rys22

Yep, I'm in nursing:) and we are just getting into isomers actually! I didn't think to turn to YouTube but that's a good idea, thanks! It definitely seems vital to study everyday and just go over the concepts as we build on them. Ugh it sucks! Happy to know I'm not alone :)

I know there are a lot of people out there who just can't find a job (especially new grads) but I can't help but wonder how many jobless people are just making common resume/interview mistakes without realizing it or get burnt out from applying to no avail. I've been there with the latter (but not in the nursing industry) and I know how easy it is to just feel depressed with the whole process and start applying halfheartedly or spending more time thinking/talking about applying than actually doing it. I think there are a lot of job hunting options to exhaust before we can truly say we've done everything we can. I think it's important to not be too picky sometimes as a new grad so that we get any kind of experience we can get our hands on. Also when it has been a while of looking for jobs with nothing to show for it, like I said in the beginning there needs to be an evaluation of the resume and how you behave in the interview. In this economy, hiring managers know they can be picky over the silliest things (IMO) and they can reject an applicant for a lot of things. Again, I do not mean to say this applies to everyone and I do apologize if it offends anyone. That is not how I intend it to be just how I see it sometimes.

Im not sure I fully understand the question. Are you done with your prerequisites and have been accepted into the program?

Well I know Ive got #2 taken care of. I've got GOOD connections is quite a few major hospitals around here :) But thank you for the tips! I was trying to decide if I want to try to get a PCA job right now (Im not in nursing school yet but have the nurses aide classes done) or if I should wait to apply when Im in the program so that hopefully being in a hospital environment will help me in some little way when Im in the program to learn the material, as well as serve as a foot in the door. I guess the sooner the better though, huh? The problem is, I REALLY love my job right now so I desperately want to stay here until I absolutely have to leave. And there is no way to work two jobs and do school and be a wife all at once successfully!

I can't believe there are so many of us in the same boat! Well Im happy we have seen the light and have better things to come :) I love allnurses!

I need to write this down and stick it on my fridge lol. I used to be so much better about going into a new semester with a fresh and positive attitude but this time around I have NOT been able to give myself an attitude adjustment and I start tonight! Dreading it is putting it lightly and I know if that doesn't change soon I won't be successful. Sorry to sort of hijack the thread, OP:) My biggest time management tip is to actually study and focus during your allotted study time. It's easy to get distracted and before you know it, that time is up and you feel like you've been sitting there for hours but in reality you haven't learned all that much!

Working towards ADN right now, then get a job and work on my BSN online. I will see how I feel with that but at this point, being a NP is an option but not one I'm focusing on. Simply because, by the time I finish all this, I know I will just want a BREAK to be a mom and the kind of wife my husband deserves where I'm not flying around from work to school and back to work again:) Good luck to you all and your dreams!! Keep your eyes on the goal but dont forget to enjoy the "now" :)

Were you preparing for this in any way (putting money away and such)? As much as I hate loans and never say that as a first option, sometimes it is just necessary for the sake of keeping your sanity. You will have enough on your plate as it is trying to get through nursing school.

LOVE what you said here, haha. I graduated in '07 but I did go to a tech school and have been working but going for my RN as a second career. So a little different background than you but Im totally in your shoes now - and was totally nodding my head as I read your original post! But what you said in what I quoted is something I am planning to write on my mirror for the really bad days lol.

I'm taking organic and biochem this semester and going to my first class tonight. Are there ANY tips for studying or doing well in this class that you guys could offer?? I am super nervous about it because everyone has been telling me over and over how hard it is and how much they struggled. Any help you all can offer would be greatly appreciated!

First of all, congratulations on being accepted:) I am so sorry for what you have gone through with the loss of your father. My heart really does go out to you even though I don't know you. Here's the few things that were running through my mind as I was reading your post. First of all, I think maybe the workload and having this nursing goal in front of you may help you to keep going everyday, one day at a time. The pain from losing your dad isn't going to ever go away, you will just learn to live life anyways. About handling the emotional side of things, I'm not a nurse yet (or even close, haha) but being able to relate will be a wonderful thing to contribute to the families you work with. From all the nurse I've talked to, the emotional aspect of the field is something you really do learn to deal with over time. You may find yourself a blubbering mess the first time you're in that situation but over time, they say you kind of just learn to separate yourself on a professional level. At least that's the story as I've been told. I think we all have the same fears about what will or will not be waiting for us at the end of this nursing school adventure. The only way to find out is to get through it! If you want it badly enough then it will be worth it:) Good luck!

Haha that is EXACTLY what I was doing when I finally officially decided to go back to school! I had to kinda restrain myself once I started because it was getting in the way of actual schoolwork that I needed to do online! I get on here a few times a week though because it keeps me excited and looking forward to the new position I will have one day :). The giddiness you're feeling right now will (if your experience will be anything like mine) wear off when you're going through a mundane class like the math and english classes that have very little to do with nursing but eh, I guess that's the price we have to pay :) No I'm not in California - way over on the other side in Ohio actually :)

Nothing wrong with being excited:). As long as you're not stressing yourself out with the studying right now then I say go crazy!:) Every little bit helps but do enjoy your time right now. I always hit a wall about a month into a semester where I would rather go scrub my bathroom down instead of do schoolwork and have to remind myself that it's all temporary and just make sure to enjoy my breaks in between. I am just wrapping up with my pre reqs so that's the position I'm speaking from. Good luck getting into your dream school!

I've heard that too. I plan to just see for myself how things are once I'm in the program but I do have a husband to fall back on. Maybe you could try to see how much you can put away into savings right now and then possibly work prn as an aide during school? I'm sort of planning to do that since every little bit helps. Good luck and congrats on doing well so far!:)

BiloxiQueen - If you read this...your post was lost in the database situation so I only have the little bit from my email notification but I was curious to know what you said since your daughter has the Galaxy Tab and you have the Ipad and I was looking for comparisons. Hope you see this and reply! Thanks:)

I just want to pop on and say I totally envy where you are at this point.:) Congrats and good luck!

Have you considered going the ADN route then?... It's right in between the two :) you would get your RN status faster which will hopefully help you feel more accomplished and caught up with the world :) you could always pursue BSN classes afterwards as fast or slow as you want!

Some people just have an awful way of expressing themselves. Some are just bitter and like to put others down to feel better about themselves, and some mean well and are just concerned about the health issues that being overweight brings. No, there isn't a ton of research out there for the BENEFITS of being overweight and theres a reason for that. So losing it should be for the purpose of bettering your life. Now to put school on hold to lose weight - thats a bad idea. To create a healthier lifestyle you have to figure out how to turn your CURRENT life into a healthier one. If you just focus solely on losing weight instead of changing your whole lifestyle, theres a good chance it will come back after you hit your goal. Now for the record, Im one of those people that can eat a chip and automatically expand - it SUCKS. So staying fit is a lifelong journey. Going to the gym is next to impossible sometimes in the middle of a semester so I make it a point to just get up earlier and go for a 2 mile run with dog. Having him around and knowing he needs his exercise anyways gives me motivation for the days that I want to crawl back in bed. What has also helped me is stocking my house with "healthier" snacks/foods (healthier doesnt mean less tasty just experiment!) - if its not there I cant eat it :). Good luck and keep chipping away at your nursing dream!

That's what Im trying to do. But for me its partially about lightening the load but also just what I want to do while waiting to get in since there's a bit of a waiting list at my school. I feel like this is the most logical thing to do, personally. Why not try to make your life easier?:) Just be aware of the expiration policies on some classes (I believe its 5 years? So you should be ok if you stick to your current plan)

That is AWESOME! Good for you - keep it up! :)

Do you guys think any of the disorganization that was mentioned has anything to do with the switch to semesters situation? I cant seem to get an appt with an advisor as hard as I try lately to talk about what the switch will mean to the nursing program but Im still taking prereqs for like two more quarters... But maybe someone on here can give me more info?

What are you talking about - it is NOT too late! At all! Trust me I know how you feel because I went back for a second degree after all my friends had graduated and were doing their nursing thing and the feeling SUCKS to say the least. But look at how many people just on here are much older than you and just going back to school for nursing. It is much better to spend some extra time in school if it means loving your career after because unless you've had jobs that you dreaded waking up and going to, you dont know how much your work-life misery can spill over into your personal life. If you're going to be switching degrees, believe me now would be the best time - I dont know your situation but if you dont have kids or a husband and all the responsibilities that come with every additional year of your life, you are in the best place to get the education you actually want. Taking prereqs can be your opportunity to pull up your GPA (which isnt all that bad right now) and before you know it you will be in the nursing program and wondering what you got yourself into :). I really hope you rethink this, if it's really what you want!

How many of you got ALL of the pre and co requisites done before starting the program? How big of a difference was it in the nursing program just taking the required nursing classes/clinicals? My dilemma is that I go to a community college and plan to go through their nursing program but there is about a 2-3 year waitlist (obviously that can change for better or worse). Ive had people tell me to use those years for cramming all remaining classes in so that I dont have to worry about them later. Others have said that I should just get the required classes for admission and then apply to a different school where I wont have to wait. Im just wondering how worth it it would be to wait out the 2-3 years and do all the classes then but take a bit longer to graduate. Thoughts?

Accelerated programs are very tough. You have to be aware of that before choosing that route. It does sound like the best case scenario for your situation but with a family, you need to know you wont have much time for them for the year you will be in the program. The other POV is that its just one year of being consumed by school and then you are DONE and can put it behind you!:) If I were you Id choose a program, look into what schools the program accepts pre reqs from and go from there. The pre reqs you can probably do online (you need to be honest with yourself about how motivated you can be to get through those) but the nursing program itself I wouldnt do online EVER. I think it would just be too hard, personally... Some things you need to be in a live classroom to learn best. Im not at that point in my schooling yet though so thats coming from assumptions and AN posts :) Let us know what you decide!

I dont think its so much the age as the frustration of looking at everyone around you that has done this and is happily working away and moving on with their life while you're just starting out (or doing a 180 on a previous career). At least if you're anything like me, then thats how you feel :) ugh if only we could turn back time.... Good luck! Just take it one semester at a time and you (we) will be done before you know it!