mrs.henderson

Best: palm trees, weather, beach, restaurants Worst: HIGH rent, HIGH cost of homes, HIGH cost of gas! and....TRAFFIC! :angryfire

That is an amazing story. What an inspiration you are! Congrats on all your success!:balloons:

Thanks ladies for your replies. I really needed to hear some success stories. I just get overwhelmed sometimes thinking that it's too much, I'm running out of time, etc. I just have to take it step by step. I just started a Chemistry class this semester, the first time I've been back to school in like 9 years. It is slowly starting to come back to me. I think I will try to shadow at a local hospital. Tanzanite - like you I am addicted to those shows on Discovery Health channel, especially Babies: Special Delivery. I really want to work in L&D. I feel that God is pushing me that way, too. To have a job that makes a difference, even if a small one, instead of sitting behind a desk and computer for the next 40+ years. Thanks for all of the encouragement and support. I'm glad I found this board.:)

How did you know you wanted to be a nurse? Was it something that you just had a calling for, or did you take a class that interested you? The reason I am asking is I am still unsure. I wanted so bad to take an Intro to Nursing class this semester that is offered at my community college to see if I liked it and really wanted to be a nurse or not, before I started school, but it is all full and there is a waitlist. It is a prereq to their nursing program and if it is full, they only let you in if it is the last class you need, then by lottery. I am interested in nursing, but I am just not sure I can hack it. I want to be sure (as much as I can) that this is for me before wasting time and money. I am almost 28 years old and feel like time is flying by (I want to start a family after nursing school and working a year or two, so I feel time is of the essence). I have a year of pre-prereqs, then 3 years of a direct entry (1 year gen ed/prereqs, 2 years nursing) on a nightime/weekend program. It is very expensive and I have to work, so the load will be really tough. Has anyone experienced this? Did you get in and know you were ok, or was it like "what have I gotten myself into?" Are there any videos or books I can read that might help my decision? If it was community college prices, I wouldn't be too concerned, but the only school to offer a program at night is a private school and it is mucho expensive. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks ya'll!

How did you know you wanted to be a nurse? Was it something that you just had a calling for, or did you take a class that interested you? The reason I am asking is I am still unsure. I wanted so bad to take an Intro to Nursing class this semester that is offered at my community college to see if I liked it and really wanted to be a nurse or not, before I started school, but it is all full and there is a waitlist. It is a prereq to their nursing program and if it is full, they only let you in if it is the last class you need, then by lottery. I am interested in nursing, but I am just not sure I can hack it. I want to be sure (as much as I can) that this is for me before wasting time and money. I am almost 28 years old and feel like time is flying by (I want to start a family after nursing school and working a year or two, so I feel time is of the essence). I have a year of pre-prereqs, then 3 years of a direct entry (1 year gen ed/prereqs, 2 years nursing) on a nightime/weekend program. It is very expensive and I have to work, so the load will be really tough. Has anyone experienced this? Did you get in and know you were ok, or was it like "what have I gotten myself into?" Are there any videos or books I can read that might help my decision? If it was community college prices, I wouldn't be too concerned, but the only school to offer a program at night is a private school and it is mucho expensive. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks ya'll!

Thank you Spacenurse! These sites are exactly what I am looking for. I have not been accepted to Mt St Mary's though. Like my post above says, I am taking a few prereqs first. But I am planning on applying for the Spring 06 semester. I am really excited, yet feeling a little overwhelmed at the same time thinking of working and going to school and how to pay for it, etc. etc....however, I know I can handle it. Thanks for the info! :)

Kris, Congrats on your interview! No, I am not in a program yet. I am planning on taking a few prereqs this spring and this fall and then starting a direct entry ADN program in Spring 06. However, I will be working full time. I cannot afford, for various reasons, to quit my full time job. The program I found is at Mt St Mary's in LA. They offer an evening and weekend program designed for working adults. It will take me 3 years as I am going to enter the direct entry program (which includes most prereqs). But, it is VERY expensive as it is a private school (the only one I can find close enough to drive to after work that offers evening programs, and I have heard really good things about it). So, after I get out of school, I am thinking that my student loans are going to be about $40-45K including books and everything and I was just hoping to find an employer who offers tuition reimbursement for ADN to help out. Good luck on your interview! :)

I was actually talking about tuition reimbursememt for your ADN. Does anyone hire you and then help you pay off your student loans?

Does anyone know of any hospitals that might provide tuition reimbursement to new nurses in LA? I heard that if you sign contracts with LA County hospitals for two years, they will reimburse like 80%. Is this true? What if your costs are high because you went to a private school? Any websites or info would be much appreciated. TIA! :)

Has anyone taken the ADN program at El Camino College in Torrance, CA? If so, can you tell me about your experience there. Was a good program? Did it prepare you enough to be an RN? I am trying to take the Intro class this semester (next month) and it was full. I am going to try to crash the class. I need to take this class to finally decide if I want to persue Nursing. If so, I will start my prereq's this fall. Otherwise, any other good ADN programs in LA? Mt. St. Mary's is too expensive. SMC seems to be too busy and hectic. Thanks for the info. :)

Thank you all for your positive feedback. I do not have rose-colored glasses on...I know there will be ups and downs. I am really looking forward to it and will be on here often to get advice and probably do some venting myself throughout the process. :)

I know I need to keep reading. And you're right, this is where you come to vent. I won't get discouraged. :) And yes, it is all VERY Greek to me. I have a lot to learn.:chuckle

about nursing and your job, please! I just joined and am very very interested in becomming a nurse. I take my first class next semester. So far, after a few hours of lurking on here, what I have read has mostly been negative. It seems so many people are unhappy with their jobs and that scares me. I have heard that nurses suffer a high rate of burn out, but is it really worth it? I work for attorneys so I can't imagine doctors would be that much different. Please, if anyone has any good advice or uplifting, encouraging stories, please share. Thanks. :)