native_texan

So....the last 2 semesters I have been working on my study technique....trying to find what is EFFICIENT. That's what I'm doing right now...trying to find methods are EFFECTIVE and EFFICIENT. I've rewritten my notes (effective but NOT efficient), etc., but I know that passive highlighting of texts is not going to be enough either. My work right now is probably different from NS (multiple choice/fill-in-the-blank tests), etc. I'm also working for high As in each class. I know I'll adapt. It's more of a question of how much stress and sleep depravation I'll encounter along the way. (For the record, I took A&P 1 & 2 and Stats over the summer, and I'm currently taking Chem, Nutrition, and Micro. It's been a good warmup for what awaits.)

@Livinnursing Great points! Thanks! I was worried about the reading. I don't read that fast b/c I read to comprehend. Second semester is worse than first? Oh Lawd! I don't have a job. The only things for me is that during first semester, by son will go to State Swimming Championship in Austin, will have prom, will graduate from high school, and my daughter will graduate from college. Barring any unforeseen catostrophes, I will have nothing to worry about but school. (And the usual things that a mom/wife worries about...) Congrats and keep on trucking along!

Wow. I am waiting acceptance (should know in 30 days) to start in an accelerated program in January. I am not a traditional student (44yo) and I already have a bachelors degree. I'm finishing my last pre-nursing classes this semester, and when I hear that I'll have pharm, patho, adult care, etc. in my first semester.....I'm already having anxiety. HOW do you survive?

I am also a recently resigned teacher and pre-nursing student. I am also middle aged. I taught for 12 years. It was my second career and now on to my third. I don't think there is anything wrong with trying to do everything in this life that we want to do. If you have the finances to go back, and the support, why not?? Education in my state has become horrible. We have no unions, and the pay is horrible! Regarding benefits, they suck too...frankly. People think we "get so much time off." We never clock out. I was always overwhelmed with work AT HOME (grading, lesson planning, remaking lessons, completing the mounds of paperwork, etc.) I will just be glad to punch out and go home and to enjoy my time at home. Here's what I have figured out. No career choice is perfect. You have to judge what is most important to you amongst the things there are to consider (salary, time off, working conditions, persona fulfillment, benefits, opportunities for change/growth, etc.) For me, teaching had what I needed while my kids were in school. Now, my needs have changed. Best of luck! I'm doing great in school this time around and my younger classmates are really struggling. My muscles ache, and my back hurts, but my heart is full. :)

I don't think you should do anything "just for the money." It definitely is ONE of the factors that plays into any career. Flexibility is another, and advancement another. I was referring to JUST the money. I know for me, at the end of the day, if I have milions, and I have helped no one, I will be miserable. I totally agree with you though that people who go into with simply a mind of service will be disillusioned. I don't believe that I am. I want to use my intelligence, my skillful ability to use my hands (also an artist), make a comfortable living, have days off to enjoy life, make others' lives better, have choices/back-ups if I get burnt out in one area, move fast, think fast, etc. That's why I'm doing it. I don't like science, but I love the learning about human a&p, and more specifically, what happens when things go wrong, and how to compensate, if at all possible. Thanks for your insight!

Wow! What a wonderful response, Lady! I agree with you 100%! In education, I would get my class rosters at the beginning of the year, and other teachers would remark, "oh...you have HIM," or "oh now.....not HER!" I chose to ignore their evaluations of what were now "MY" students. It was amazing. The child who wouldn't work for them, worked for me. The child that caused them discipline nightmares was an angel for me. I found that it was all in how I approached the student as an individual, and the expectations that I had for them. (Note: I never had higher expectations for them than I had for myself.) Tip #1) Be objective. Great advice. I can't wait to seek out the forums that you suggested. Again, back to my parallel in education, I avoided the teacher lounges. Yes, I need to vent as well, but I could be having a MAGICAL day and as soon as I entered that lounge, I began to feel like crap. Negativity is a toxin, a poison, a quickly metastasizing cancer. I decided to start avoiding the teacher's lounge. I had my true friends at work, and we vented to each other. We knew we weren't condemning any particular child, or the education field in general, just venting. Once it was out, it was over. Tip #2) Seek positivity. Again, great advice. (I would add "Avoid Negativity") Reality checks are good, and for some who are looking at entering the field, TOTALLY needed. For me however, I think I'm ready for what I'm up against. A little anti-anxiety therapy is all that I need now, and a few good, intelligent nurse/friends. Seriously Ladyfree28...best response ever. Thank you.

You are all telling me exactly what I needed to hear about nursing school! I too was rocking waitress, and would do it again if I could make good enough money. I love managing 100 things at once, figuring out what's wrong, and I love the odd, strange, unusual cases. I can't wait to study more about disorders, rather than A&P (TOTALLY understand that I have to have the background...I'm just more interested in why/when things go wrong.

Calivianya, Thank you so much. I am beginning to see what you mean. I'm taking A&P right now, and I'm surrounded by people that just don't get it. They don't get it b/c they aren't willing to put in 4-6 hours for every class hour into studying. I want a job where I can be smart. It isn't about the "helping people" thing for me. I definitely like that, but I like problem-solving. If I like just making a difference in people's lives, I would've stayed in education. I appreciate your candor. Also, I agree that there are no perfect jobs. Like I said, that's why they have to pay you. Again, thank you and best of luck.

Thanks for the response MrsRN14! I'm definitely a realistic, and I'm not going in with any sugar coated fantasies. :) I wish you the best, and appreciate your input!

I keep hearing such a negative stigma over nursing school, the first year out, and complaining in general about the profession. WHY THEN BE A NURSE? I have just quit teaching after 10+ years, and I see how it easy to be caught up in the negativity of an "industry" (i.e. education), but if we all quit, then who would be left to teach our children? There are things that amazing about teaching, but it has it's downsides, too. That's why they have to pay teachers...duh. So now that I'm fulfilling a desire to become a nurse that I had to put on the back burner years ago, I'm wondering why I'm doing it when I read so much negativity. I don't know if the stories about nursing school are stories from students who have never really struggled with anything before, so it's a major shock, or if it's horrible for everyone. I don't know if things actually get better after you get your license or not. From a lot of stories, it just gets "worse." WHY THEN, would anyone want to this profession? If you're just doing it for the money...don't get me started. It's even made me question myself and my own goals. So please, tell me what was the best and worst of nursing school, the first year, the career. I've seen plenty of arguments on WHY NOT to do, plenty of reality checks...I'm over 35...got plenty of those. SOMEONE PLEASE GIVE ME THE ARGUMENT OF WHY ONE SHOULD CONSIDER NURSING! PLEASE TELL ME THERE'S SOMETHING GOOD OUT THERE!!

Good for you for never giving up!! Wishing you the best of health and luck in nursing school!!

A bit older...? Ha! I'm 44. I think you'll find many non-traditional students along the way. Read the many posts that others have started/commented on regarding advice. As for me, I would tell you that ONLY YOU know if you are doing the right thing. Find out about what school entails, what the job entails, and then listen to your heart. Starting with your prereqs is the first step. See how you like your health-related classes and go from there! Best of Luck!

I can't wait to be a nurse and getting waited on during ALL of our breaks!

Just wanted to thank you all for your comments! I have 45 more "school/work days" left. While it's bittersweet to leave what has become my "second home," I am so ready to focus on this new phase of my life. All of my students, parents and teacher friends are thrilled and said that they hope I can be THEIR nurse! I must be doing something right! Hugs to all...

Thanks for your input. As a teacher, I rarely sit down, go to the bathroom, eat, etc. I teach 4 different subjects to teenagers. It is a LOT of work. I don't get to "punch out," as there is always work to do in the evening, on the weekend, etc. I'm not leaving the profession for an "easy" job. I'm a hard worker that loves making a difference in people's lives. I have a passion for problem solving and learning how the human body works. As for my contract, I am the one who ended that. I know about the pre-reqs. I do already have a degree in Communications and I only have a few classes that I need to take. I'm currently taking one (while teaching), and I'm taking 14 more hours in the summer. I appreciate your honest feedback and still look forward to this journey. I'm fortunate to be in the Texas Medical Center area, so I'm hopeful about the opportunities that will be available! Blessings to you all.

Hi Tex! Yes, I went to the info session! I was very impressed and excited. I'm realistic that for at least 16 months, I will eat, drink, sleep (very little), and breathe nursing school. I'm OK with that! I asked an admissions rep about the 4.0 GPAs not getting in, and she said that most with 4.0s were students who took classes multiple times to get that GPA. That's not what they're looking for. Here's my belief...God has a plan for all of us. If this is part of His plan, then it will be. Period. I do have to do my part, haha! There are always forks that appear in your path and you have to make choices to head in new directions sometimes. If that's what happens in my case, then that's what happens. Life is a journey...not a destination. I agree to keep the thread "light." I just want to chat and support. Best of "luck" to all. (BTW, I applied for the Spring. Why not??) Hugs and Blessings

If so, would you please share your story? I just gave notice today that I would not be seeking to renew my contract in the fall. I have been teaching for 11 years, but my dream was always to be in healthcare. I'm in the process of getting ready to apply to nursing school now. I'm curious...what was the transition like? Do you miss anything? Any regrets? Thanks in advance. :)

Hey there TX2015! I was told by someone in admissions to send my information to the Registrar's Office, (she gave me an e-mail) and said they would look into it for me. I requested my transcripts to be sent to get the process started. I just gave notice today that I would not be renewing my contract for the next school year. SCARY! However, I am sure that I didn't want to continue in education anyway. I haven't been happy for the last couple of years, and I didn't go to school to be a teacher. It was a means to an end when the economy went south after 9/11, along with Enron and World Comm collapsing. I only have 57 more "school days." :) I don't understand the admissions process, but I have faith that if UTHSC is where I am supposed to be, then I will be there. Hard work is a given. I don't know what else they will be looking for. I was told that 400-600 apply each session and that they accept 100-125.

Hi there. I'm currently a high school teacher (soon to change careers) and my dad was an ER nurse. We are in Texas. He worked as a paramedic for years before getting his RN. You might want to think about being an EMT while you are getting your prereq's. So far in my 44 years of experience, most jobs are about your experience, skills and who you know...not the university you went to. High schools teach it all wrong. Sorry, but true. You need to work backwards. Begin with the end in mind. So, you want to be an ER nurse and make a good living for your family. Find out what region will provide that for you. Then, research how those ER nurses got to where they are. My dad is called to ALL areas of the hospital ALL the time because of his amazing ability to start IV's in children, elderly, addicted patients, etc. He was able to get his RN online through a Paramedic to RN program. His only "clinical" was a 4-day test in another state in which he had to perform multiple clinical skills. (I should say that about 75% fail on their first time, but he passed with flying colors.) The first (and best) quality that you have is a strong work ethic. Just continue to do your research (and not from your HS counselor). Talk to nurses here and then take it all in stride. Don't let others deter you from your goal. As long as you are realistic and understand that there is no "quick money," you'll be fine. I wish you the best of luck!

Sorry to hear about your pre-req situation. My degree is in Communications, so I'm lacking all of the science classes :/ I may go to the March info session. I think there is a possibility that I can apply in August for the spring semester, but I won't know until they evaluate my transcripts... What do you currently use your B.S. for (what kind of job are you in?)

"Don't let all the clocks fool you. There's no time to breathe in nursing school."

"OK, nursing student. You're first topic is time management. You're first job...set all these clocks to daylight savings."

I know it's early, but I wanted to start a thread for those of us planning to apply to UTHSC for the Summer 2015 session. I am hoping to go the Pacesetter route. I currently have a degree in Communications and I'm finally able to change careers and follow my dream. I'm a high-school teacher that will be resigning in June when the school year ends. I have a lot of prereqs already taken, but have a few to go, as well. I'm currently taking Intro to Pscyh online, will take Lifespan in May, and Intro to Soci and and A&P I & II over the summer. If you are applying to start in this summer session too, please join in the discussion! We'll need to lean on each other as we go through this tough (but wonderful) process! Anyone else out there? Good Luck in advance!