Gretchen, SN

I'm glad this thread is here. I was so bummed out my first semester of nursing school. I made good grades and did okay in clinical, but it was sooo stressful. Toward the end of the semester my housework was going down the tubes and I couldn't even cook anymore. I had so little time with my two boys that I just didn't have the energy for anything besides them and school. And I still had to work every weekend. It was awful and I didn't feel like myself. I'm so worried about this next semester. I'm going to be working 30 hours a week and I'm scared it's going to be too much. The semester's only 3.5 months long, so I just keep telling myself it's only for a few months and then I get a break. I just wish that I didn't have to work while I was doing this. Thanks for letting me vent.

I think it depends on alot of different things: on the program you're starting, on you, on what kind of help you'll have, etc. Without any more information than what you wrote, I would suggest that you wait a semester before starting. It's only a few more months, but it'll give you time to recover from the birth and get used to being a parent before having to worry about nursing school, which can be extremely time-consuming and stressful. Just my two cents. Good luck with whatever you do!

I don't post very often but I came here just to see if there was a thread like this! My friend who's in the program already told me that she heard that letters had been sent out (this was yesterday). So maybe they sent them on Friday and it'll come to my house today, right? I just want to KNOW. This waiting is soooo worse than the last month of pregnancy, IMO.

Hi, everyone! I'm a spring 09 hopefull too! I'm only applying to UTA. I can't move or commute too far for school, and I already have a general associate's degree so I can't get anymore financial aid or else I'd be applying to TCC. I have a 3.75 science and a 4.0 pre-req GPA. Last semester was my first at UTA--I took Concepts, Tech. Writing, Develop. Psyc. and A & P II. All of the rest of my hours are from community college. I just took the HESI A2 and did well on it. I hope it's all enough to get in. I don't really have a plan B. I guess if I don't get in, I'll try again the next semester and then after that I have no idea. Good luck everyone!

I'm a unit secretary (and a nursing student) and I work from 3-11 pm. Every shift the day nurses complain about the night nurses and the night nurses complain about the day nurses and I hear it all. They always vent to me and I just smile and nod. It's funny because they just assume I agree with them, but I don't. The truth is: they ALL work really hard. They ALL think that if they don't do something it's because they were too busy, but if the other shift doesn't do it then they're lazy and/or incompetent. I don't know why it's like this because 99% of the nurses I work with are caring, competent, and hardworking. The teamwork between shifts just isn't there. It's sad because there's a lot of negativity that really doesn't need to be there. Some previous posters mentioned that management encourages this kind of thing (in order to 'conquer and divide') and this really interests me. I'm going to keep my eyes open and see if the management on my unit does this too--would kind of explain why such great individuals are having such a hard time with teamwork...

I just submitted my application to nursing school--just one program, though, I don't have the ability to move or commute alot. If I don't get in I plan to try at least one more time, maybe two. If I still don't get in I'll probably major in English, because that would be my quickest degree and then work for a couple of years to save up some more money, so that maybe I can try again. Mainly I wanted to say to you that a year really isn't all that long. When I decided to go for my BSN, I had 1.5 years of pre-reqs to finish and it seemed overwhelming, but it went by really fast. Even if you're not taking classes (but just working in the field) it will probably go by really fast. Just my 2 cents. Good luck on getting in!

I have a seven month old and a three and a half year old and I'm taking 12 hours of pre-reqs for a BSN. I've been doing them on and off since before kids, with one kid and now with two. I don't remember if you said if you had a support system, but if you don't then find one: other students with kids, babysitters, etc. I have a hard time studying at home too. It's hard for me to make myself study if I know I only have, say, an hour. I always want to wait until I have a larger chunk of time, but that rarely comes. My kids go to daycare during the day (student loans are paying for it) and I'm supposed to study in between classes at school. This first week has been brutal, but next weeks going to be better, hopefully. Oh, and like so many others said: YOU CAN DO THIS! Make a plan, get organized, stick to it and try again! (That's what I've done and it seems to be working.) :)

I'll be applying for a BSN program in June. This semester I'm taking: A & P II Concepts of Professional Nursing Developmental Psychology Technical Writing while taking care of a husband and two kids (6 months and 3.5 years) and working 16 hours on the weekends. I'm excited but soooo nervous. (Is there a smiley that's vomiting from anxiety or, more accurately, staring into the dark at night, unable to sleep because it's mind won't stop racing, wondering how it will survive the next 6 months? If anybody finds that smiley let me know.)

This is my first time posting here! Count me in... I'm starting January 14th and can hardly wait!