questions about becoming a nurse

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hi everyone. I have many, many questions about becoming a nurse. I am 32 I have a husband and two kids. I will be starting my pre-nursing this fall and working on my GED. I know for a fact that I want to be a nurse practioner. I went for my annual check up and a nurse practioner saw me that day. I was so impressed. I had heard of NP's before but never gave it much thought. We discussed her profession for sometime and I have so much respect for it. She gave me the suggestion to get my GED & RN at a local community college. Maybe get in the field and allow the hospital to help foot some of the bill for my BSN, she streesed that money wise for beginners an ASN and BSN bring home just about the same pay, she just stressed the BSN opens so many more doors for advancement in the field. Then she said with a Masters degree I could become a NP. She refered me to the University of Missouri St.Louis who has a excellent nursing school and I have an advisor who will help me along while Im at community college. I have been doing a lot of research regarding NP's on Discover Nursing.com and other sites.My interest is in Family medicine and Sports medicine. Im a Personal Trainer and I love fitness and nutrition. I was simply needing advice on what should I expect out of nursing school. I do enjoy Medicine and Science. I have to get a GED because I graduated from home school in 1993 and I took a test proctored by the government for home schooled students, but since that time many more schools are wanting a home schooled student to have a GED to back up what was once the ATB test. I consider myself pretty smart. Im just afraid since it has been so long since I have been to school I may not know what Im in for. But I feel becoming a RN/NP is important. I would like to get into research and help educate people on eating well and taking care of themselves and work with healthcare disparities. I have had several family members die of Breast cancer, Diabetes, Heart disease, Lung cancer and Throat Cancer and it's all due to lack of education and being able to see a doctor. I beleive like the NP I spoke with I can follow her foot steps and go into the community and educate people and offer services to low income families. I have never been passionate about anything like this before. It brings tears to my eyes cause I have lost two uncles to cancer in the past month both who were not well educated in taking care of their health. My grandmother died of breast cancer and my other grandmother now has a brain tumor. If there are any Nurses who can just give me some advice on what to expect, how can I better prepare myself for this journey I would be so very thankful I know it's not all a pile of roses being a nurse, but the income is good enough for me, I can have health care for my kids which I dont have now and I can know Im bettering myself with ore education and in turn bettering( if not saving) the lives of others as well. I cannot think of any other career I would want and also that satifies my love fitness/Nutrition education and educating people on how to live a longer and healthier lives. Our health is all we truly have without it nothing is the same...I've seen it first hand. I have been reading post here and I LOVE this site.

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

Well, first let me say welcome! You are among nurses here...from the curious to the seasoned. second, let me caution you to not get SOOO hung up on one career path that you overlook other opportunities....I too went to NS with the whole intention of becoming a NP, etc. someday....now after seeing my professors first hand and the faculty shortage, I've changed that to become an educator....

You do have to get that expierence under your belt before you can jump into NPing....and it can be frustrating to educate patients only to see them ignore your advice completely....Patients come to you NOT at their best...it's your job to ignore that and treat them as holistically as possible.

I would have to disagree with the NP about the BSN though....realistically, money/job wise...if you can afford it, fine. However, ASN degree is a quicker way to get into the field and then letting work pay for advanced degrees.....and lots of schools have ADN to MSN programs....What do you do now? If you can, I would recommend becoming a CNA for exposure to the medical setting...it really opens your eyes to the medical world..you become "backstage" vs the onscene performances....

I commend you for turning your family expierences into a love of nursing and the chance to pay it forward. NS is challenging, but in my opinion, one of the most rewarding times of life. I look back on it fondly....(even the bad days....well, most of em!)

Feel free to post more...and again, welcome!:yeah:

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I understand your concerns...I am 50 years old and going back for my LPN at 50 was scary...but if you set your mind to it, you can do it.

Keep your options open and allow the Good Lord to guide you.

I just graduated from Rets LPN and am going in the RN program. It is a great fast track to nursing with an Associates Degree. You get your LPN in 11 months and 15 additional months for your RN. AWESOME PROGRAM. I plan on going on to get my Bachelors and possibly Masters after that.

Good Luck!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Hi and welcome and congrats on going back to school. I'm sure you will find many answers to your questions.

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Specializes in CNA HHA CVP LICC.

do you have to become a lpn before be coming a nursing practioner ?

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Specializes in Cardiac Care.
do you have to become a lpn before be coming a nursing practioner ?

No. You must be an RN.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

I hate to be the pessimistic one, or give you a reality check, but nursing dying people opposed to family members dying, is a completely different reality -forgive me if this upsets you.

I see so many people on here - and have heard stories from - people who have had family members/close friends pass away and they are impressed with the nursing care, etc then they're all fired up to be a nurse. It is not easy in real life. Caring for hospice patients is b****y hard work. You will not get a minute to yourself. Dementias and the dying take A LOT of work because they are so very dependent. Many, many times you don't get breaks, don't forget you have to do absolutely everything for that patient and it's not just one patient - it could be 8, or 10 or more with you on your own and a carer/EN to help if you're lucky.

You will be exhausted, physically and emotionally. You also have to deal with very upset and crazy family members (and I don't say 'crazy' lightly). I've seen people arguing about their dying relatives will over that person, and the nurses have got angry and chucked them out of the room, and the patient has died on their own with maybe a nurse holding their hand (but you don't get to sit and do this because you're too busy!) Very sad. The limits of human greed, in my opinion, knows no bounds.

I'm trying not to sound bitter. But I've known many people who went into nursing for your exact reasons, and then they have hated it and been extremely disappointed. I knew one girl who had been in nearly the same situation as you described above, and she was so disillusioned with nursing, she simply didn't come back one day!

But if you think it's your passion, find a way to do it. Maybe do a few years training, get some clinicals under your belt and see how you feel about it then maybe.

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