young mother wants to become a nurse...

[PrenursingBritt]

Hello everyone! I am new to the website. I have found a lot of great information on here to help me decide if I want to become a nurse. I'll try to make my story short but any advice or encouragement would be greatly appreciated!

For some reason, I keep doubting if nursing is the career for me. I am 22 years old and I have a 2 year old daughter. I am currently in school full time for medical office management. When I first went back to school I thought I wouldn't be able to handle nursing so I stayed in my comfort zone by taking office procedures instead. Now that I am only enjoying the medical terminology classes I am in and not the business and office procedures classes, I don't think medical office management is for me, so I am changing my major and am going to start the nursing program pre-reqs next term. Nursing seems rewarding, exciting, challenging, and so much more. I am the type of person that would love to keep learning and challenging myself throughout my career, and I want to come home at the end of the day and feel like I made a difference. I am doubting that nursing is for me because I am scared that I won't be good with patients (although I hope that my people skills become better throughout school and with age), that I will fail the nursing program, and that my daughter will not get enough of my attention. I have an amazing boyfriend who has become a father to my child and loves and supports me in whatever decision I make. My mom lives 4 hours away and the only thing she says is "you're smart and you can do whatever you want." Which isn't really all that helpful for making such a big decision...

I am just wondering if it is just fear holding me back and if it is worth trying and risking the money and time spent away from my daughter.

Thanks for reading and welcoming me to the site! :)

[KareBear0609]

Nothing good comes easy..

Just do it!!!! You will have to make sacrafices for the next few years but it WILL pay off!!!!!

[Airidis]

I have 2 children a 2 year old and a 1 year old. Yes there is alot of work in the nursing programs, but I finish in April and the benefits outweigh the risks. I have my eldest daughter do her "homework" which is usually colouring while Im doing mine, and I make sure I spend time putting them to bed and not messing up their usual routine so they dont get felt left out.

Will you become sleep deprived? Hell yes, are you a mother? your used to it:P

It's tough but SO worth it!!!

Good luck

[RevolutioN2013]

I have a 5 year old daughter and I am now working on my pre-reqs. I don't know what your support system is, but unless you have some serious support I would not recommend embarking on this until your daughter is a little older. It is my understanding that having a sick child is not considered an acceptable excuse for missing class in NS and if your daughter is that young she WILL go through sickness while her immune system is building. I had my daughter in daycare from 6 weeks old because I work full-time and even at that she still had a LOT of illnesses until last year. Last year is the first year that she was only out once for sickness. If you have a mother-in-law who stays at home or a grandparent or someone like that who can cover you when your daughter is sick, then it might be different for you. For me I had no one to cover except my husband and until the last 6 months his job was such that he HAD to be at work. If nothing else you can always take the next few years to do your preqrequisites - 1 class per semester and makes A's in each class. You're only 22 - you have your entire adult life ahead of you to reach your goals. I should know ... I'm 40 and switching careers and will be about 45 when I finish NS and then plan to get my MSN! Just think it through and make sure you have the support you need to give your daughter everything that she needs while you do this. You can go to NS any time, but you only get to raise your child right once! Good luck!

[PrenursingBritt]

Thanks to everyone for your replies...I really think I need to do this. My support system here is my boyfriend and his mother. I am one of those people who have a hard time asking for help but I need to get over that! Maybe I will continue doing pre-req's full time since that has been working for me and if I feel the nursing program will affect my daughter too much I will take it part time. One step at a time...