My number has come up for nursing school.

[TNDemo]

Took me three years to get to this point. Should I run while I can?

[SarahB]

1. Go for it!

I had to wait too. I finished all my other coursework and begin my two years of clinical work this August. Do you work in healthcare now?

[Crunchy Frog]

2. Yes, you should.

We have three year long waiting lists here in CO, and I accidently got bumped off the one I was on. I'm probably going to end up living with my mom in NY State for a year so I can do an LPN program out there where they don't have waiting lists.

[MrScorpio]

3. What are you waiting around for?

Get going!

[Coventina]

4. Congrats!!!

:toast:

:loveya:

[Ilsa]

5. Congratulations!

If you feel this is a calling for you, go for it. If there is something else you'd rather be doing, then I'd say that this is the time to go do it. An investment in nursing school, the work, and the license is hard to drop later if you've changed your mind. But you will always find the knowledge helpful. Any training of the brain is a good thing.

Be prepared for the busiest two years of your life, though. I worked harder and read more than when I was in graduate school. It is a real strain; clinical is tough, and you have to have great study habits. I found that nursing instructors were usually perfectionists. I hope your family is on board as well.

Good luck!

[TNDemo]

6. Here's the story.

Got an accounting degree years back (I'm late 40s - eek. Could have birthed the rest of the class.) I managed a small surgical practice about 20 years ago and since then have worked at home doing medical transcription so I could be home with the kids. Down to just one kid at home now (kid and husband are supportive, BTW). To show how green I was, I applied for nursing school three years ago and thought I would just walk in - there's a shortage, you know! Didn't know it was not lack of students but lack of teachers. (My state is supposed to be pushing through legislation for this fall to pay tuition for those entering an MSN program and will teach.) I thought with a bachelor's degree I would have no issues with prerequisites but think again. Would not take my CLEP and had to take two agonizing semesters of algebra (yuck) before I could apply. Been on the wait list for 1-1/2 years and will start in August. Am in A&P II now and will take micro this summer so everything besides nursing will be done. The people I know in the program always look exhausted. They all say to clean my house before I start because it will not be clean again for a long time. I talked to someone the other day and she has one month left. This woman has 10 kids (7 left at home) and has also held down a part-time job at Walmart. She looked the worse for the wear and said a supportive family was important. I kept thinking if I am only dealing with one kid, surely I can do this. Of course, I don't know what I'm getting into until I start and I have all the fears of - can I do it? Will I flunk? Will I hate it? I have a friend who also works where I do and is a nurse (but doing non-nursing work because of injuries) and she keeps telling me I will love it because she knows me. I hope she's right. I keep telling myself, if I hate it, I can quit....

[MADem]

7. Go for it, you can do it, and trust your instincts! n/t