I promise to 'try' and be as concise as possible... I am 38 yrs old married to a firefighter (so single mom 75% of the time ) with a 3 1/2 year old little boy and currently going through fertility treatments in hopes to having another baby. God willing we will be able to have another healthy baby and soon after that I hope to apply and enter a local RN program.
I also have a chronic injury from an accident in 1996 (spinal fusion L4-5/S-1). I have neuropathy in my lower back and left leg. Typically I take Topamax which works extremely well and will have some type of pain medication for occasional break through relief if needed. At the moment due to fertility treatments I cannot take the Topamax so assessing my pain level for any type of baseline would not be accurate. I know that I would be limited in what types of nursing that I could do but I just know that nursing is what I should be doing. In whatever capacity that would fit, I would be willing...I sadly have enormous amounts of hospital experience. As a patient and as the adult child of a patient where I had medical power of attorney. I have had incredible experiences with nurses, some less than great and others who have been excellent.
Looking back, I should have gone to nursing school following my second back surgery in 1997 (hardware removal) but decided on art school. At the time of my injury I was in school for athletic training and I was so disappointed that I had to give that up I guess I dismissed anything in the medical field. I have always been drawn to the medical field and that passion has only become stronger as my years have gone by...
My main question for all of you is what type of obstacles could you see me having in actually landing a position after nursing school. I have faced all the judgement any one person should face with my back injury. The looks and questions if I am forced to go to the emergency room for my back pain. I understand that the hospitals must be careful with the opiates and patients with chronic injuries. I have met drug seekers in the waiting rooms of E.R.'s as well as my own surgeons, neurologists and pain management doctors. Nothing infuriates me more because of these people, patients with legitimate injuries are often scrutinized and judged. Because of these situations I also believe that it would make me a better nurse. I would really hope to work in some type of office/clinic that treats patients with chronic pain or injuries. In order to maintain my own pain management I have nerve blocks, selective nerve root blocks, s/i blocks etc. This is the type of enviornment that I could see myself being the most helpful.
Please excuse the length of this post however I really wanted to give the details in order for you to give me your best answer. Thanks to those of you who give so much to strangers everyday and I hope to one day be one of you.
PS- I am not sure who suggested School Nurse but I have to ask WHERE? The 'school nurses' in the school district that I live in (middle to upper middle class-ish district) have 'health clerks'. My neighbor is a health clerk at one of the elementary schools and I about fell over when she told me that she had interviewed, let alone been offered the position! This is the same woman who knocked on my door after splitting her head open in her backyard and could not look at the bloody towel that I applied to her head before taking her to the ER. Also the same woman who brought her school aged son over who had cut his finger and she couldn't look at it or she would pass out. She cannot even 'talk' about needles. Now I love my neighbor but is this the person who should be in charge of our children if there was an accident during school hours? I guess I didn't know that RN's were even in the school systems anymore. It's good to know that they are in some schools....just my little vent...
With respect you sound like a lovely person. But how do you honestly (and I'm not trying to be sarcastic saying this), think you will 'rest' outside of nursing school? The shiftwork in clinicals and the study load is HUGE. You already have one child and will probably have another baby to care for. You will need to factor in all these considerations also b4 your exams, ie: you will need to set time aside also for study and revision.
I can't emphasize how much this is true. I only graduated this past August, so it is fresh in my memories. I have a wife and a now-14-year-old. I never saw them except on breaks (Christmas, summer, etc.). Even then, on those breaks, I was out every day for some of that day studying with classmates. Every day. And you are going to have 2 young children?
I don't know your circumstances, so I don't know if you have extra support or what. But nursing school is not 3 hours of class, 3 hours of study, clinicals one day each week, and done. I was out of the house by 7am and home by 10pm almost every weekday. On the weekends, I was gone for at least 10 hours each day.
So between pain and kids, just make sure you are covered. If you are, have at it and go for it!
I think there are other alternatives in medical field. Why do you want to be a nurse? You could go for pharmacy tech, sonographer, nutritionist etc., these professions are way easier on your back than nursing. If you already have problems with your back, forget nursing. Just to survive nursing school with clinicals might be impossible for you.
"Wow, was nursing school really that bad? Were you working too? Or was that all just spent in class/clinical and studying? Sounds intense!"
I don't think posters are trying to say it's "that bad," just that it can be strenuous and physically demanding. While a new nurse conceivably could obtain a position where physical stamina and strength would not necessarily be required, one still has to make it through nursing school. No exceptions.
I would suggest going the associate degree route first and see how this works out. You can always get a job and let them pay for your bachelors. I also sent you a private message
Wow, was nursing school really that bad? Were you working too? Or was that all just spent in class/clinical and studying? Sounds intense!
I did work...16 hours per week. So that was part of it, but very little. And the bosses were super flexible. Whenever I had a moment to drop in and get some work done...
I am 38 yrs old married to a firefighter (so single mom 75% of the time 
) with a 3 1/2 year old little boy and currently going through fertility treatments in hopes to having another baby. God willing we will be able to have another healthy baby and soon after that I hope to apply and enter a local RN program.
supercharmed
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PS- I am not sure who suggested School Nurse but I have to ask WHERE? The 'school nurses' in the school district that I live in (middle to upper middle class-ish district) have 'health clerks'. My neighbor is a health clerk at one of the elementary schools and I about fell over when she told me that she had interviewed, let alone been offered the position! This is the same woman who knocked on my door after splitting her head open in her backyard and could not look at the bloody towel that I applied to her head before taking her to the ER. Also the same woman who brought her school aged son over who had cut his finger and she couldn't look at it or she would pass out. She cannot even 'talk' about needles. Now I love my neighbor but is this the person who should be in charge of our children if there was an accident during school hours? I guess I didn't know that RN's were even in the school systems anymore. It's good to know that they are in some schools....just my little vent...