aimee32907

Thank you for such a wonderful article, and so true. I was a CNA with a hospice organization for 14 years before becoming an LPN. I miss it, and I plan to go back to hospice care. Reading your article made my decision even easier. Thank you and God Bless.

Thank you.

I'm a new LPN - only one year experience under my belt. I have to work, so I am not able to attend classes right now, but I would like to continue with an RN program. I didn't think it was this difficult to find such a program. Has anyone out there transitioned from an LPN to an RN program online? I have found the ads I see online to be misleading. Is it just me? Am I missing something? I live in central FL. Thank you.

nutella: Thank you. You are a fountain of excellent information and advice. I will certainly follow your advice. Thank you! Amy

I celebrated by crying and taking a sedative after I found out I had passed the NCLEX. :-) :-) I'll let you know how my first week goes. I just pray I have a good and understanding preceptor, ad the bathroom is nearby! :-)

Thank you so much. I hope I don't need to "fake it" for very long.

I have a question. I am a new nurse, and I begin my first job as a nurse next week. I'm sure it's normal to be anxious (with any job!), but I feel DUMB. I graduated with honors from nursing school, passed the NCLEX the first time, but for some reason I just don't feel ready to begin working as nurse (I was a CNA for 14 years). I still feel like I don't know everything I should know to take care of my patients. My question is: is that a normal feeling? Did most of you feel "ready" when you started your first job as a new nurse? Intimidated? How did you handle it? Will it look silly if I take notes? I have so much anxiety and so many questions! Help?

I have been a CNA for more than 12 years. Before that I was an Executive Assistant. Before that I was a military wife and mother for 20+ years. I've always loved the healthcare field, so when I was 52 I enrolled in an RN program. My GPA was 3.75. Thirteen months later I had to drop out of the program for financial reasons. Well, to make a long story short, I just graduated from an LPN program with honors, and anticipate taking the NCLEX next month. I am healthy, and I run circles around most of the students in our class - most in their late 30's and early 40's. I worked 20-30 hours per week while in the program, and most nights was up until 3:00 or 4:00 AM studying, plus don't forget clinicals. I am now 62, but one month after taking the NCLEX (and hopefully passing), I will be 63. I am ready to be a nurse, even if it's just an LPN. But I have to admit, I don't know for how long. I would like to get others opinion on this subject. Do you know of another nurse that started their career very late in life? Were they successful? If so, for how long? Is it more difficult to get hired as a new nurse at my age? My husband of 40 years has been very, very supportive, but sometimes I wonder if I'm just being silly trying to begin a new career, especially nursing, at 62. Thanks for reading and I welcome and value your honest (no, you won't hurt my feelings) opinion. Amy