rachmac11

Thank you so much for weighing in. I really appreciate it!

Hi there, I am about to start a new job where I worked for my senior practicum. To much surprise I was given a Daisy award while I was a student on that floor. It was amazing and generous and I am proud of it but I am wondering if I should display it on my badge right away? I know a couple nurses on the floor know I got one, but I don't want to put off the vibe that I am cocky or entitled -- in fact, that is THE LAST thing I want to exhibit. Any advice?? Thank you!!

Hi there! Someone mentioned not comparing yourself or your journey to anyone else and I think that is really important. I started my pre-reqs after I had been out of college for one year. Then 4 years later I just got into a program. I am 27, but believe me, I felt the same as you. I have done a lot in my life and it has not always been clear to dive right into nursing. For me, it was important for me to wait, and really feel this was the direction I wanted to go. My husband is 30 and trying to become a firefighter. They have age caps on this kind of thing! If you are older than 34 you might as well not apply. That isn't the case in nursing. A guy I work with said his mom is now an empty nester and she went back to school and got her nursing degree! That is the beauty of this career! Don't worry if you feel like it's taking forever. Chances are other people feel that way too. If you can load up more classes, do that! If not, don't! Just be patient because when you get in to nursing school you will have a different kind of beast to take on.

I think becoming a CNA before nursing school is definitely worth the time and money. For me, I took it to get a CNA job. I didn't have a job at the time, and was planning on becoming a CNA after I got my certificate. I ended up getting another job, but the experience I gained just in 3 days in a clinical setting was enough to really cement the fact that I was on the right career path for me. I think it is a great tool to use to your advantage. It can only help you! Even if you get your CNA and you find out that you don't want to be a nurse. That is more useful than going through an entire nursing program and figuring that out. Our CNA program was centered around geriatrics which was something I was not thrilled about. However, at the end of the CNA program, I welcomed the fact of sometime working in a long term care facility. That exposure and experience was incredible helpful, especially for my confidence!