How to Apply to Nursing School

Someone sent me an email today and I swear it was like reading an email I wrote in the past. This girl and I are remarkably similar! All of her fears and concerns mirror mine 100%. She wants to go to nursing school and is just scared and intimidated. Yeah it is scary and intimidating, but at the same time empowering. So I thought, if she has the same emotions that I used to, how many others are holding out on applying for nursing school because they're scared? So I decided to put part of my response to her into a blog. I hope it helps at least one person some day!!!

Your heart is exactly where mine is! I've wanted to be a midwife since I was 12. I only started college when I was 26. So I really put it off for a million reasons in the past. It was just never a good time. And I know EXACTLY what you mean by not having the self-confidence. You know, after these years of college and doing good and people saying they're proud of me... I STILL doubt myself. But at the same time I've been able to show myself and others around me that I'm not the loser that I always saw myself as being. Yeah I spent years saying "One day I will be a nurse" and that's how people saw me. Someone who "wishes" they could be a nurse, but would never go for it. Or at least that's how I felt they saw me.

I don't know, I just got fed up one day. I decided to take the dive and apply for admission to a local college. Even after that it took me almost a year to actually carry through with it. College seemed so intimidating and I never seemed to have the answers I really needed. So girl I hope you found the person who will give you that little push to just do it. It's scary, but you can do it. Nursing is not something to take lightly, but remember that people with the drive and the true desire to make it do. And I believe you are EXACTLY like I was.

Like I said, it IS scary and intimidating and you will always doubt yourself along the way. You will think the end is SO far away and there's just too many opportunities to fall off track. Stay focused! You can email me ANY time and I will talk you through it.

One thing they will not do in nursing school is let you go into a clinical situation unprepared. There is alot of class and lab time that you master before you even go out into the hospitals. Even while you're in the hospitals you have classmates and instructors that will help you. Heck, I hung IV antibiotics and programmed the machines for the first time this week and my instructor was there every step of the way. You have to think, you're working under their license and they won't let you screw up THAT badly. You won't be perfect, that's to be expected. But they want to see that you catch your mistakes and explain what you will do different next time. And then you do it!

I also know just what you mean when you say that you have no desire to do things like bathe the elderly and things like that. Yeah that was me LOL And that's what I seemed to always get. Old people. But I was shocked that it was nothing like I thought it would be. It's not that bad. You just do it. It's like when you become a mother, you aren't perfect, but you're able to go by instinct and take care of them. And they actually respect you for trying your best with them.

As far as websites go, I really recommend allnurses. com. And me! I can try to fill you in the best I can with what to expect every step of the way.

So the first thing you need to do is make up a plan. Remember, you're in control and you can wait until you're comfortable before moving on to the next step.

Keep a notebook that you write everything college related in. Write down the local colleges that offer nursing and their website. If you talk to someone, write down their name and what they say. It'll help you, trust me.

Next, pick your college and apply. They will often times want your high school transcript and they will tell you how to get it (or how they will get it). You will also need your shot record. But if you're like me I had no access to it. You can get a blood test to see what you're immune to and just get shots for the things you're not immune to.

The next thing you need to do is take a placement test. This will just show if you need some "refresher courses" in math and English. I'm horrible in math and had to take a refresher course.

You will have to go to FAFSA. ed. gov and fill out the application for financial aid. Everyone does it whether they need financial aid or not. Schools use this as a way to determine what you qualify for to pay for college. Go to the FAFSA site I gave you. It is free, but there are tons of sites that try to be the real thing that charge you money. Don't fall for that. You will need last years tax return 1040 to fill it out.

You will get a letter from the financial aid department telling you what you qualify for. Hopefully you will qualify for the Pell Grant. School is paid for, books are paid for, and you generally get some good money back to pay for college expenses. Look online for scholarships as well. They have all kinds of scholarships. I'm sure they even have scholarships for people with your name LOL

If you're self disciplined, I recommend online classes. It's a great transition to the whole college thing and you work at your own pace. But take it seriously and keep up with your classes and assignments. I had like a 1.5 GPA in high school cause I didn't take it seriously and I went through online classes for a year with a 4.0. If you know you have to be in class hearing things in order to learn it, take classes on campus. Don't worry about not fitting in. There are people from 18-60+ in college from all backgrounds.

After that, just hang in there! Take it one step at a time. Colleges can be a pain in the butt to try working with because noone seems to know what they're talking about. That's where the notebook comes in handy. You know who helps you and who is dumb as heck. You will know who to ask for in the future LOL

Well, like I said, please feel free to write me any time. Keep me updated every step of the way. You CAN do this!!!!!!

Ok people. If you've been there and want to add something, please do! If you are thinking about applying, please take my advice and go for it. Good luck!!!

Peds Clinicals - Stopping in my Nursing Education to Look Around

Wow, I can't believe that my last semester in years is almost finally here. As many of you know, even after I delete blog postings here on myspace I save them in Yahoo. I still go back and read some of my first blogs sometimes. I don't want to speak too soon cause anything can still keep me from graduating in May. But standing at my front door, I see the welcome friend of graduation walking my way.

I never thought that I would get so attached to the friends I have made in school. I'm the type that will be friends with anyone. That's a far cry from high school where I hated so many of the immature brats I graduated with. It's better with college. There's more at stake than just mommy and daddys money. It's our personal investments and lives on the lines. And of course I'm scared to death what a new presidency will bring.

Like anything I've met good people and bad people, good instructors and bad instructors. When I graduate I plan to thank big time all of my instructors, but I want to do something for my two most favorite instructors. One I've known for several months and another I just met this semester. The one I just met this semester, I see so much of what I want to be in her. I feel she would make a great role model and someone I can look up to. She reassured me when I felt out of place in her own mellow and genteel ways. The other one brought lots of fun and entertainment along the way and would never let me feel out of place. She's only a Fundamentals and Med-Surg instructor, so I don't see her anymore, but she still made nursing school somewhat dealable LOL (No I don't think it's a word)

For all of you current nursing students and nursing students to be, please keep in touch with me. As many of you already know, I'm always here to help anyone who has nursing school questions, or anything else. And to all of you who have seen me through nursing school, thank you for your unique contributions, no matter how insignificant it may seem. Especially my family and closest friends (Esp McKenzie, Melody, and Shabrina). But there's so many. I'll be sure to give you a personal shout out at a later time in a more formal way.

I'm calling it a night now in preparation for another day at CHOA. Have a great week everyone!