Calling all Nurses!!!

[suzipen]

Hello Everyone!
I am 43 and going to start nursing school in March. This is a very scary thing for me, as I feel too old to be switching careers at this point. I would love any and all advice !! I have had several, not always successful jobs/businesses in my lifetime. I honsetly never had a calling to do this until recently.
I have gone thru lots of changes with my mothers health in the past 3 years, and have realized I have a passion for helping people. I ahve been her caregiver off and on, and I really love talking to other patients . She is in a rehab facility right now, following open heart surgery , and a pacemaker. This was her second open heart, and she isnt recovering very fast.
I have my own salon right now doing facials and nails, as well as a candle business, and I also work for a skincare company teaching classes to other esthiticians. I AM going to give this up to become a nurse, because I (hope) I will
be fulfilled.
Anyways, I would love any advice you can give me. I am soooo excited to start. I know it will be tough, but I am ready.
I am considering getting my nurse aide cert. first and working part time as an aid. What do you think? Good? Bad idea?

Thank you, suzipen

[stubby226]

I too am an RN and have worked most of my life in Nursing.  I started as an aid, then LPN and finally my RN.  I do believe that by working as an aide I was able to appreciate the staff that worked under me as I acquired different levels.  I love nursing and would love to do it till I die.  God has a ddifferent plan then I.  When told I was permanently disabled from job of injury I cried.  I believe every thing has been covered.  I did one thing that I know some will think I was self centered.  When I recieved a written ATTA BOY I filed it undere positive affrimations.  When I then was told there was a complaint against me. or I had a day that was unthinkable I would pull out those little positive affirmations I rec'd.  It was so helpful to remember the good when everything was falling apart.  I even added the little nots I might recieve from staff.  Thought I would share that with you.  Good luck and enjoy your new career.  julia

[LORDINEEDHELP]

Hello i hope this helps im 42 and i just recently went and recieved my Lna lisc which is a nurses aid in our state we have to be lisc at first i was not sure it was for me but after i worked the 5 weeks of clinical in a nursing home i wil say it was rewarding in alot of ways for me i to am a very caring person and it made me feel good to know i was helping others the lna class was not so hard alot of work to cram into a short version of a class but we had only 8 students and all went well all the tests for me went well after being self employed for years i was not sure what to expect and as far as your age im 42 and i just got the lisc yesterday so today im working on the resume something else i have not had t odo in so many years! lol good luck to you on your journey
Theresa

[mommy52]

In my mind I was thinking and truly mean it...Usually the chain of command lists the CNA's at the bottom. Many times, if not always, the staff feel this is the rank of importance. How wrong this is. It could not be any further from the right, Think I said that right. I believe and have always said the CNA's are the backbone of the institution. While I was DON in a long term care facility, the administrator and all nurses and other staff got to see this for themselves firsthand. An outbreak of the flu, required myself, the administrator and some of our regional nurses to work directly with patients doing total patient care. For the adm. and myself that was ok, we both had started out this way. When there was talk of cutting out the CNA's Christmas bonus, I spoke and said I would rather give up mine than theirs. I guess they thought they would be smart. They gave Straight pay persons $25 and Hourly got their normal bonuses. All employess I have worked with know I would never ask them to do anything I would not do. I respected them and they knew how I valued them as an employee. They were always there if I needed them.  Madlyn

[suzipen]

Thank you so much!! I am so excited to get started. Some people I know look at me like I have 2 heads right now, I guess for changing careers at my age. But age is just a #!!!
I know it will be hard work, as I have helped many CNA"S  take care of my mom these past 2 years.
I actually went and registered today for the CNA program, and I start that in Feb. Then I will start taking my pre-requisite classes in march for the RN program.
All I want to do is talk to people in the field. I am driving my family crazy, in a good way! After I get my CNA license, I want to work while in school. (For as long as I can handle working and school at the same time).
I dont think CNAs get the recognition they deserve, and I agree that all RNs should maybe do that first.
Thanks again, I am sure I'll be bugging you all soon again!

Sincerely, suzi

[Cherie762]

I just love what you said about cnas...Im finding it too hard now as I have arthritis of the spine and you know how many heavy patients we transfer per day..its true cnas are often the eyes for nurses the cnas notice skin problems, urinary problems etc..so I do think its a good starting point..In fact ive felt all nurses should start as a cna...I got a lot of positive feed back from my patients,,for listening...thats all most of them want...just listen they are scared,lonely and hurting...Im looking forward to being a patient tech dont know if all states have them here in MI a patient tech can draw blood, do foleys, check sugar prep for surgery ( shave etc) do ekgs..lots Ive never done before oh yeah give injections too,,,Im excited to learn new skills and Im all about hands on I could never sit behind a desk...good luck to allof you making changes,...

[mommy52]

Nursing is all I know and all I have ever done. I feel it was a calling. I don't necessar look at it as a job. When I am doing something that is fulfilling to me and comforting to another and still get paid..What more can I say. If you make it through school, you will be allright. Keep your priorties straight. I too like to talk to patients and their families. My last job, I was a hospice nurse.I was terminated because I was not productive, I spent too much time in the home with the patient/family. Something doesn't seem quite  right there does it. I disagred and continued doing my job as I felt I was led to do. I can't think of another profession I had rather be in. I was a LPN for 18 years and have been a RN for 16 years. Would like to finish my Masters and teach, but due to physical problems, not sure if I will be able to. You go for it girl. Keep the faith. When it gets tough be like the engine that thought he could and you can.Know that we are here if you need us  Madlyn

[babyprayers]

I was an aide when I was 16 years old, went to school for my LPN and there I stayed for 20 years until 2 years ago when I finished my RN degree. This Is what I will tell you, its a tough career, you get the worst of the worst sometimes, you will get ungrateful patients, who think they are at the hilton, you will work with people who should be working in a room with no people contact at all, if nursing is in your heart then you will succeed, its not a glorious profession, however, you will get that one patient, who thanks you for simple things you have done, you will get that one co-worker who says, I will cover your shift for you, after just being told you were being mandated on your childs birthday, you will go many days with  no aprreciation and then bam, you will get that one patient who will remind you why you chose this profession, as far as the work goes, (school work that is) its tough, I am not going to lie to you, keep in mind, alot of nursing is plain old common sense, if you know how the different body systems function, and can put 2 and 2 together you wil succeed, as far as being a CNA first, I think its a wonderful idea, CNA"S are at the front line, they are the ones that see everything first, they have the backbreaking work!!! The certified nursing assistants are the true angels of the nursing profession.

[ParamedFlorena]

I'd say go for it!

I'm just done with theory and doing training as paramedic. My education needed an upgrade changing to another country, and I am very happy it did! It took me 7 years to decide about the present education, but doing this made me find my role. 7 years ago I had absolutely NO nada of understanding of how to meet people. I got the theory then too but if I'd needed to think fast, I had most likely frozen to ice!
I do at least have my life-experience and a bit more age to lean on by now... I'm still learning every day in the emergency field and that won't probably ever stop - but I've at least finally found my place as an aux. nurse and that I am happy for. I learn every time I work.

I once heard of a woman at the age of 56 who chose to study MD and the story has it that she passed - and that proves to me it is NEVER too late.
I simply LOVE what the job gives me now as aux.nurse (I think that is nursing aide over in the US). It doesn't at all exhaust me - it refills me.

Good luck!

[Cherie762]

I was acna for years ..many of my nurse friends started that way...good idea,,gets you to know the basics..and many hospitals after a year will help pay for you college tuition...

I am changing to a patient tech,,its a step up from cna..goin to see about eleigability to get into program today...very exciting...nursing in any form is very satisfying...I like being hands on..its a wonderful feeling to know you help people...

[Tuckamore]

Hi Suzipen,

I am sending you a PM after I post this. Best of luck to you.

Tuck