Thanks. There have been some things I enjoyed about A & P so far but for the most part I really struggle with it. I really thought I would enjoy the class more than I do. I'll check out the link. Thanks and best of luck to you. :wink2: