NurseCubby

Magnicious - I moved to nursing after 22 years of working in the airline business, including corporate travel and technology. I went back to school when I was 40 and graduated from nursing school when I was 43. There were other students in my night class who were in their 50's -- 3 of them actually (all women) but they still managed the course load, graduated and passed their NCLEX-RN boards with me. So, don't let the nay-sayers get you down. If you are called to move into nursing as another career, I applaud you and encourage you to follow your dream!

I've seen neat and clutter nurses of both genders... Your instructor is making generalized comments based on her perception of men, and possibly men in nursing. I'd just roll with it and suck up any indigation. Some women just don't welcome men into the profession and they make it known by their off handed remarks. Personally, I've had a very positive experience clinically since I've passed the boards, but during school it was sometimes another story.

Lefty - wear a cover if it makes your happy and/or if it prevents skin irritation. Don't sweat what other people think - this about your comfort and ability to delivery quality nursing care.

This could be ESRD, or quite possible right sided heart failure A/E/B peripheral edema in lower extremeties.

It sounds like that, perhaps, nursing isn't for you. If you're failing the basic class this early in the game, I would encourage you to look at how you are studying. Preperation for the next test begins at the beginning of the semester, not one week prior. Otherwise, you're trying to cram 6-8 weeks of content into a weeks worth of study. That's setting yourself up for failure. Some nursing programs only allow you to withdraw and return once. Before you make the decision to withdraw and return again, I would carefully consider your options and speak with your academic advisor.