AngieSC

Thanks again guys...actually I am planning to do the pre-reqs at the local cc. Those are the math and sciences I mentioned above. I feel like if I can make it through those I will be fine. Then I would have two years left at the university for my BSN. You mention that nursing is competitive. I found that teaching was also. You were looked down on if you do too much like you are showing off. On the other hand, I saw people looked down on because they were perceived as lazy as well....lots and lots of gossip and cliques.

RNW - I taught for six years. I made the decision to be a teacher straight out of high school and knew I would be a good teacher. I felt comfortable being a teacher. I also love love love working with children and being in the "helping/nurturing" role. I just found that teaching was about so much more than the teaching aspect. And, I felt very locked into my one track for the rest of my career. I could get my master's but really the only difference would be a pay raise. Now, from reading many posts on this forum I do see that there are many non-nursing aspects of nursing such as the paper work/computer work. However, I feel like maybe nursing may be a more flexible career. I also like the non traditional hours and days I could possibly work. CarolineRN, I am glad you consider me too young to be going through a mid-life anything because I truly do feel old right now. I do have lots of doubt about careers right now....like you said. That really does make sense to me. I am not sure I would have ever considered this had I not become a SAHM and started thinking about all the options that are available. Also, even though it may not sound like it (since I am questioning having the right stuff) I think I have gained more confidence now that I have gotten older. I appreciate all of your responses. I feel sort of silly for the OP. How does anyone really know until they try, right? Thanks, Angie

Ruby, Thanks for taking the time to reply. Unfortunately, I really didn't have to take any advanced Math and Science classes to be a teacher. I will still have to take Anatomy and Physiology, Probability and Statistics, Microbiology and possibly a few other courses. I spoke to an advisor over the phone and she sounded very encouraging about getting a seat in the program because of my prior GPA. I was pretty confident until I took a practice test for the NET exam on the internet and the math was algebraic type word problems...not my cup of tea.I didn't even try to finish it. I am going to make a trip to the university next week and see the advisor in person. I am going to be home until my baby starts kindergarten in three years so why not go back to college in the meantime....yikes! Angie

.....to be a nurse? I am a SAHM who quit teaching two years ago when my third and final baby was born. At the time I knew I did not want to teach anymore but sort of blamed it on wanting to be home with my new baby. So, now I am sure I don't want to teach anymore. I am very interested in nursing. I am just not sure I have what it takes to be a nurse. My husband is very supportive and wants me to do something I can love and that will contribute to our family income eventually. I spoke to my dad...okay I am 34 years old but who doesn't need validation? His response was he doesn't believe in "digging more holes. Why not just use the degree you have?" I do think I am having a mid-life confusion. Things are so tight now with only one income. I don't want to start something that will not work out. I think I can do it. But, I have never been good at Science and Math. So, my question is ... how did you know you had the right stuff? Sorry so long! Angie

I totally agree with the "only in emergency" philosophy. With my first baby I had an episiotomy that lead all the way to the rectum with full forceps and had stitches on the inside and out. It took me months to get over that physically. It was so painful. With my other two children the doctors allowed me to tear and it was so much easier to heal. My second child was considerably larger than the first....right at ten pounds and that was so much easier than the after math of the episiotomy.

With my third baby the doctor let me "labor down" and it significantly reduced the pushing time. I think I pushed four times and she was out. With my second baby I pushed for about 45 minutes...let's don't even go there with the first one(finally delivered with forceps after three hours pushing).

RN-Associate, Do they earn the same like BSN do? depends on where we live I guess huh? I would like to know that also...I am pretty sure I want to do the BSN program.

I am classified as "pre-nursing" but I definitely want to work the three twelves at night. I am a certified teacher and when I worked, I never got to go to PTA meetings, meet the teacher night, Christmas shows because I was always at "my" school. I think I would also have much more time to spend with my children as a nurse. Of course this is all speculation...

Brandy, I have/had social anxiety. I was shy as a child and even young adult...not wanting to be noticed in any way. When I went back to college to become a teacher at 24 I noticed that I felt funny around people. Then I started having panic attacks during student teaching. It became so awful that I finally couldn't stand to go to faculty meetings on Wednesdays. I would start to become sick at my stomach on Sundays just thinking about going to work. It was awful and debilitating. I finally dragged myself into the Dr. after seeing a Paxil commercial. It took about a year and a half to get myself feeling "right." I actually take Paxil...I feel lucky that to have gotten help. I am contemplating going back to school to be a nurse. I am still shy around people I do not know. I still like to sit in the back of our huge church. I still like to be on the end aisle in most situations. I wish someone had told me that the way I felt was not forever and could be worked through. I think you should take charge of this situation and go to a doctor. He/she will be able to help you. I think it will be a challenge, but I think that it is worth trying. I feel like I am always going to be challenged with social anxiety, but I am going to stay the course! Sorry this is so long! Angie