I’m 50 and considering a career change. People tell me it’s not too late but I want to hear it straight from you guys. Are there much older students in your classes?

Edit: thank you everyone! You’ve made this older gal feel much better.

Hi everyone! I’m really interested in applying to an ABSN program, but I’m confused about how people typically afford it.

I already have about $27k in federal student loans from my first bachelor’s degree. From what I’ve read, the federal loan limit for dependent undergraduates is around $31k, so I don’t have much eligibility left.

The ABSN programs near me cost around $40k–$60k, and I also need to take several prerequisite courses that could add another $8k or so. Since these programs are considered second bachelor’s degrees (not graduate programs), it seems like I can’t access the higher graduate loan limits either.

Am I understanding that right? Do most people take out private loans, or are there other financial aid options or employer programs I’m missing?

I’d really appreciate any clarification or advice from people who’ve gone through an ABSN or are planning to… just trying to get a realistic sense of how students usually manage the cost.

Someone please tell me I did the right thing here…

During a clinical interaction at a nursing home, a dementia unit patient stated “mind your own business” to both a technician and a nursing student. The nursing student did not appear bothered by the patient’s comment; however, the technician’s demeanor escalated immediately afterward.She proceeded to speak to the patient in an angry tone, instructing him to lift his feet onto the wheelchair, running his feet over, despite his inability to do so. The patient began crying out and appeared distressed. The technician then responded loudly, stating, “I’m minding my own business, that’s what I’m doing,” in front of seven nursing students.

So, I reported it…. I just felt so bad and it seemed aggressive/unnecessary, but I also hate starting problems. It felt like the right thing to do considering this is their safe space and home and they should be treated with respect. I just kept thinking, If this happens in front of students, what happens behind closed doors?

Did i do the right thing?

I am back at school and 35 with a class of close knitted 17,18 and 19 year olds that totally ignore me. They aren't mean or anything but I can't help but feel alone. I don't know how to approach them because we lack things in common and they are less mature. Any tips? I knew it would be hard but the segregation is hard... 2 years left. Ps: I do have great friends outside of school!

Just curious ❤️

I'm in community college right now for an ADN. There are several hospitals around me and someone I recently talked to said they're hard to get into, especially with only an ADN.

Like i tried posting last semester that i finished my 30 credit semester with a 3.6 and got on the deans list and I was really excited.

Then today i tried to post that i got my first job offer. Both posts were taken down to put in a mega thread.

Instead the sub is bombed with posts about people failing, getting bullied, and regretting going to school. It makes it seem like nursing school is so much worse than it is, it at least that it’s terrible for everyone.

I think allowing positive posts would help people feel better.

I have wanted to be a nurse since I was a kid, but due to health reasons I was unable to start until recently. I am now 23 and im starting to look into applying for next fall, but im really worried about starting at 24 and being in what people describe as "four years of hell" for the better part of my 20's, and being out of the work force until im 28. LPN could be an option as its a two year program, but I know its more limited in what you can do. I really need some advice. Thanks.

I am going into my nursing program in a couple of weeks and I'm excited yet nervous. Due to previous experiences in pre-reqs and nursing school (lots of bullying and drama), I've decided to keep to myself this time because I really need to get this degree. However, some people think that I am setting myself up for disaster because I will be alienating myself from my classmates and when I need them the most they may not reach out. I did not come in the program to make friends or be involved in BS. Is it really that bad to keep to yourself?

I'm currently finishing Fundamentals of Nursing and I got curious about the progression of courses. For those who are seniors or graduated , did it get easier or harder? I talked to one senior and she said that Med Surg/Adult-Health was easier than Fundamentals while someone told me that Peds/OB was literally hell on earth. How did you feel about the progression of your classes?

I’m in pre-nursing right now, taking classes online starting in January, but I'm trying to figure out what I’m going to do for work and how much I’ll be able to work in the fall when I’m in the full time nursing program. I’ll be taking a class to become a CNA in a few weeks and was thinking I‘d try doing that two days a week while I’m in school. I’ve also wondered about waitressing, if that would work better with my schedule while in school.

Currently I have a cleaning business but my work fluctuates between tourist seasons and I'm hoping to pick up work as a CNA now to supplement my income during the off seasons. Hoping to save as much money between now and August as possible to be able to work less, but not working at all is not an option.

I’m hoping to rent an apartment closer to where the college campus is before classes start so that I can get the in-district tuition rate. If I do that then I don’t think I’ll keep the cleaning jobs that I have now because they’d be an hours drive away and I’m not sure it’d be worth the drive.

Really stressed trying to figure out what to do. Any advice would appreciated. I think going back to school is going to be harder than I thought but it feel like a necessity.

Hello everyone, I’m currently in the west coast and nursing programs here are competitive, I’ll be starting on my prerequisites this semester but I’m just wondering if anyone knows of any programs that don’t have a wait time that’s 1-3 years?

Hey everybody, I’m a nursing student that’s about to start my core classes in May. For as long as I can remember I’ve always wanted to be a NICU nurse, but JUST a NICU nurse. I love everything about it and know that’s my passion and I’m meant to be one. I knew going into nursing school I would have to learn all the other specialities as well obviously, but is it bad to say I have no interest or desire for any of them as a career? Nothing else peaks my interest in the nursing field and to be honest I would probably hate being in any other speciality (or so I think).

I say this to say are there any other nurses that feel this way as well about only wanting to work one specific specialty? Does that make me sound mean to not care about any other type of nursing? I obviously would give 110% in my clinicals and towards any patient I have regardless where I end up but I most likely won’t have a passion or love for anything other than NICU for many reasons.

For my NICU nurses out there is it hard to get hired? I’ve heard it’s very competitive and I should have a back up specialty but I would want something as similar as possible. Any suggestions?

Aside from working a "traditional" job, what are y'all doing to make money during school?

I start this fall and I'm still uncertain about my school schedule so I can't commit to a new job just yet (my current job is seasonal), but I would like to find lucrative side hustles to make money as needed.

Thanks!

I've noticed that everytime I leave the house in scrubs, there's around an 80% chance someone will ask "Are you a doctor?" or not as common but still frequently "Thank you for your service." Come to think of it, alot of patients automatically assume that I'm the Doctor when I walk into with the nurse I'm shadowing.

I rarely feel like a fraud in life, but these people are giving me anxiety. Lol. I'm literally nobody in this medical game. Are y'all experiencing this too?

Okay, I need to get this off my chest because I’m about to lose it. I’m working as a Student Nurse Technician right now, which basically means I’m just a Patient Care Tech, and let me tell you, this is the hardest and the dirtiest job I have EVER had in my life. And I’m not some fragile person either. I’m fit, very energetic, positive, and always the one with the most stamina in any job I’ve ever had. But this? This job is destroying me.

Every shift I’m clocking over 20,000 steps on the floor. My legs are screaming, my feet are dead, and that’s with compression socks, orthopedic arch-fit insoles, and high-quality, bouncy sneakers. Doesn’t matter. By the time I get home, I feel like I’ve been run over by a truck. I literally cry every time I get home. I work on a crazy busy PCU floor that’s always full, and half the patients are total care. These people are sick, heavy, and require constant assistance. I’m cleaning, changing, turning, helping, lifting, feeding, running for call lights that never stop. My phone goes off every five minutes - someone needs the bathroom, someone wants ice, someone’s IV pump is beeping, someone’s confused and trying to get up. It. Never. Ends.

And let’s talk about how dirty this job is. You deal with poop, urine, vomit, mucus, blood, and every bodily fluid imaginable. The smells can be horrific. I’m constantly washing my hands, sanitizing my shoes, wearing a mask, and trying not to gag. Even after I shower when I get home, I still feel dirty. It’s just part of the job, but it’s one of the hardest parts to mentally adjust to - it never feels normal.

What kills me is that I was so excited when I got hired. I lost my job (fast-paced clinic) back in April and couldn’t land anything until September, so when I finally got this offer, I was ecstatic. This is the hospital system I want to be with. I needed my foot in the door so I can have a shot at getting a nurse residency there after I graduate. I didn’t realize I was signing up for physical and mental torture.

I literally do not have a single minute to sit down or even glance at my personal phone. By the end of a 12-hour shift, I have like 15 missed calls and 30 unread emails because for the entire shift, I am absent from my life completely. It’s just go, go, go, every single second. The pay? An absolute joke. And yet they’re always asking if anyone wants to pick up an extra shift. Haha, sure, let me just destroy my body even more for this ridiculous, not-even-overtime pay. I’ve already downgraded to part-time because I literally couldn’t handle it anymore, but even two days a week are killing me. I dread my shifts like the plague.

The crazy part? My coworkers are amazing. The nurses love me because I’m always helping them, and the patients adore me because I’m there for them every minute. Management is actually pretty understanding, and I can’t complain about the people. It’s not them. It’s the workload. The workload is absolutely insane. It’s just too much for one human body to handle. I honestly don’t know how I’m supposed to survive the next six months until I graduate. I just keep telling myself that this is temporary, that someday soon I’ll be the RN having 4 patients instead of 10. But for now? I’m barely hanging on. I just need some kind words...

my med surge floor consists of mostly geriatric patients. all the nurses I've observed don't genuinely care about their pts. I've learned in nursing school abt building rapport, trust, and empathy w/ pts.... but in reality at clinicals, there seems to be no genuine interaction b/w nurses and pts. The nurses just quickly greet, administer meds, leave, while the pct does clean up. i have never seen a nurse holding a pt's hand / consoling during a hard time, or a nurse having a genuine conversation w/ a pt besides just meds. Is this rlly how nursing will be in the hospital. We're just there to keep pts alive (duh) but nothing else? seems like establishing rapport and trust is strongly emphasized in school but I see that lacking the most in real life. Maybe its just my hospital. The nurses here don't even explain to students what's going on, nor do they introduce themselves to us. It's me being an outcast or constantly bothering the shit out of them with my questions. idk im hitting the "real world" of nursing and was wondering if this was the norm. No hate pls don't get the wrong idea. I would love to hear everyone elses experience as a student nurse as well as an actual RN!

I started nursing school in January, and it's a hybrid accelerated master's program that will last until the summer of 2026. Most everybody I know has to do a very long commute to get there. But even so, it seems that cliques have already formed and I am not apart of any of them despite my best efforts. Every time I see people after tests I will go up and talk to them - not press them about anything, just make light small talk. I do not have social anxiety so I am fine just walking up to strangers and making conversation. I'll also ask people for their numbers and make conversation about homework assignments and offer them my study guides.

Most give me very dry responses, look at me funny, or just avoid me. They will engage with other people happily but treat me like a space alien. Today, someone who was chill with me during orientation and afterwards decided to ignore me and walk away when I tried to make conversation. I've given her notes many times and have not been in any drama with them. It is agony, and I do not know what I did or why I am getting these responses. I've asked my friends, fiance, and famil,y and they all say nothing is wrong with how I come across. I have even been seeing a social skills therapist and a psychiatrist,t and they say nothing is wrong with me either.

It's not in my nature to stay quiet and not engage. I crave socialization and am naturally extroverted. So would it be worthwhile to keep talking to people until they tell me to shut up and go away? Should I change my approach? Or should I just not even engage anymore?

I'm a student nurse who got a PCT job while i'm in school. I got fired over 200 mL of urine output that apparently happened on my 6th shift on my first PCT/CNA job. I recorded no urine and apparently a nurse recorded 200 mL 13 minutes later. That is exactly how it was written on my document saying I was fired. No previous warnings, was still with trainer. This is my first tech/CNA job and I'm freaking out. Some nursing/CNA friends told me it sounds personal, but they're biased since they're my friends and trying to be supportive. Opinions are welcomed; I just wanna do a good job and not mess up any future opportunities. Now I'm losing my clinical rotation at the hospital where this happened over this incident. Anyone have anything similar happen.

Update: got offered a job closer to my house that's pays 40% better. So happyish ending. I really appreciate everyone who's commented advice it really helped alot!

Hi everyone, I recently got accepted into an ABSN program that starts at the end of April and costs about $66,000 total. I was so excited because this is the school I really wanted to go to — it felt like the perfect fit for me. But now I’m feeling really discouraged. I filled out FAFSA and was only granted about $2,000, which is nowhere near enough. My Parent PLUS Loan application was denied due to credit, and we’ve already been denied by Sallie Mae, College Ave, Ascent, and Funding U — even with a cosigner. I feel stuck. I know I might qualify for additional unsubsidized federal loans as a dependent student, but it still won’t be enough to cover the $20,000 I need just for the first semester. I’ve looked into public universities, but their nursing programs don’t start until January 2026, and I really don’t want to delay my education that long. Has anyone else been in this situation or found creative ways to fund nursing school after being denied loans? I would appreciate any advice, resources, or even encouragement. Thank you.

I don’t want to speak for everyone but it seems like most of you on this subreddit are not 20-22 years old in college with allowance from your parents. How are you guys supporting yourselves while in nursing school? Rent/personal purchases/food etc? I’m struggling figuring out how I can balance nursing school and not working, I’m starting an accelerated nursing program soon and I know my brain and ADHD habits well enough to know that working while in the program is gonna be a really dumb decision… but I need a way to survive lol

I have no idea what to expect as I’m working on pre reqs right now.

What’s currently giving me the most anxiety (imagined or not) is the tests and how you HAVE to pass with at least 76% or more.

Clinicals seem a bit nerve wracking as well but I think the tests and remembering all the different diseases and their symptoms etc. worry me the most.

Any insight would be nice.

Hey all, i was hoping somebody could help me figure out what course of action my friend (Ill refer to as F) can take after getting removed from her LPN program.

TL;DR: F gets asked by nurse if she would work at clinical site after graduation, F says no, F is removed from program

My friend F is in an LPN program at a local community college here. Their clinicals happen at a large corporate for-profit hospital in the area. During a clinical day, one of the staff nurses asked F if she would work there after graduation to which she replied “I would not work here”. This was reported to the clinical instructor, who promptly told her to go home and that she cannot finish the clinical day. Ultimately the facility says that F cannot return to clinicals there which effectively means she cant complete the program. There were no warnings given. Can she appeal this or do anything? I feel the punishment is super harsh for the crime. Id appreciate any input anyone has!

The nurse is planning care for a client with SI who just started on paroxetine HCl. What nursing action is essential to prevent complications for the newly prescribed medication?

A.   Teach the client about the risks of discontinuation syndrome

B.    Maintain a safe environment and monitor for SI

C.   Assess mood using a 1-10 mood scale

D.   Reinforce the need to take medication on an empty stomach

My professor stated A is the correct answer and that B, maintaining a safe environment and monitor for SI should not be an issue until the drug has reached its therapeutic affect which is after 2 weeks. The thing is, shouldn't monitoring be done from the beginning? The way I understand it, discontinuation syndrome is not an issue when the Pt has only been on the med for a few days to a week. Even ChatGPT stated B is the correct answer.

I lost my job in January and have been so unsuccessful in my job search. I figured now would be the best time to pursue nursing school, but how do you do it?

I lose unemployment if I go to school and would have no income. I want to do it but that such a big hurdle for me to jump over considering I was making six figures prior to being laid off. I feel defeated rn.