MissMeeks

Hello! You and I have some similarities, so I am going to tell you what I have learned through my research. I too am close to your age (34) but unlike you I do not have a family. I was a Case Manager and then a Program Manager for a non-profit that "helped" developmentally developed adults. I became VERY disillusioned with the entire mental health system (so much so that I don't even think I will consider Psychiatric Nursing). Luckily (didn't feel this way at the time, but I do now) I was fired from my job and forced to really make some hard choices. The thing I hated about administration (I have a BS in Healthcare Admin) and management is that I rarely got to help someone. I was forced to take advantage of them in attempts to get the highest reimbursement rates and I was forced to make decisions based on money and not on what my individuals really wanted. When I stopped doing this-I was promptly let go. I am passionate about helping people-which includes educating them, healing them with my hands and with my words of comfort. Because I already have a Bachelor's Degree, my options are somewhat limited unless I want to get a Master's. It came down to a decision between a Master's in Behavior Analysis or a ADN. I found a program down the road from where my parents live that is well regarded and charges hardly anything. I literally sold everything that couldn't fit into my SUV and moved in with my parents. I know that working as a floor RN will not satisfy me. I know that eventually I will want to be a NP and there are MANY programs that offer ADN to MSN programs. My ADN program takes 5 semesters and a ADN to MSN program will take another 5 semesters. You will REALLY want to research who is getting hired in your area. I hear more and more that an RN via ADN is finding it difficult to get hired out of school. If that is true in your area, I would do whatever it takes to get into a MSN program. Also, I agree with the above advice that I would EXPECT to take whatever shift they offer you and it will likely be evenings or 5 days a week or something else non preferred. I don't think you will find many opportunities to work part time as a new graduate nurse. My research tells me that as a new grad, you are going to have to work at least a year in fairly undesirable conditions and THEN you can make more preferable changes. I also suspect that you and I will find it very difficult to care for people in the way that the facility demands rather then the way that WE want to treat them. The number of patients that one nurse has to manage is increasing and that is not going to allow for people like you and I to give all the love we want to give to each patient. I have already come to terms with that and I am choosing to do this anyway. I think nursing is an amazing field, but from what I have read from you so far, I think a NP is where you need to head. Just my very long opinion . Oh, and the other reason that I chose this path is that I know nursing is always going to be in demand, it offers a lot of flexibility (EVENTUALLY) and it pays well. Also, I think people who work, have a family and go to school are extraordinary human beings and it is not something I would want to put on myself. As our Dean just said the other day in orientation "Think of everything you do in a day. Kids, work, church, volunteer work, taking care of a parent...whatever it is. Those things are going to have to suffer because it can't be your studies...you will not make it otherwise."

Hey y'all! I made a FB page for all of us :) It is called Calhoun Future RN's Spring 2015!

Wow Sunny thank you so much for all the advice!

@ Shinnichi that made me lol for real.

Thanks SO much for the info!

I have done more research and this is definitely something that is offered in a LOT of places via a variety of methods! In fact, we would be better off to do one of the many ADN to MSN programs. Looks like it is only 2 semesters difference and good ol Financial Aid would help us get our Master's

They won't let me get it any sooner than Friday because I guess you have to wait like 5 days between the two tests. So I can get injected Friday and read Sunday and then by Monday I will be all good. I'm sure that they won't let me register though. I'm freaking out a little because like I said I already gave my availability to work and I can't change it now. I was out of town for like 10 days around the time that I found out that we DID have to have to TB stuff done before Dec. 5th so I was just out of luck and time. I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who won't have their ducks quite in a row yet so I am hopeful that my desired schedule will still be a possibility. I NEED to be focused on my finals right now lol.

Wow I wonder if the obese nurse issue has been addressed elsewhere?! I'm sure it has. I too contemplate patient ideas about overweight nurses/aids/physicians. As a person who has always been obese, I used to worry about being a RN because it is a physical job. You will get a code and have to respond quickly and do things like adjust patients, reach around them, under them etc. And believe me I know from experience that being overweight is at times extremely physically limiting-I used to get winded getting dressed, so how could I be counted on to physically care for another person much less run if required to save their life? Because of my size, I never even CONSIDERED nursing for years, but I have changed my life and I am now a more normal size. I exercise regularly and I know that I can physically keep up with a strenuous job. Long story short, I DO think nurses should be physically capable in a wide variety of ways. But don't think it hasn't crossed my mind...I'm still overweight and I know that there will come a day when some patient will take issue with my size. It will roll right off my slightly chubby back, but still I get what you are saying and I think you bring up a very good point. We are all smart enough to know that obesity isn't ALWAYS a choice (and I don't think that is what you meant) but let's get real people-for most Americans it is.

I must respectfully disagree! When I get a person with a tattoo or a cool hair color etc. it makes me INSTANTLY relax (and I don't have any myself...I'm like the most basic of all basic white girls lol). I feel like I can be honest with them and that they won't judge me for whatever is going on with me. I do not feel like the way that a person looks (unless they are unkempt, dirty, smelly etc.) says anything about their intelligence and therefore their ability to take care of me. Some of the most professional people that I have worked with thus far have had visible tattoos. There was a time that a man would have told you that your boobs were distracting so he couldn't hire you so I just think that kind of thinking is really backwards (to judge someone's professionalism based on a tattoo). I agree with the OP that it really is sad that we as nurses aren't given the same benefit that we are supposed to give our patients. I think that this is changing, but I live in the south and even now there are a lot of old timers who see a person with a tiny tattoo or a tongue ring and assume they worship Satan or something. Sad.

Hi I start a full time ADN program in January. I was super excited and gung ho but now I'm a ball of nerves. I am like a lot of you-34 and this is a career change for me. I've worked in healthcare for a long time in administrative roles, so healthcare has always been my field but I've not been very successful thus far so I am nervous. I am a STRONG patient advocate and very outspoken, which can rub people the wrong way. I absolutely love to help people-it is my passion. I am nervous that I won't make the grades or that this is a dumb decision. I'm scared because I have moved away from everyone that I love-the people who keep me happy and grounded to do this. I'm super excited because I know that nursing is an excellent field to be in. I was just so sure of myself for so long and now I'm accepted and I'm like...uh OK...here we go! I'm sure we are all going to do well but I feel all of your pain and excitement and nervousness and giddiness for sure .

I love this post. I too wondered about the appropriateness of healing touch. I very much believe that touch is super therapeutic and can do more than medication for some people. I also have the red flags etched in my mind because I worked in admin for so long and with developmentally disabled adults...that side hug could turn into a boob grab or a headlock if you weren't careful . But I think I will always wait for the patient to ask for a hug, but I'm sure I'll give lots of hand/arm pats unless they are infectious or sketchy lol.

I just want to encourage you and wish you good luck. I am about to begin school and I know that moment is going to come for me when I just don't want to go on. I read your story because I wanted to remind myself what would happen if I had a bad day. I don't have a great support system either-I actually chose to move back in with my parents so that I wouldn't have any bills at all while in nursing school. I can not imagine how hard it must be to juggle a family and/or a job while in school. I do not think that I would even take on nursing school if I had to support myself with a full time job or take care of other people. My hat is so off to people who are able to do it. You live and you learn-don't let it get you down. As people said, take your W, take a deep breath, assess what went wrong, fix it and try try again! If this is meant to be your path-it will be!

I was treated by a NP in the ER several months ago. An RN took care of most everything, and then the NP was the one who did what a MD typically does in the ER. She misdiagnosed me but nonetheless, she was the primary practitioner so I would think that working as a NP in the ER would be very attainable for you if that's what you want to do! Also, this was at a TriStar Hospital (which is a big group here in the Southeast) so it wasn't a little dinky ER either!

Those ^%$&*(*&^^%% they figured us out lol! Now I am having a slight panic attack because I can't have my last TB skin test until Friday so I'm sure they won't let me register and I just got a job and gave them my availability. That's what I get for not following the rules. Oh well like you said River333, deep breaths. NO EMAIL either! And Jay-Bo I have tried to change my picture a bunch of times but it won't let me do it. So y'all get CancerMadonna for my icon forever I guess lol. On a more positive note does anyone know what kind of nursing they hope to go into? I think I want to do ICU/CCU and eventually HIV/AIDS nursing. I would like to eventually become a NP.

Just out of curiosity does your hospital offer tuition reimbursement? A friend of mine is in a similar situation (as a Medical Assistant, not a RN) and her company is paying for everyone to be educated/licensed.