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Discussion

What was your journey?

I have been saving for years to go back to Nursing School. It will be my second degree/career change, but one I've been sure of for some time now. You know how life goes, the money would be almost saved up and a child gets sick or you yourself have a medical or dental nightmare, job loss you name it. All of the above for me but as my grandmother said "keep on keepin on!". Of course, being from this instant gratification culture I get antsy and feel like my wheels are spinning in place. I want to hear everyone's journey. How they put themselves through nursing school, challenges along the way that they overcame. I thought it would be fun to glean inspiration from others triumphs. My situation: I'm waiting for residency (red tape) to finish my pre-reqs at my local CC. In the last two years I've come from homelessness stemming from job loss, had an unexpected blessing of a child with my husband and we've stabilized ourselves to not stressing about how the bills are going to be paid each month, have a great 2 bd apartment. I have a "survival job" that is good to me and pays the bills and provides me with health insurance. We are able to set aside money to pay for the remainder of school/living expenses that won't be covered by fed loans. By the time my residency kicks in and pre-reqs are done in two years we will have the money to cover that gap. Then (God willing I get accepted into a program) I start my two year full time ADN program at my local CC (the PT option is not an "option" for me because to set my hours at work I would need to demote myself, making even less than I do now - probably would bring in $800/mo. It's better financially to take the plunge and go full time for 2 yrs using savings to cover the gap then drag it out over 4 years with work and a young child added to the mix of nursing school.). So I am in limbo but looking forward to the future as well as battling bouts of feeling like I'm wasting time waiting around for something I want so badly. Now, lets hear your stories!

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    At 24 I found myself a single mom with 2 kids one with special needs. I had been working 50 hours a week as a resturant manager and was taking 1 class at a time.

    Then I was fired from my job, right as my son was diagnosed with ASD.

    I then got a job part time in a deli and a scholarship to community college where I did my pre-reqs, after 2 years started applying to nursing school. I didn't get in right away, infact it took 3 years of applying before I was finally accepted into a program. While I was trying to get into a nursing program I earned 2 associate degrees, became a CNA and was hired to work in an ED.

    2 years of hard work, blood sweat tears, sleepless nights I made it through nursing school, have been working for a year now and am looking at purchasing my first home in the next 6 months

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    Best of luck, keep your eye on the ball...

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    Wow now that was a great story. Very inspiring!

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    Started college in 2005 as a business major, i was 19. I absolutely hated it but did fairly well the 1st semester. Partied too much the 2nd to 4th semesters and got myself an academic suspension for failing all my classes, no surprise there. After pretty much hitting rock bottom, I decided i wanted to enter the healthcare field because i absolutely love people and love to make people happy. I began taking RN pre-reqs at a community college, but slacked a bit and didnt get into the program. So instead of waiting another year to apply to RN school, I decided to go to Lincoln Tech to become an LPN just so i wasnt wasting time. I totally changed my ways and ended up graduating with a 3.78 gpa. Passed my boards on September 17th and just waiting for my license in the mail :D. I realized i can do anything if i put my mind to it. Starting an LPN to RN track in January in the program I failed to get into before.

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    I quit school when I was 16 and played in a PUNK ROCK BAND for a while. When I was 17 I returned to grade school and graduated c. honors. I worked at many different jobs over the years. I worked for a major N.American food retailer for 16 years until the pulled the plug on me; non q-wave unemployment!!! There was an upside though! At 38.99999 years of age, I find myself at a residential care facility doing my second clinical; wondering how I became so blessed. I have a mortgage and no income right now. I just took out 15,000$ from the bank to cover my last bit of tuition and living expense. I know in my heart that everything will be ok. It doesnt matter because Im helping others. It is hard for me right now! So much stress! But I have already started to feel better just from your post. I dont even have a license yet but I know that there are others struggling like me. Dont worry, everything always works out!

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