Unsolicited Advice Makes You Think

[Exhaustipated, ADN, BSN]

After my classes today, I stopped at my school's library to print the PowerPoint slides for my next Micro unit. There was another woman in there, also printing. I happened to catch a glimpse of text on one of her printouts. Nursing Diagnosis, it read. She caught me reading her PowerPoint as it sat on the printer, and she smiled.

"What's your major?" she asked.

"I'm in my last pre-nursing semester," I told her. "Once I finish Micro, I'm applying to the program."

She nodded. "I'm at the end of the journey and you're just starting out."

Then she looked me dead in the eye, her expression serious. "If you don't cry at least once, you won't become a nurse."

"Really?"

She nodded again. "It's hard," she said. "Very hard. You'll be overwhelmed and you'll cry. But you'll get through it."

Some days, I'm certain I'm ready for it. I'm positive I'm on the right path. Right where I need to be. It's going to be hard. I know it's going to be hard. It should be hard. Nothing worth achieving is easy. But then there are the other days. On the other days, I'm just not sure. Can I do it? Can I handle it? I guess time will tell.

[BostonFNP, APRN]

If you have passed your pre-reqs and been accepted you are ready. Be confident and enjoy the ride.

[zoe92]

I had a doubting moment today but I know in my heart this is what I want. The journey is long but I will keep at it.

[Stephalump]

Now is as good a time as any! I can't think of a time I've ever thought...man, I would really love some STRESS in my life. I would love to be sleep deprived! I don't think you can ever be 100% ready or prepared because you can't really know what you're getting into until you're there, you know.

All you can do its hold your breath and dive in.

[Compassion_x]

I agree with the first post. Last year the student nurses association at my school had shirts that said "There's no crying in nursing school" as a joke, because everyone cries at some point. Not just because of how hard it can be academically, but when you have to deal with dying patients and such, as well.