admiller

I totally understand! I work every other weekend 12 hour night shift F/S/S also. After 2 1/2 years, I am tired of it already. They seem so long and seems to come back around so fast.

I'm currently a nursing student at USM. I don't think there is a point system (and if there is, I'm not aware of it). Practically, you have to meet all the requirements such as at least a 21 or above on ACT, and GPA of 2.5 or above on prerequisite courses and at least a C in each course (I'm sure the higher the better chances of getting in), and only one required science course may be repeated once. I also had to write a one-page essay on why I want to become a nurse. For more info, you can go to our SON website at

Thanks for replying. I think I'm just fearing the unknown, but I'm gonna go ahead and try it. I've always been the kind of person who has my own judgement and try things for myself, so maybe I will like it even though others didn't. I hope by the time I graduate the economy will be better and I'll be able to find a descent job.

I have been reading blogs and forums on the internet about nursing as a career, and it's really beginning to scare me. The posts were from nurses of all ages from new grads to 35 years experience veterans and from LPNs, RNs, and MSNs. Most of them seem to agree that nursing is not the same profession that it used to be. They believe that is has become too technical and that nursing schools focus more on classroom settings instead of more clinical practicing. Also, many stated that nurses are really burned out compared to the past because now they have a heavier patient load and don't really have time to really care for patients but they seem more like robots and that the health care industry care more about money than really caring for patients. In addition, they agree that there is no nursing shortage. The problem is that nurses are quitting but hospitals are refusing to hire new nurses to replace them but putting more work on the nurses that stay. I will be beginning nursing school in three weeks and I'm already stressed. I don't know what to expect and after reading all the posts from nurses. I'm beginning to doubt my decision on becoming a nurse. I've already chosen nursing as a second career choice (I recently graduated with a BS degree in Biology and realized that that was a mistake) and I don't want to waste any more time. I have worked shortly as a Direct Care Provider in a developmental facility for the mentally retarded and I loved it. That was one reason why I chose to apply to nursing school. But one of the nurses in the forum said that she had started off as a Nurses Aid and the LVN then went on to become a RN. She said that she would have rather stayed in LVN because it was more rewarding. Also, I have seen that a lot of new RN graduates are having a hard time finding jobs and that most jobs require some experience. I've looked at employment in my area and have not found many RN openings and the ones that are opened are only PRN. I'm worried that I'll become a RN and then graduate and can't get a job and waste another two years. Any advice or comments? I would really like to know the reality of becoming a nurse.

I had a C in Microbiology, a B in A&P I, and an A in chemistry and A's in all the other prerequisites. I am taking A&P II this summer and it does seem easier than A&P I. I think by taking Nutrition and Animal Physiology (I was a biology major) helped me alot in A&P II. I think by reading over the notes and the labs everyday and by trying to understand the concepts is very helpful. You shouldn't have a problem getting in. I went to visit a couple of weeks ago and talked with the nursing director and some of the staff and they seem really nice. So don't worry too much about it, just do the best as you can, apply and it will pay off!

I'm not sure how competitive it is but, I applied at the last minute and I got into the BSN program for this fall. I made a 22 on my ACT.