Vent... Why was I so stupid?!?

Nurses General Nursing

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Why was I so stupid right after high school? If I would have just pulled my head out of my butt for 2 seconds and buckled down I wouldn't have to be going back to school at 31. Why on earth would I have switched majors because of 1 class (anatomy) and to all things communications. WHAT WAS I THINKING?:trout:

I wish I could go back in time and finishing nursing school when I didn't have kids, a husband, house payment, etc. Going to school was SO much easier then. That is what I wanted to do and I got scared when I found out that I had to have anatomy before I could get into NS. The thought of having to see "a dead person" and working on one freaked me out so much that I was stupid and decided to change my goals in life. Now all I want to do is kick myself.

Thanks for letting me vent. I have been having the worst week with going to school and dealing with my home life. Hopefully things will get easier soon.

Erin

I decided to return to school for nursing at the age of 41. If I would have started nursing school at the age of 18 I know I would not have been successful. I was too immature, didn't have enough confidence in myself and would have probably dropped out of school at the first sign of difficulties. I am just starting my second semester of my ADN. I may be an older student, but I have years of life experience. I have found, at least so far, a lot of nursing is common sense and critical thinking skills. Just living and maturing has given me the opportunity to develop common sense and critical thinking. There may be the disadvantanges older students face, like children to raise, a house to keep up, a husband to cherish...etc, but we also have the advantage of life experience and life lessons we have learned. I don't regret my decision to return to school for one second. My children and I sit down after school and we all do our school work. My children proudly tell their teachers that "My mom's going to school to be a nurse!"

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Aww....we were all stupid then...whether or not we went to college.

Joanna

I agree with this . . . . I did many stupid things even though I did go to college. :rolleyes:

steph

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...I, on the other hand, think I would have made a better nursing student if I would have tryed it earlier in life as opposed to in middle age. I think the blank page theory would have applied, & all my aquired bad habits would not interfere. I am not saying that a middle aged dog cannot be trained new tricks, just that I think it might not be as easy....

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Specializes in Medical Telemetry, LTC,AlF, Skilled care.

It always is such an inspiration to me when I see adults and older people going back to school. I think it must take so much courage and dedication to do so and the respect I have for all of you is tremendous. Several people in my class are second career students and I love learning and working with them. Their life experiences help them with the class and help them to achieve their goals and dreams. They've taught me that it's never to late to do what you want to do. So please don't bash yourself, it simply wasn't your time then to become a nurse, but now it certainly is. Best of luck to you, and to the rest of you :cheers:

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My dad sent me to college right out of high school, paid tuition and an allowance. I quit after one year to have fun and party.

So here I am at age 47 still in school. LOL

Good luck!

Beatcha, Tweety (love your new avatar). I'm 48 and working on an ADN. Erin, my first degree was in speech and theatre. Huh? Why? Well, it was in the days when schools told you if you had a liberal arts degree, you could work 'anywhere'. Right ... Wrong!! I went back six years later for a masters in ... communications! I LOVE my nursing program but do not regret my previous career. It will only make me a better nurse (in four months!). I bet you can look back and see some benefits, too.

Hang in there. Sometimes home life and nursing school don't get along. But in the end, it will all have been worth the struggle and sacrifices!

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Count me in! I did go to college after high school, but my parents always told me I didn't want to be a nurse, so I majored in business. Now at 27 with a husband and a 10 month old I am in my first semester of nursing school because I know there is nothing else that I want to do!

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Specializes in LTC, Rehab.

Dont feel bad people start nursing at many ages, you just feel old when your at a 4 yr college witha buch of 20 yr. olds. but its never too late.:typing

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I had to laugh at this one. I started nursing school right out of high school. One semester away from finishing, I quit school one day, joined the USNavy the next day and left the day after that. Now mind you, I did not withdraw from any of these classes, I just quit. So...when I wanted to go back to nursing school, some 15 years later, I had a GPA of 0.7!!!

Needless to say, I was stupid when I was 19!

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Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.
Oh well, that is my "vent," & I just gotta keep telling myself that I'm better off not having the option to go back to that ****-hole (because the way I've felt after a couple of clinicals, I may very well have if I had the option).

LOL....you must have worked at the same company that *I* did....I actually survived the 2 layoffs, but didn't like feeling someone was always looking over my shoulders!! I also empathize with your feelings after a couple of clinicals....could I feel more stupid?!?!?

Anyway, good luck to all.

Ditto from another "oldster" who didn't listen to her dad...and when she did get her first degree @ 43, got it in the "wrong" field -- of Business!!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, LTC/Geriatric.

I'm in the exact same boat. I've ALWAYS wanted to be a nurse. Goofed around in high school and didn't take any pre reqs. Got a decent paying job in a doctors office after high school. I'm not 30, 2 kids, husband, mortgage, 2 car payments and going back to school to become a nurse. It would have been so much easier to do it right after high school while still living at home.

Oh well. What's done is done.

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Specializes in Surgical Services.

At 31 I just graduated with my ADN and I couldn't be happier. Just keep looking ahead and you will make it.

This too shall pass.....

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In just one day on this site, I have found my PEOPLE! I wanted to be a nurse since grammar school. When the time came to choose a high school, I told my mom I wanted to go to the vocational school to become a nurse. OUCH, she said , "The vocational school was for dummies:nono:," and I better go to regular high school, and go to college. Well, here I am thirty years later in nursing :nurse:school!

I don't regret any of it. I will be a better nurse now than I could have ever been then. Peace, Donna ;)

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