BigOkie

Congratulations! Getting the first one under your belt feels good, especially when you've got a good result. I think probably 95% of nursing students (including myself) look at the amount of information that can be tested and it looks impossible. It's amazing how much you retain though if you do your reading. Of course, I have a test coming up on Monday and, as always, I have my doubts. But I know I can do it... now you do too! Congrats again and keep gettin' A's!!!

I'm currently a junior in a BSN program at my school. I've kept myself motivated by reminding myself that I'm an older student (44yrs old) and have left a lucrative field to pursue a more satisfying career path. I also look back on all of the pre-reqs that I've taken (striving for an A in each) then the anxiety of applying to (and accepted) a really competitive program. Then the first semester in a long-term care facility learning how to make beds, wipe butts, turn patients, give showers, etc. THEN approaching this semester with Pharmacology and Med-Surg AND another class to complete the degree. So, in all of that, I remind myself how far I've come and I can see the finish line in sight. It's just too late to back out now. I really believe that a full 50% of nursing school is just them pushing us to see how much we can take. And I saw a quote the other day that really says it all for me: "I didn't say it was going to be easy... I said it was going to be worth it." Don't know who the original author of that is but that says it all with regards to nursing school.

I can speak from experience only in that I now have one semester of nursing school under my belt with four more to go. After acceptance it seems that there is a "whirlwind" of tasks to complete (in my case, vaccinations, drug testing, background testing, fingerprinting, books, scrubs, etc) and then it all sort of sinks in that it's now "real". I had the same reservations and was not sure that I made the right decision. As a 44yr old male, I knew that I suspected that I was going to stick out like a sore thumb. I found that as I engaged my classmates who were half my age, that we all had the same fears and anxiety. In the end, we banded together and formed study groups, we communicated our frustrations, and our successes. My advice would be to get together with other students who seem to be successful, that put in an effort, and that keep a positive attitude. You will benefit academically and also in knowing that you have others that are going through the same experiences you are. If nursing is a good fit for you, you will begin to really get into the classes and the clinical experience. If it's not a good fit, it won't take you long to find out. Good luck and go get 'em!