Why should a nursing school choose a student like me?

[rnhope2b]

Im offering this comment up for all who know that test, grades, and scores are important. However, not everything in the real working world is based upon scores. I understand how important scores are and that you must be able to show your intelligence, knowledge, and understanding of nursing. What I have found is that being an older/non-traditional student has been a test on many levels. I work full time and I have been going to college to earn my second degree, a BSN in nursing, for the last 3 1/2 years. It has been a real challenge working as a flight attendant full time while going to classes at a well known college and vying for a much coveted spot amongst very bright, and intelligent, as well as newly graduated and well educated students more then half my age. Because I feel that my age is now no longer a positive in my efforts to attain this awesome degree, I am thinking this will never happen for me. Wanting to become a nurse is not enough, and certainly time is no longer working in my favor. This is NOT a health related issue for me! If anyone can encourage me to continue then by all means feel free to encourage. My stats are not perfect, but they are respectable (3.69 over all) and I am proud of defying the odds by going to school to accomplish my calling.

The fly in the ointment is each school has their own priorities, and I cannot meet them all. I have every class necessary at the college Im attending to be accepted and to transfer I would be taking classes forever trying to match up with each individual program's perfect student profile. So where I am now is that even though I am a mother of two grown children, and a seasoned flight attendant who is a very well trained aviation professional with years of excellent reviews and an outstanding record, it is a shame that I am not quite qualified to become a nurse. My life experience with thousands of human beings caring for their every want and need while thinking on my feet in a crisis at 35,000 feet for 28 years does not qualify me and is not even noticed or given credit. I love my job, its just that the calling to become a nurse has only gotten stronger over my career.

For all you new nurses, if you ever find that you are disappointed in the career and field of RN, then join me in mine. I would be more than elated to work with you and with respect and admiration without malice or malcontent. I appreciate you more then you can know. Thanks for taking a moment of your precious time.

[llg, PhD, RN]

I don't fully understand what is holding you back. You seem to have done well on the courses you have taken so far. Why not pick a school and apply? Meet with them and find out if there are any other admission requirements you need to meet ... and then do it. You don't have to meet the requirements for all schools. You just have to meet the requirments of 1 school.

You'll probably have to make some personal sacrifices (and financial ones) to finish school, but that the way it has always been and will always be. Higher education requires an investment. So make that investment and be done with it.

What is holding you back?

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Have you already applied to a nursing program? You may be making this more complex than it has to be. If you wait too long, your pre-requisites will begin to expire and you'll have to take them again. This begins to happen at 5 years.

[rnhope2b]

. Thank you for your thoughts. I have completed all the prereq classes and am presently taking Patho. There are no other classes that I need to take for this program. I will simply retake my Teas exam and hope for a more competitive score. I will be applying to other schools now and will simply take what ever classes THAT campus wants. My financial costs are not the question. I pay tuition for my son's college and mine without assistance. I should stop whining and just do what it takes to get it done. Yes, I did apply and was not accepted. I will be having to retake A/P1 again next fall if I do not find an acceptance soon. Thanks for your input.

[rnhope2b]

Just got accepted to an LVN program. Will start there and a year from now I will hope to have a new career. Have till 2020 to get the BSN. So it is going be an up hill climb and I really don't care. I have a BS degree already and I know that's possible to do. Having nursing skills and critical thinking skills, now that's where the challenge lay.