Lyndsea

I went back to school for my pre-reqs a few months after my husband and I got married. When I actually started nursing school (Accelerated RN program) My husband was really supportive. Fast forward a year later and I have to admit things get rough. It's tough when I can't go to family functions because of clinical or a test coming up. I think his family and my family thing I am exaggerating how much work this is- that I am avoiding them! I think that talking to him, giving him a heads up when I was really feeling stressed helped him understand. Some days I was really moody and he had no idea why. I've gained weight and stopped shopping, I am def less glamorous than I was before! But, as someone at the end of my nursing school journey- we both think the sacrifice was worth it!

Congrats- you are at the beginning of an awesome journey! When you tell your friends and family, jump on the couch again! Tom Cruise got away with it!

Hey! I am from Saint Louis too, I grew up in Rock Hill! I moved to Maryland seven years ago. I went back to school at 25- and I felt the same way. I had wanted to study nursing for so long. It was so nerve wracking waiting to see if I would even get into the program. I had friends tell me that I wasn't smart enough, that I was making a mistake, that nursing school had the highest drop out rate, nursing was a high liability, low pay field and I should reconsider. BOY WERE THEY WRONG! I am now 27 and I am in my final semester of nursing school. My graduation commencement is tomorrow (even though I have one class left, which will be taken over the summer). I can tell you one thing: I would do it again in a heartbeat. If nursing calls to you like it did me, then it is worth the wait. I have had days in clinical that sent me home crying- I have had more days where I feel so incredible that I can't imagine doing anything else. I know you feel alone, but once you start school you will make friends with your peers. I am not one who makes friends easily, not very socially outgoing, but nursing school bonded us! It is ok to be jealous, but use it as motivation! And look at it this way: With so many friends out in the nursing world, networking and finding a job will be that much easier for you! Good luck! You can do it!

I have to be honest- I think that knowing what you are listening to/for is the most difficult concepts in the assessment. In fundamentals, my friends and I practiced on that dang mannequin all the live long day. Then when I finally heard wheezes, crackles, and other sounds I realized they sound NOTHING like the mannequin. Practice makes perfect- once you start listening to normal lung sounds, the first time you hear an abnormality you will notice it! Then get your RN or instructor to determine what the sound is. I at first used to mistake sounds, but now in my final semester of RN school thought I finally had it down- but I ended up assessing a patient's lung sounds differently than my RN. I went back and listened again and finally heard it, but it was faint. You just have to keep trying- eventually you will get better at it. I still have trouble identifying the S3 sounds in children- if anyone has any tips, please let us know!

Hi everyone- this is my first topic post. I looked around and searched for other posts with this topic but couldn't find any. I am very VERY interested in neurological nursing. Because of my life experiences, including having a sister with Dravet's syndrome I became fascinated with the human brain and nervous system. I started out majoring in Psychology, but working as a dental assistant part time made me realize how much I loved patient care. I know dental assisting isn't the same, but I found working directly with a patient providing medical care was more much more challenging and interesting. However, dental really isn't my thing. Since then I have been studying nursing and I love it! I can't wait to help out people like those in my family who have neurological disorders. I am not expecting it to be glamorous, but I know I will love it and I plan on working hard. So, I am done with my pre-requisites and I am waiting to get into the clinical program. I may have a one year wait, since my school has a lottery. I realized today that I am just 4 classes from a psychology associates degree. I love psychology as well, and I am wondering if getting that degree would give me an advantage as a neuro nurse. I don't want to spend the money if it won't help me in the long run, although I would enjoy the classes. Would this be impressive on a resume, or would that make someone feel that I couldn't decide between psychology and nursing (which is NOT the case at all)? Also- would it help with the job? I am sure understanding how people think and the effects of illness and neurological conditions would be a benefit, regardless of if it helps me get a job.

I had no idea there was such a thing. I am in school for my RN (I will graduate Spring 2013) and I really want to work in neurology but specifically with epilepsy! My father and my sister have epilepsy and my little sister has Dravet's syndrome. I would really love to work with epilepsy specialists because it's been a significant part of my life! I have had two seizures in my life, but I have never been diagnosed with epilepsy. I have migraines too. Let me know if you find out anything!

I am about to start mine in May! I am so nervous! I have heard that you shouldn't work while taking accelerated nursing classes, so I am looking for a temp job until then. Good Luck!

I had an experience with a "mean girl" I started my program and made friends with a group of girls about my age- and we studied together regularly. I moved around a lot as a kid, I never had a group of friends before, and it felt great. One girl in our group was already an LPN and currently working. The other girls looked up to her and always asked her for help. I started to realize that she was giving the wrong information sometimes. For instance, she called a eosinophil a "lisinopril" (NOT AS A JOKE). When she started to spout out misinformation, I politely corrected her, she would argue, and I would show her something in the book proving that she was wrong. Other girls began to notice mistakes too, and began to say something. The second test of the semester was curved. I ended up somehow pulling off an A (after studying for hours). She sat down next to me and shouted "You're the one that got an A!?" and hit me on the arm sarcastically. I could tell she was upset, she got a D. I offered to help her study for the next test. We had lab that day, and a quiz. While taking the quiz, I noticed her looking at my paper. I quickly finished and turned it over. She whispered "hey turn your quiz back over". I pretended I didn't hear her (I studied hard for that quiz and helping someone cheat could disqualify you from the program) The next day at school, I came in and sat at our usual table. I watched as my "friends" all came in and sat at a table across the room. I felt heartbroken. I went over and the LPN and asked her if she was upset with me. She told me I was "kind of a know it all" and "we are just trying to learn this together, I don't think you need to study with us anymore". I came home and bawled my eyes out for about 20 minutes, then I realized something. I am an adult, I am a hard worker, and I deserved that A. I am too mature for this stuff. Who cares if that woman doesn't like me, she is only threatened because she doesn't know her stuff. Her arrogance was her downfall, because she didn't study, thinking she had retained everything from her first time in school. The next day, in class, two of the girls sat next to me. One of the girls, who is now my best friend looked at me and said "what she did was cruel. I would much rather study with someone like you, rather then someone who is blowing hot air out her ***." The end of the semester the "mean girl" dropped out. I know this is long but I wanted to share this. I don't know if you don't like the girls because they are mean, or because they talk during class (which is annoying but also the instructor's fault).. Maybe if you feel left out you could say hi or ask if you could study with them- you never know-they might be nice. And we all need a little help studying. If they are cruel, which you didn't specify, then just ignore them. Those who aren't serious have a habit of weeding themselves out.

I took both A and P 1 and 2 last summer, and I ended up getting an A in both, but in A&P 2 I had only a 91%. Don't beat yourself up about it! I know plenty of people in my nursing program who got B's and even C's in Anatomy 1. I go to a community college that has a lottery, but I don't think that you are going to be disqualified for one B. Also- A friend of mine applied to nursing school at Towson University (In MD) and was denied because she had one semester with a low GPA. They called her in for an interview and even told her then that they wouldn't accept her because she had more than one C- (She got pneumonia and missed a lot of school, barely passing her classes, but having all A's for the rest of her ADN). Late that year she applied to John's Hopkins, explained what happened, and was accepted and is starting right now! It just goes to show, never give up! The man she talked to at Towson told her they would never accept grades like hers, and now she is going to one of the most prestigious schools in the country! Just keep that in mind. Good luck, I think you will do great!