PlzClarify

Hi, I just wanted to offer some encouragement. I am also in California and understand the pressure to have as high a GPA as possible. One thing you should probably consider is looking into community college ADN programs. Some have lotteries that level the playing field for those with less-than-perfect GPAs. The downside is, the waitlists can be very long for these programs. On the other hand, it's better than not getting in at all. Plus, you are young, you have time on your side. Another avenue to explore would be programs that incorporate a high TEAS score with your prereq GPA. An additional pro you have on your side is that you live in an area with a lot of options. You may have to drive or even relocate, but if you really want this, and it sounds like you do, you will do the leg work to make it happen. With everyone at a standstill right now, it's the perfect time to sift through your options. Good luck to you! I know you can do this! Carrie

I haven't posted in a very long time, but your post jumped out at me. I read your most recent response and frankly, I'm worried about your safety. Unfortunately, it is when a spouse leaves or announces their plan to leave an abusive relationship that things can go from bad to dangerous really quickly. I urge you to make a secret plan to leave, in such a way that he can't stop you or stalk you. If you need help, call the domestic abuse hotline @ 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Some may think I'm overreacting, but I don't think so. The threat is real. Be safe and move forward with a better life for you and your children.

I am a pre-nursing student working as a Home Health Aide (I also just landed a per-diem job as a CNA in an extended care facility). I think it just depends on the job you land. I have been with the same client for quite a while now and almost quit the first week because it was very stressful. However, as my client's disease progressed, things calmed down a lot and the job actually got much better. For what it's worth, my client's family also initially expected what I would consider a bit too much from me in terms of housework. I know that is part of the job description but there is definitely a limit. Once I became more comfortable there, I had a very polite conversation about how I was feeling overwhelmed with trying to care for their family member while completing all of the household chores they were expecting me to do. They nixed quite a few of those chores and now I feel that the housework I do is quite reasonable. Don't be afraid to speak up if you feel overextended. Luckily, not all jobs are the same. If you are with an agency, let your employer know that you would like to be matched with another client, if possible. There are so many at-home clients in need, you are bound to find one that feels like a good fit for you. Good luck!

In my neck of the woods, you can get a PCT job a lot easier if you become a CNA first. There are some CNA courses that are faster than others, which would allow you to become a CNA much sooner and try to land a job this summer. Good luck! :)

Oops, you would say "I have located the brachial artery," for blood pressure, not pulse. My bad. To clarify, for pulse, you would say, "I have located the pulse and am ready to begin counting." Sorry about that.

Hi, First of all, take a deep breath. Right now and again before you begin your skills test. It's going to be okay. Second of all, after you do the actual hand washing, when you get to a point in one of the skills where you would wash your hands, e.g., before and after beginning each skill, you would say to the instructor, "I am washing my hands," and make a hand-washing motion with your hands. Third, you will be speaking to both the instructor and your "client," whether they are an actual person or not. For instance, if you are instructed to take a pulse, you would say certain things to the client, such as "knock, knock, knock" upon entering the cubicle, identify yourself, confirm the client's identity, then say, "I am here to check your pulse today." You would also say certain things to the instructor, such as "I have located the brachial artery." Always treat the client and the situation as if this were a real life situation. It also helps if you announce your basic steps to the instructor. This will help you avoid missing a step. Speaking of which, if you notice during the skill that you did miss a step, you have the right to announce this to your instructor and say something like, "I missed a step. I should have done 'XYZ' at such and such point in the skill." You can only do this during the skill you are performing, so think carefully before you announce that you are done with the skill. One last tip, if you do have to take a pulse, don't be afraid to ask to do it again if you are unsure. It only takes an extra minute and it's better to be sure that you got the correct count. Good luck. Now no more studying today. Do something to completely take your mind off the test. I drove to San Diego and picked up our new Siberian Husky the day before my state test, LOL, but I don't recommend that.

I think it depends on the area. In my neck of the woods, our local hospital phased out CNAs and LVNs a few years ago. Some long-term LVNs were able to petition the board successfully to take the NCLEX-RN and were allowed to remain on staff if they passed. The RNs then had to do total patient care, which was obviously overwhelming. The hospital had to save face later on by hiring patient care techs (who must be CNAs:rolleyes:). I know a few hospitals further away from me still have CNAs. I think most probably do, in general. It might just seem like they are being phased out if the hospital/s in your area are doing so. Just my opinion, for what it's worth.

I'm sorry your family members and counselor have been so unsupportive. I'm a pre-nursing student, well over 40, I might add. Look, you are going to be in your mid-40s and early 50s at some point anyway, right? You might as well be what you want to be at that point. Sure, it may take a few years, and yes it will be quite a challenge, even incredibly difficult at times. But if you set your mind to it, you can do anything you want to do. I went the route of doing my pre-requisites (one left to go for the RN program), which can take quite a while, then doing the CNA program, which is part of the requirement for the nursing program at my community college. It was a long program (17 weeks) but well respected in my community and it provided a decent amount of clinical hours at local long-term care facilities and hospitals. It gave me a good feel for these various situations and allowed me to fully realize that this is what I want to do and I am on the right path. I am now signed up for the LVN program, with a long waiting list. Once that is completed, I will move straight into the RN program at my CC. After that I plan to bridge to the BSN and MSN online. The nice part about this is that it allows me to work part-time while going to school, although those hours will most likely have to drop/change drastically once I am in the LVN program. Anyway, enough about me. Here is a link to a thread of us over-40 nursing hopefuls here on AN: https://allnurses.com/pre-nursing-student/going-back-at-1050494-page4.html#post9041909 Don't be afraid to give it a shot. You are not alone! :)

I'm really enjoying all of the interesting comments here. I agree that we should all stick together to provide encouragement and support to one another. It is going to be great to have such an amazing support system!

Well, it looks like we're all in good company here! I am 43 years old with a family -- my youngest is 7 years old. The oldest is 25 and we are going to school together for the same thing. She wants to do Mother & Baby care, and I want to do L&D. In the long run, we both want to become CNMs and we are hoping to go into business together. I've always wanted to be a nurse but being a mom was my first priority. I was mostly a SAHM and do have some guilt about not being here all the time for my younger kids, but they really respect what I am trying to do. I have been a CNA for over a year now and just applied to the LVN program at my local college. Once I am done with that, it is straight to RN and I will graduate with an AD at that point. Then it's on to our local University for the BSN, hopefully while working as an RN -- but we'll see how it goes at that point. I know our local hospital has a new grad program for nights in L&D, so I am hoping to get in there while I work on my BSN and eventually my CNM. I currently do home care and am interviewing this Friday for per diem work as a CNA at a nearby extended care center. I'll be doing Micro this fall, which is my last pre-req for the RN program, and I will do Anthro later, because I heard the BON likes it. Yes, I know it is a long haul, but it is something I have always wanted to do and I feel like a very young 43, if I do say so myself. I am healthy and try to stay fit by doing cardio and strength training 5 or 6 days a week. I know it won't be easy and I know it won't all be roses and sunshine once I achieve my various goals but I do know this is the path I want to take and I'm willing to work incredibly hard to make it happen. It is encouraging to see so many of us in the same boat. We can do this! :) Carrie (With all the info I've shared, I will need to post under a pseudonym if I ever want to rant!)

Thank you so much for the encouragement! I have a lot of friends who feel the way you do about Micro vs. A&P. I am really hoping it's going to be one of my better subjects, LOL. Yeah that commute may be rough, but I can definitely see where it will be worth it. I am also happy to hear that you feel that all the hard work of Nursing school in general will be worth it. I am getting kind of nervous. I may be PMing you in the future -- thanks for that offer! :)

Hi, you're welcome. I was actually considering the nursing program at SBBC, but since I am about 90 miles north of SB, I decided that, while a the two-year commute didn't sound so bad on paper, in reality, it would become difficult. I do have a few friends who are SBCC nursing student hopefuls. At any rate, I'm doing the CNA-->LVN-->RN (AD) at Allan Hancock College. After that I plan to get my BSN at a local University. I just applied to the LVN program, which has a long waiting list, but once we complete that successfully, we go straight the RN program with no further wait. I will learn my wait list number in mid-July. Meanwhile, I just have one more pre-requisite to complete for the RN program -- Micro. I'm just now starting to get excited. I hope you find an affordable place to live and get good news from the college very soon! :)

Just popping in to say congratulations to you both! I also wanted to add that you might want to consider extending your housing search slightly north of SB, to Goleta. It is much more affordable than SB and not very far away. It's still a nice area, though. Good luck to you both! :)

Thank you for the reply. I should have mentioned that I plan to bridge to BSN after I complete the RN program. On that note, I suppose it will be quite a while before I need to be concerned with this issue.

Yes, that is a serious question. Hi Everyone, Some background on me: I have been reading the forums for a long time now. I am currently in a nursing program where you must become a CNA first, followed by a one year LVN program, then a one year AD/RN program. I've been a CNA for over a year, but am currently working in private care as a Home Care Aide. I just applied to the LVN program, for which there is a long waiting list. Due to familial commitments, I need to stay close to home, so this is the path I have chosen, in spite of other available avenues. I have always wanted to be an RN in L&D. My bigger dream has been to become a CMW. I have a hospital in mind for L&D and I know they have a new grads program. Of course, that means night shifts. I have read a lot here lately about how this is a really bad idea (night nursing, especially for those over 40). I know many have further issues with mandatory OT, etc, etc. As I recall from my clinicals at this particular hospital on the L&D floor that the majority of nurses seemed to enjoy their jobs and I even heard some say they loved their jobs and were actually home more than they were at work. They all said their worked their three 12 hour shifts per week and that was generally it. This is actually a newly built hospital with pods of 4 patients for each nurse to care for. I am just wondering if I am delusional to think this is the route I want to go? Again, this is something I have always wanted to do. Yet when I read about all of the cons to this profession, particularly L&D, I have to wonder if I am simply ignorant to all it entails? So tell me, would you become a nurse again if you had it to do all over again? Would you recommend nursing to your best friend? If you are a L&D nurse, or have been, can you please give me your viewpoints on the issue? If you would not choose to become an RN again knowing what you know now, or if you could change paths now, what else would you do for a living? Any input would be much appreciated. Thank you.