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Hello everyone, I'm at square one. I'm in contact with someone in nursing administration at a hospital. This person mentioned that there should be a college online where I can do the coursework 100% online and do clinicals at a the hospital. Is there such a thing? Thanks!

Seriously Boogalina, you should consider writing a career genre book.

you guys, thank you for all of this great stuff. I'm just working a regular office job right now and was feeling so bad about myself! I was inconsolable! Gosh I'm hard on myself. I go in to work every day intending on stellar work, but sometimes despite my best efforts I fail; thought I lost a client today. Plus, PMS and allergies. It was obviously not one of my best days. My hats off to you, striving for perfection every day to give great, safe care to your patients.

Fair enough, That Guy, a very honest answer.

That's really awesome Anurseatlast; thank you!

I actually have one...I wish someone would have told me how hard nursing school is to get into if you're not right out of high school!

I hope so too, thank you!

Before I sign up for nursing school, are there any nursing students or nurses who would like to share their "I wish someone would have told me_______...'s?"

Wow! I am so glad I asked! I feel much better about the unknown now. Thank you, you guys, that is a load off my mind. :-)

I'm getting ready to do an orientation at a nursing college! I'm so excited for that first step. I have a question though; it won't stop me either way, but I've been curious; is nursing school really the hard- knock life everyone says it is? Did anyone enjoy it or find it tolerable and not want to put a plugged-in toaster in the bathtub halfway through?

Thank you so much! Yep, I have been known to second-guess God...but I need to remember that the little voice inside is always right, and it's His voice. He has me right where he wants me, but I think He's saying I need to work on the future too. I thought about that part about me making a difference in the E.R., and I guess I did. Off the top of my head I remember a couple of patients I was able to calm; an asthmatic and a big bruiser who I figured out was afraid of needles. The nurses started to depend on me too; I was someone they trusted enough to give responsibility to and teach me things, and for a volunteer I stayed pretty busy....found myself frustrated that I couldn't do more. I really looked up to them and felt I paled in comparison, but yeah I did make a difference, extending past my smock. Thanks for reminding me and thank you for the encouragement. I hope things improve where you work and so glad for you that you have stability in something that gives you satisfaction!

dslpninla, I re-read your reply a couple of times and I loved everything you had to say, thank you. I'm so sorry your grandmother was treated that way. My mom was a nurse years ago and said she treated patients with the utmost respect because she could walk out of there at the end of her shift and they couldn't. I can relate to your story. When I got pregnant by accident at nineteen I had to go to an awful general hospital. I was four weeks late and had a very difficult labor. Once when my family was out of the room the pain was excruciating and I reached for my nurse's hand by reflex. She made a face and handed me a pillow. Her catheter nicked my bladder, she talked down to me, and I wasn't given much privacy. That's just a small example of the poor care I got in my fifteen hours of labor. I told myself that if I ever became a nurse I would not be like her or any of the other nurses I had. I ended up with an emergency C-section and somehow got them to let me out after the second day. I thought I'd be better off taking my chances at home. I volunteered for a while in a no-trauma E.R. a few years ago and loved it. I was wearing a Volunteer Services smock but got mistaken for a nurse at times and when that happened I felt like a worthwhile person. I used to go home to my husband beaming about the creative ways I came up with to help people and solve problems. Right now because of the recession and where I live, I'm a receptionist and I'm miserable. Besides needing a stable career I guess I have some pretty good reasons to choose the path of nursing, and I guess I just need to stop doubting myself. Thanks again.:heartbeat

Up to the age of 18 I was told that I could do anything I wanted if I wanted to badly enough and I wanted to be a famous musician and writer (very right brained person). When I got older, people started talking about aptitudes. Because I didn't like math and science in high school and I'm in my forties now, I would have to work extra hard but I'm willing. Is that enough?

Thank you Jillane, hope it works out for you, seems like a great school so far.

Has anyone gone to this program recently? I'm keeping an open mind and gathering all relevant and recent facts, since it's part of DeVry, a reputable institution. Thank you!

Thank you everyone! Thanks for the Assisted Living tip Sunshine; seems like a great way to transition. I appreciate the encouragement from all of you, thank you.

I'm now 44 and I've been an office worker in all different capacities for twenty years and the thought of being an RN keeps nagging at me and I thought I'd start my path at CNA; do I know what I'm getting myself into? I know this would be a big change, because I was in a CNA class I had to drop six years ago due to my husband's health issues. I worked in a retirement home when I was 16 and did some volunteering in an E.R. six years ago and that's as much of the medical field I've seen. I found it scary but rewarding. There are classes coming up and don't want to sign up until I know I can see it through, or how to get through it the best way possible. Sure would like to hear from others like me or those who can share their knowledge. Thank you!

DancingQueen; thanks for commenting....I'm 43 and have been an administrative assistant way longer than I wanted to...twenty years as opposed to two. I never had the means to follow my own path until recently. After I realized the college next month was not for me, I'm back at square one. I hope to start pre-nursing in the fall but I'm going to need lots of financial aid! Good luck to you!

That's what I'm about to do, I start LVN school next month. I want to spend one year in class and then do the RN online, because I need to start bringing in a decent wage sooner rather than later.

I was going to delete this since it's irrelevant now, but I thought someone might be able to learn from my experience. After this post, I spoke with my Rep and she said Kaplan's career center can help me find work and there are also two openings at the college. She also said there's another program starting next month, and it's daytime, which is better for me. Depending on the grants they find and getting work, this sounds like a win-win....it's all risk, but this is a better risk than the one I had yesterday!

My Kaplan program will start tonight, I'll have missed only the first class. I only need to pass the math portion of the HESI today and I'm in. I only heard about this session yesterday morning, so I had to act fast yesterday. The classes are Monday through Friday 4-10pm. My husband and I don't have jobs yet. I'll be talking to Financial Aid today, but it sounds risky. I don't think I can do this brutal schedule and work too, and if I do it'll only be a few hours a day. I'm going to drop this session unless I have an income from grants, etc. Any insight? Otherwise, I'm passing on this program for now.

I'm like a deep freezer...I work better at full capacity. If there's too much of a lull or not enough mental stimulation I will get distracted or fall asleep.:zzzzz

Good to read these inspiring words; I'm 43. Slow and steady I go at square one......good luck to all of you!

Thank you RN_Jane! I have to say though, outside of my family I always get the same reaction; "oh...you'd make a great nurse" from nurses and non-nurses alike. Regardless though, and my husband and I were just discussing this; what really matters is what I believe. I've learned a lot from you guys, thank you. I may have been making a mountain out of a mole hill, I don't know; I'm only at square one. When you're on the sidelines and you hear nursing students and nurses talk about how college and the career are so very difficult and gut-wrenching, and hear about what a stressful and major burnout career it can be, it does give one pause before they commit. -But then I also hear so many nurses talk about how rewarding and satisfying it is as they fervently cheer the profession on. I will find out which one applies to me in my situation and when it's all over I might find myself in a quiet little office...but I'll never know until I do it. Oh hey...I didn't even think about my age for once! Through this week-long discussion here and talking with my husband, I am not concerned about naysayers anymore. I hereby declare that I CAN.

I appreciate that, AllOverAgain...It's important to have someone play the devil's advocate, it brings out the raw truth. First of all, I am so very sorry about your heart-breaking loss. I am also sorry that your nursing experience was not a good one, and I admire you for raising your four children essentially alone; my little sister is also raising for children alone after their father died. Those three things must have really taken their toll, bless your heart, and I wish you healing and peace. Good question, and the answer is no; not in one semester; my process actually took ten years total. I am still working at some of it, including feelings of inadequacy, which you have astutely picked up on! That's my one remaining struggle, and yes, I am hoping that achieving skills through nursing will give me some of that confidence back. Thank you again and I wish you all the best.