Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Pursue My Career

Today, I have to post something that has been troubling me for the last few days. 

There has been a lot of changes in my life, in the past few months. Many years ago, I left my profession of nursing, 1990. When my son was born.  I was burned out... I did not think I would ever want to go back to nursing again( RN). Big Mistake.

I worked as a floor nurse in 1980's. I worked on a surgical floor, then cardiac, and then worked as a Psychiatric nurse, in the VA Hosp in Florida. It just got to me.  I decided to become a stay at home mom till my son was 14. Then I decided to try being a caregiver to a elderly woman. I then decided to go back to school, and pursue something in the medical field again.

I tried Medical Coding, and decided the business end of the hospital was just not for me. I liked the patient-nurse contact. Then I decided to go back to nursing.

 I could not pursue, nursing as my license lapsed. I talked to the board of nursing. I felt like I forgot everything. I decided I wanted to go back to nursing school and start over.

All my friends were cheering me on, to go for it.  I decided to do it. I went back to college, and take some classes. I thought I could go right back into the nursing program, since it was 20 years, not so simple.   I got accepted in the nursing program, but thought I could re-learn everything since I have not practiced. I found out, I can't do it that way. Since, I already graduated nursing school, the only way is take a refresher course, or take the NCLEX again.

It turns out my friend, that was gongho for me to take courses and pursue my dream, is not so gongho.
I don't why but now, she is telling me I am crazy!! I am too old to think of this. Most people think about retiring now, not going back to nursing.  I am much younger than her. I don't know why she turned totally 360 degrees.

 I don't know if she is jealous, because she lost her dream. She is always telling me she is going to do something, to jumpstart her career, but then she procrastinates.  She has a idea, then she totally drops it. Then you don't hear about again. Then a few months later you hear about something else. 

In the next few months, the refresher course will start. I plan on going for it. But, she acts like I am not in reality. Do you realize how much it is going to cost? She then says, How are you going to pay for lodging? How are you going to get there? She thinks I am a child, I quess.  I have considered all these things. I don't know what her problem is saying this to me.

In January, I plan on going through with this. Finding out what I need to do. But, I don't need some friend bursting my bubble. Telling me it is ridiculous for a 53 year old woman to pursue her dream. I know plenty of women my age, that decide later in life to go back to their profession.

The review course I have to take will take me the most 6 months. But, so what, at least I am attempting it. If you sit back and don't try, you regret it for the rest of your life.

Thank you for letting me vent. I usually don't post things like this but I had to get it off my chest. Wish me luck!!

3 comments:

bermudaonion said...

I think you're right to go for it. You'll always regret it if you don't. What's the worst thing that could happen?

Irene said...

I'm wishing you luck. I agree that you should not age stop you. I'm letting age stop me, but maybe your success will push me along.

Marie Cloutier said...

I think you should do what you want. Who knows why your friend is acting like this. she may have troubles that she doesn't want to share, that are making her hostile and jealous. Don't listen, just go for it.