Thanks to the guys here

(((((Very sorry for your loss JailRN))))))))

My sincere condolences. I happy to hear that he became a nurse and loved it. :)

I am very sorry to hear about your husband!

I do however respect him for his dignity and drive to pursue his dream. Us male nurses put up with a bit more than the female nurses (as far as he "eww... male nurse!" goes) and I can't imagine his struggle going to nursing school after having a heart attack. You can tell he was a determined individual!

Despite your tremendous loss, I am very happy to hear that your husband was able to realize a dream he had....to become a nurse. I deeply bow to you both. Hugs.

I am very sorry for your loss. I am sure he appreciated your support during his many trials.

:balloons::balloons:Thanks again, guys. I do believe it was harder on him, just because he was a guy. You know how it is, you put a older man in a lab coat and the patients all think he's a doctor. PLUS, his name was "Doug" and with his penna. accent it sounded like he was saying "Doc", so he was terrified that someone would think he was saying that he was a doctor and get him thrown out of school for impersonating one. ARGGGH!!!

I know we ALL have trials and horror stories going through nursing school, BUT, he definately had a tougher time than most.

In fact, my sons and I have established a Memorial Award in his name. It is a cash award to the graduate nurse who has gone through more "stuff" than ANYBODY else in the class to get through the program. We were privileged to give it for the first time last month to someone at his nursing school, who had gone through SO much 'stuff' to graduate, that you would think I was making it up. This nurse had no idea of the award, and to say it was a shock is an understatement. We call it '(his name) RN, Heart and Hustle Award'.

Harleyman loved being a nurse. I found out, after he died, that he told his favorite professor, "ya know, with the kind of luck I have, I'll get through school, pass my boards, get my license and then I'll have 'the big one' and drop dead". Harleyman was ALWAYS a man of his word.

You guys are great. Continued success in your careers. The world is better because of you all. Thank you.

JailRN

That's awesome JailRN! :)

jailrn, i am so sorry for your loss.

the nsg profession has also lost one of the great ones...

thank you for sharing his legacy.

leslie

:balloons: I feel for your loss and am sorry this tragedy ever happened to you. I hope you are doing fine nowadays. I am also from LA area and was interested in the correctional nursing. However I am a chicken and feel too old for all this challenge and gave up pursuing this nursing opportunity. Hope to hear a day in the life of a jail nurse story. You are a great storyteller!!!!! care and all happiness to you Julie

:balloons::balloons::balloons:My husband, Doug, (aka "harleyman") was a student nurse when I introduced him to this site. I'd been here for awhile, being the 33year veteran of nursing. He took great comfort and enjoyment from all of you. I don't know if he ever posted, or replied to any of the posts, but he had a good time out here. It took him 5 years to get through school, with more pitfalls than I can relay, including having to hire an attorney to get him readmitted to the nursing program. He graduated, took boards, failed, had a major heart attack, 5 vessel bypass, another try at the board, PASSED!!!, and joined me at the PD where I work. He had his license for 4 months before he developed a bowel obstruction and died on December 4, 2006, 12 hours after being admitted to a local hospital. He loved being a nurse, and he loved allnurses. Thanks for helping him along the way.

JailRN

Never give up--it's much safer here than in a psych unit--come for a tour..

I'm so sorry for your loss, but your post should be mandatory for anyone wondering whether they are "too old" to go to nursing school, or wondering whether it's worth it. None of us knows whether we will draw our next breath, but how much better does it sound to draw ones last in the pursuit of ones dreams than wondering what might have been.

God bless you.