The Journey of Nursing School

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Well it is that time of year again. Applications are in, and the waits begin. I want to share with you a little story that may make your wait a little easier. Two years ago I was in your shoes. My GPA was not high enough to get into the local community college where everyone had an 89 or higher on their TEAS and a 3.8 or higher GPA. They only took 40 students, and I knew I would not be one of them, as I only had a 3.57 GPA and I froze on my TEAS. So I decided that I would continue taking classes that were required for a BSN at the local university. I mean, heck what is one more year in school? So I buckled down and took history, chemistry, another English, and political science. As it came time to apply to the university I was a nervous wreck, you see I was 45 years old, I had decided to go back to school exactly 2 years before after not having stepped into a classroom for 25 years. Now here I was getting ready to apply to the university. So I got everything together, did my application and sent it in. Now I waited, and waited, and waited…then the day came when letters came out. I rushed to my mailbox with my hands shaking and pulled out the envelope with the university crest on it. I opened it up and my world fell apart, I had not been accepted. I had not been wait-listed, I was declined admission.

I cried for two days, my husband and sister were in total disbelief and I was in shock. After about a week of feeling sorry for myself (and I deserved at least that long) I pulled myself together and decided to change majors. I decided that respiratory therapy was for me. So I jumped right back into school, as I had to shift gears and transfer to another school and I had to take physics. UGH!!! Well and here is where the story starts to get good. I had just started classes during the summer session when the school of nursing at the university called me on my way home from class. They had one opening in the cohort I had applied for, did I want it? Well I had to let them know in less than an hour, because they had to fill that spot and classes had actually started that day. WHAT WAS I GOING TO DO??? I drove to my husband's work, and explained what was going on and he encouraged me to take it. So I did and the very next day I was a nursing school student.

I know that when we are in our pre-nursing classes the thoughts are all about, If I can just get in the program everything will be OK.” Well that is not always the case, as our cohort has gone from about 80 students to about 58. Nursing school is hard work, you have to change the way you think, not only about how you study but also how you answer questions on a test, and how you look at the world. I am now in my last semester of nursing school. Yes I am a SENIOR in my final semester of NURSING SCHOOL!!! I have cried, screamed, pouted, and laughed my way though (and yes there has been at times copious amounts of red wine involved). I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I am ordering graduation invitations and my cap and gown. I am graduating Cum Laude but, I am also dreading my exit exam and the NCLEX. I am worried that after all my hard work I will not be able to get a job.

I have said all of this to let you know that nursing school is a journey. There will be good parts, and bad parts, parts that make you cry (when your first patient dies, or your friend fails out), but make sure you live them all. Remember when you look back you will be so proud of yourself for making it though the HELL we call... nursing school.

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what a great story! I am 31 and am doing my pre-reqs now. It is so hard with working full-time and a family! but, I won't make that as an excuse...I just have to keep thinking about the end result. Thanks for your story

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I'm anxiously waiting now to see if I got it. There are various rumors about having to have finished all non nursing classes before gaining acceptance into my ADN program, although it's definitely not on the application and something I confirmed with my counselor at the start of last semester.

Unfortunately for me we just have a date range of when letters go out, between January and March 😵😲😢so que sitting here twiddling my thumbs in anxiousness. I have back up plans (either complete more classes for a BSN or resp or surgical tech) but I really want this to work out *hopeful *

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Amazing story, I'm glad you made it through nursing school.

Well it is that time of year again. Applications are in, and the waits begin. I want to share with you a little story that may make your wait a little easier. Two years ago I was in your shoes. My GPA was not high enough to get into the local community college where everyone had an 89 or higher on their TEAS and a 3.8 or higher GPA. They only took 40 students, and I knew I would not be one of them, as I only had a 3.57 GPA and I froze on my TEAS. So I decided that I would continue taking classes that were required for a BSN at the local university. I mean, heck what is one more year in school? So I buckled down and took history, chemistry, another English, and political science. As it came time to apply to the university I was a nervous wreck, you see I was 45 years old, I had decided to go back to school exactly 2 years before after not having stepped into a classroom for 25 years. Now here I was getting ready to apply to the university. So I got everything together, did my application and sent it in. Now I waited, and waited, and waited…then the day came when letters came out. I rushed to my mailbox with my hands shaking and pulled out the envelope with the university crest on it. I opened it up and my world fell apart, I had not been accepted. I had not been wait-listed, I was declined admission.

I cried for two days, my husband and sister were in total disbelief and I was in shock. After about a week of feeling sorry for myself (and I deserved at least that long) I pulled myself together and decided to change majors. I decided that respiratory therapy was for me. So I jumped right back into school, as I had to shift gears and transfer to another school and I had to take physics. UGH!!! Well and here is where the story starts to get good. I had just started classes during the summer session when the school of nursing at the university called me on my way home from class. They had one opening in the cohort I had applied for, did I want it? Well I had to let them know in less than an hour, because they had to fill that spot and classes had actually started that day. WHAT WAS I GOING TO DO??? I drove to my husband's work, and explained what was going on and he encouraged me to take it. So I did and the very next day I was a nursing school student.

I know that when we are in our pre-nursing classes the thoughts are all about, If I can just get in the program everything will be OK.” Well that is not always the case, as our cohort has gone from about 80 students to about 58. Nursing school is hard work, you have to change the way you think, not only about how you study but also how you answer questions on a test, and how you look at the world. I am now in my last semester of nursing school. Yes I am a SENIOR in my final semester of NURSING SCHOOL!!! I have cried, screamed, pouted, and laughed my way though (and yes there has been at times copious amounts of red wine involved). I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I am ordering graduation invitations and my cap and gown. I am graduating Cum Laude but, I am also dreading my exit exam and the NCLEX. I am worried that after all my hard work I will not be able to get a job.

I have said all of this to let you know that nursing school is a journey. There will be good parts, and bad parts, parts that make you cry (when your first patient dies, or your friend fails out), but make sure you live them all. Remember when you look back you will be so proud of yourself for making it though the HELL we call... nursing school.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

Pre-licensure Nursing education is intended to be a transformative process... Not only ensuring that you have the skills, knowledge & ability to fulfill the role, but also changing you into someone that "thinks like a nurse" with a nurse's worldview. This takes time and effort. Not everyone will make it. But successfully finishing the process means that you are now a member of the our Nursing "Tribe".

No matter how long your nursing career, you can always look back and say "I did that" with pride and the knowledge that Nursing is not what we do - it's what we are.

Congratulations on your achievement.

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