47 yr old stay at home mom wants to be a nurse

[secondactnurse]

Hi all- I've been a "lurker" and have decided to join and post. I have a bachelors degree in business, but only worked for 4 yrs before we started our family. Our youngest is now 13, I have time on my hands, plus, we could really use the extra income. Ever since I was little, I dreamed of being a nurse. I volunteered in a nursing home in middle school, was a "candy striper" in high school. I was very successful academically, and advised to become a doctor rather than a nurse. Long story short, I got to college, knew I wasn't interested in all the schooling required to be a doctor...and defaulted to business school. Found my business job boring- REALLY boring. Loved being home with the kids once they were born, and recently did some temporary work preparing taxes- very unfulfilling. Yet, I'm terrified to take the first step and take the CNA course at the local college. What if I'm terrible at hands on care? I tend to be quiet, and worry about not being outgoing enough to brighten the days of my patients. Does that come with practice? Also worried about starting the course, and then finding I'm too squeamish to draw blood, give enemas, etc (my plan would be to work as a CNA, then take the LPN route for a while to see if I want to continue on and bridge to RN).

Anyone have any words of wisdom? Did your people skills develop as a nurse, or were you always able to make people feel at ease? Did any of your classmates ever have to drop out because of the "squeamish" factor? Thanks in advance for any advice, I keep trying to motivate myself to just stick with the business field, but something inside of me just wants to help sick people and I can't seem to let it go.

[Fiona59]

Look into Health Records. No ick factor, no family interaction, no back injuries, no foot problems.

Still helping people, just in a different way.

[Philly_LPN_Girl, LPN]

Ive always been an outgoing person so that was never a problem. No one in my program dropped out because they werent a people perso. Try doing cna work to see if the nursing field is for you. You might open up or you might not, you will never know unless you try. I know nurses that are very outgoing and open with their patients but are very quiet with coworkers. Take this in steps then work your way up. Good Luck