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Discussion

Thinking of uni

Have nursed since 16 ,started as a cadet nurse.Did my training as student nurse in the hospital system.Have been thinking for the past few years of getting my degree through uni.Feel a little, or rather a lot ,apprehensive of trying this.I am scared of failure I suppose.Dont know if I could cope with the assignments.Are there any others out ther who have made the transition from SRN to uni? If so how much of a challenge was it?

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  • Expert

According to accepted theory on adult education, what you are feeling is NORMAL!!! Adults, unless they are used to tertiary education, are very very threatened by university and all that that stands for. Also, if you were a cadet nurse then you would have gone through hospital training and that would not have equipped you to write academic papers.

My suggestion - get into a low key TAFE course - something that will challenge you, and get you used to the whole "sitting for exams" thing again. Because, let us face it, that is where the real worry lies. You are scared to fail, and why shouldn't you be? You are a successful person who is sure in themselves and what they do. Facing that classroom again is a terrible threat to the old self-esteem;)

  • Author

Have found another RN where I work who trained under the hospital system.She also wants to do it through uni.So we are going to bite the bullet and do it together for moral support.Youre so right about the fear of failing.Also because I set such high standards for myself in all areas of my life I dont know how I'll react if I fail or only get passes for assignments.Feel better about having someone familiar with me who has the same concerns though.

  • Expert

Remember - it is like a cake. Passing is the cake EVERYTHING over that is icing. Icing is nice but not as important as the cake. Take that view and you WILL feel better about all of this.

By the way - do you know what PHD stands for?

Piled Higher and Deeper:p

The person with the PHD is NOT smarter or better or wiser than you - they have simply done something, that up to now you have not. They have taken a different path through life and achieved a different end. This is VERY important to keep in mind as you go through Uni as some will use the social status of "professor" to make you feel, well, not so much "inferior" as much as a naughty 5 year old;)

Congratulations for being willing to give it a go. I too am hospital trained and like you I wasn't sure about how to go about upgrading my qualifications. I didn't want to go to uni just for the sake of upgrading. I wanted to upgrade my clinical skills so about ten years ago I chose to do a graduate certificate course (through NSW College of Nursing) in my field which I found right up my ally as it was relevant to by field of expertise and a manageable length of time - 12 months - lots of work but I really enjoyed it. Good luck to you and your friend - remember Gwenith's advice - passing is the cake! Aim for a high standard but don't get too upset if you only 'pass' - some cakes are very nice uniced!

I am also hospital trained and upgraded to a degree many years ago. I agree that the hospital system has not equiped you to write academic papers. I was so proud of my first essay, I handed it in and thought nothing of it. I was shocked to get a phone call to come in to discuss my work. I sat there hearing it pulled to pieces, tears flowing down my cheeks, convinced I would never succeed. I took it home, worked on it according to the guidelines my lecturer had given me and handed it in again. I passed. If not for that caring lecturer, who gave me the benefit of her experience and an extension, I would not have succeeded. Once I had completed my degree, I was hooked and completed a futher two graduate diplomas and a masters degree.

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