Age 17 … decided to be a nurse. Promptly told I had “too much potential” – why not go to med school? Age 19 … explored and rejected the pre-med program in college. Age 20 … chose major in cultural anthropology. Age 22 … Graduated from college. Age 23 … Lived in West Africa for a year, studying the role of religious faith in Ghanaian health care. Age 24 … Attended seminary. Decided again to be a nurse. Age 25 … Began the prereqs … Age 26 … Admitted to ABSN program on the East Coast. Dad diagnosed with cancer. Put off nursing school and moved home to care for him and be with family. At Dad’s side through the worst of it, until he passed away on September 26, 2007. Age 27 … Applied to nursing schools all over again. Started a second-degree nursing program in July 2008 …Survived pre-licensure and got my RN license in December 2009 … Hired into a Critical Care Residency Program in spring 2010 … Became a Community Health RN in January 2011 … Will graduate with my MSN in Clinical Nurse Leadership in 2012 … Here I am …
Click here to “Ask Me Anything”!
10 comments
LIsa Morris says:
January 27, 2008 at 10:31 am (UTC -8 )
Just searched for UCSF supporters of Obama and got your blog. I’m a MEPN at UCSF and also applied to [your school]. Are you/did you interviewing/interview for MEPN? Congratulations on your acceptance to PLU and [your school]. I’m really liking MEPN and I think these programs are pretty much the same. Although MEPN has more options than others as far as practice roles. But you’ll get what your looking for, I imagine, at all of these programs. Good luck in all – LIsa
wilomis says:
July 23, 2010 at 5:48 pm (UTC -8 )
Found you through Nurse Kenny, have enjoyed reading your blog.. you’ve been added to the blogroll!
Michelle Williams says:
January 10, 2011 at 5:11 pm (UTC -8 )
Hey, congrads on all of your nursing success. I have been an LVN for 22 years and just finished RN school. It is now time for me to study for my NCLEX review. I have purchased the Hurst Online Review. I am wondering any suggestion for a study calendar on my testing plan for my NCLEX. Thank you for any information you send me.
Good Luck from a future RN.
Lacey says:
March 15, 2011 at 6:09 am (UTC -8 )
I too fell for the “too much potential” to just become a nurse thing. I ended up studying graphic design for three years before finally putting my foot down (four weeks before the end of the semester) and decided to go to nursing school.
I can’t tell you how thrilled I am with my decision. This is what I was supposed to do and now I can feel confident in the path my life is taking.
Thanks for sharing your experiences with us. It’s great knowing I’m not the only one who didn’t quite get it right the first time.
-Lacey
http://nursingadream.wordpress.com/
Joseph @ Blog Tweaks says:
June 26, 2011 at 4:13 pm (UTC -8 )
Hi,
I saw a comment you left on Twitter about self-hosting your blog. Let me know if you need any help with that or have any questions. That’s something I do for people. You can find more out about it here: http://goo.gl/qUio6.
Good luck!
Joseph
Kris says:
November 8, 2011 at 3:11 pm (UTC -8 )
I am so inspired by your story. I myself took a while deciding what I wanted to do with my life. I finally decided on getting my RN TO BSN and am so happy I did. It opened so many doors for me! Best of luck in the future!
Isaac says:
December 12, 2011 at 11:04 am (UTC -8 )
Due to graduate in the next 12 months, exciting times! I loved your guest post over at best nursing degree by the way – awesome article.
radu says:
May 7, 2012 at 10:57 pm (UTC -8 )
I admire you and these kind of family problems should make you stronger. I can see that you are very passioned by nursing and this will bring you only great things in your life. I wish you all the best and be strong! Thanks for the great post.
Radu,
http://best-accelerated-nursing-programs.com/
"Emari" says:
May 14, 2012 at 12:37 pm (UTC -8 )
I have been exploring your blog for a while and I feel like it is really inspiring. it seems like we have a lot in common and I’m where you were a few years ago! I JUST started a blog…it’s definitely a big work in progress. But I would love to keep in touch as I start a journey that you are just now completing!
Nurse Teeny says:
May 15, 2012 at 2:11 pm (UTC -8 )
Emari,
That would be wonderful! Please feel free to contact me directly anytime and we can chat more. Good luck on your own journey!