MTmomofsix

I went to the school Monday and withdrew until the end of August. At that point I'm going to do evenings and NOT the accelerated classes! This will give me more time in between to study. Sure, I will graduate four months after my classmates, but nevertheless, I will still do it! In the meantime I am taking a four week (only three days half days per week) cert for phlebotomy. I'll then have my CNA and a phleb. cert. I can find work in a hospital doing that while finishing out the rest of my LPN course. This seems to work for my situation and I feel SOOO much less pressure now! I will have to repeat second term, but I don't mind because I NEED the pharm. refresher. Maybe in August I will finally get it!

Thanks all. I appreciate all the advice and kind words. One thing that struck me was Nettie's teacher's advice, ""if you can't do this you can't be a nurse, if you make a dosing mistake you can kill someone." SO true and that's what I am ALWAYS thinking about! I am dyslexic (as if I needed to add anything more to the chaos of learning) and math will NEVER come easy. I will always struggle because of the way my mind "sees" math problems. I formally took phlebotomy (over ten years ago) and was at the top of my class. I've been transcribing medicine ever since - never did get a job in phlebotomy because of having kids, etc. I am seriously thinking of just switching back over because I qualify now for a CNA (after a term and a half of LPN studies) so I will have a CNA and phlebotomy license. That will put me at an almost identicle salary of that of an LPN. (I also have a BA so that will help salary wise as well). LPN school is HARD work and a LOT of work and I just think it's time to realize that I did, in fact, bite off more than I can chew. Not sure when I will drop - probably this week. I learned a lot but I must do what my real life can handle :)

I'm halfway through the second of four terms of an LPN program that I started in Dec 2012. I am guessing I won't pass pharmacology. I can't get the concept of dosing and the math involved. I'm an older (44) student and just can't keep up with the 20 year olds who whine and complained that they 'failed' and then showcase their grade of a 93. I am trying to hold down my stay at home transcription job (which is NEVER turned in on time anymore), homeschooling the kids and recurring migraines (32 years now). I am at the point of no return. Grades are slipping and I don't want to keep putting out the effort only to know I will probably never get the concept of dosing calculations - a BIG, BIG part of nursing. Ready to throw in the towel. So, so ready. Thanks for listening to me whine.

I just finished up my first term for LPN. I received one A, two B's and a C (only a point away from a B though :) ) I am VERY busy. I telecommute and transcribe for a doc which is my almost full time job from home. I have six kids who I homeschool (I know, I probably should be crazy in the head, but we're used to hs'ing as we've done it for 8 years). Next term we start Pharm, Life Span, Nursing Fundamentals II and clinical II. I am VERY nervous I will not be able to get through Pharm because of the math. It's not my strong suit at all. Anyone have insights into getting through Pharm?

at least 3-4 but like the others said - it depends on the class. We just finished our first term and now going into our second term and we have pharmacology so I KNOW I will be studying a lot more than last term.

Wait, wait, wait. Nursing school is a LOT of work, even those in my class that only have one child or some that do not have any - most of us work and have kids (I have six) and I can tell you it's a lot of stress and a LOT of work.

Take this for what it's worth, but i am 44 with six kids returning to school for nursing. I would have loved to have parents who paid for my tuition at your age. I learned the hard way and am now middle aged trying to get through nursing school to make a better life for my children, one of whom starts college in two years. Get through nursing school. Have it to fall back on and work graphic design into your life after having a stable career. Thank your parents for the guidance they are giving you and be thankful for this opportunity. Don't wait and wake up and say 'i wish i would have finished.'

I am just finishing up my first quarter..had two finals & one to go. I was scared to death as well..still am. Every hour is jammed packed esp. If you work and have kids, but like what one poster said, get a study group of a few..yes! Stay away from the gossip. Keep our professionalism always. Instructors know the students who are complainers ! Stay organized. Ask for help when needed. Good luck!

Flash cards and a study group. I agree that some teachers are not as interested interested in seeing us succeed as others. Study groups and constant repetition works well for a&p.

You can do this! I am 44 and have six children (15, 11, 10, 8, 7 and 4). I started back in dec and i homeschool the kids and work from home as a medical transcriptionist. I go to nursing school four nights a week for six hours. Yes, it is tough..not going to lie but it IS doable! You can do this!

I have pharm next semester and was wondering exactly how hard this course will be. Not the best at math AT ALL.

Reading ahead is a great idea! Think now in advance on how you will manage your time. If you work, you need to have a road map of when you will fit in studying because nursing school is hard! As far as clinicals..I've only done one rotation so far in long term care which has been an awful experience (mostly because the facility is just awful - these poor patients have to live in complete filth!). If clinicals turn you off - keep your head up and just DO IT and GET THROUGH IT because it WILL be worth it in the end. Best of luck to you! :)

TIME MANAGEMENT! If you haven't mastered this skill - do it now lol!

I am currently a nursing student (LPN) and there has been a turn of events for which I cannot continue nursing. I still want to work in a hospital environment with patients. I did get a feel for a CNA does on our nursing rotation at a LTC facility. There is a program that starts in June at our local count college for MST and I was wondering if I should go for that instead? Anyone have anythign to say about either professions?

Hi all - I currently hold a Bachelor of Arts and am enrolled in a program for LPN. Unfortunately due to some turn of events at home (I have six children and one now has medical issues) I can't continue that program. I wanted to go straight for my BSN online. Has anyone gone from a BA to BSN? If so, did it take a while?