mikaboo

Hi España, Thank you so much for your reply. Your story gave me hope! It sounds like the time during clinical is not only the time to learn about RN job, it is also time to really prove that I can be a great nurse too. Really... your story helped me to hold onto this life path that I am about to pursue. Thank you!!!!! Mikaboo

Dear HawaiiRose and MsMcCoy, Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts and stories. It is always encouraging to see other mature students working very hard toward their goal. You two are amazing (and of course, all others in this thread.) However, I am concerned about the job situation specifically in the San Francisco Bay Area. I have heard it is very hard to find nursing positions for current new grads, including those who are in their 20's too. I read from other threads in this website that many are not being able to find employment even a year or two years after their graduation. I am still very much interested in pursuing nursing, but that also requires several years of time and financial commitment. The fact that I won't spend much time with my children as much is not too bothering to me, as I think they understand, and they would probably like to see their mom working for her goal. I am probably more concerned about financial commitment, and the lack of gaining it back if I cannot find the job after graduation. If the nursing will not most likely land me any jobs in the Bay Area (where I am stuck because my husband has a secure job and my children is all set in this place), I feel irresponsible and somewhat selfish to even try to pursue something that won't give me a chance to contribute financially to my family. That is my worry. Anyone from the Bay Area, who can share your story? I am interested in learning other mature students' perspective about nursing career in this particular location, the Bay Area.... Thank you!

Hello. I am just wondering if there are any "mature" students, now going to RN program in the San Francisco Bay Area. I am curious to know what your experiences are at school, and also if you already graduated from a program, what the job outlook is like now. I am considering applying to a nursing school within a few years, but by then I will be in my late 40's. I will surely be early 50's when I graduate. I heard that job market is extremely difficult in the SF Bay Area. As a mature student already, I wonder if there will be any chance of getting a job after I graduate....

What a wonderful thread. I am also considering applying to this school after I finish pre-requisits in a few years. By the time I can apply, my children will be in kindergarten, 5th grade, and in high school. I would like to hear what kind of childcare arrangement you made sure to do, in order to keep your children away from your own stress. I can imagine that one year will be super busy, and one needs every support from one's family, including children. I have husband who works full time, and sometimes travels oversea (not as often as before by then, hopefully.) I am hoping to get into a program when my kids will be 14, 11, 6, 6, 6. They are no longer babies, but they also have needs unique to their ages. For those who have a little older children, how did you make sure that your kids' social, academic, and school life remains good? Just curious...

Possibly... could there be a little nicer way to remind the person that she may want to call the office first? Probably, she already knew that there is "this thing called a phone" exists this world.... so you did not have to mention it in such a way. Let's be nice to others.

If I ever get into a nursing program, finish it, pass the test, find the job, and even get to the point of getting a first pay check.... I will take my family to a dinner at the most expensive Japanese restaurant in San Francisco, and let my kids eat as much sushi as they want, and watch their happy smile together with my husband.

Simply... so encouraging to find this thread. I am 45, a mother of five children aged from 3 to 11, and still taking pre-requisits. i can take only one class per each semester, but this spring, I am going to try and take two classes. I just did my schedule about how long it may take for me to finish a nursing program, (if I can get in). I will probably be 51 when I am done. Honestly.... I was totally depressed by this fact last weekend, but, after reading this thread, now I feel like I can pursue this pass. I will come back to this thread again when I feel discouraged.

I would love to know if anyone knows of the answer to your question. I can imagine how hard it can be even to make a phone call during the day with 2 years old and 5 years old, as your questions may take more than 10 minutes or longe to be answered. With life with small children, what it seems easy for others may be very hard to do, isn't it? Good luck!

Hello. I just wanted to tell you that your story was very inspiring, and gave me a positive mind to continue to pursue nursing. I am a mother of five children, from age 3 (triplets), 8, and 11 years old. I am in mid. 40, with BA and MFA as my past degree, with experience as a contemporary craft artist. After the birth of my children, I have been stay-at-home mom. I and my son had some unique medical experiences (such as pediatric cancer for my son, infertility and high risk pregnancy), I have developed high respect to the nursing job, and now decided to pursue it. However, I was simply very discouraged by its prospect because it takes long time for me to fulfill just pre-requisits, and nursing program is extremely competitive. If I study with my current pace (only one pre-req class per semester), the earliest I may be able to graduate from the nursing program will probably be when I am 53. I was quite depressed by my plan. I needed some strong encouragement and your post just did it. Thank you.