Why were you a late bloomer? Some of us had kids first. Some had other jobs. What is your story for being a late bloomer?

besides having kids, I wasn't sure what I wanted to be so I became a CNA and now I love my job and want to persue my career as a nurse.

I always knew I wanted to be a nurse. However, getting pregnant and then again and again and again put my plans on hold for awhile, I worked as a CNA before becoming a nurse. This only strengthened my desire to become a nurse. My oldest child died at age 4 which sent me into a tail spin. We had alot of good nurses during her care and I vowed to become one. I went to nursing school at age 30 with 3 small children and no husband. It was difficult but I was determined to make it. That was 27 years ago.

I did the nursing basic early on. Just waited until my older years to formally continue my education! I agree with charleneswain----- Just get started!!! We need nurses, all are welcome. And I firmly believe the older students bring a level of maturity to their studies. I have a fondness for the adult students :)

I had to give this some thought before I answered this question. I sure would like to come up with some deep philisophical answer. Something that would make this group go AWWW all at once. The truth really is as basic as "A'INT NO MONEY IN IT", I was wrapped up in making the god-awmity dollar. Then one day I found that, that wasn't the path God wanted me on. So here I am.

Good question CDNurse. Just like ljr I"ve thought long and hard about how to answer this. My reason is not his though. I was not making money before nursing. My real story is so extraordinarily unusual, I'm not sure anyone would believe it even if I shared it. Because of that, as a rule I usually don't share it. Because I'm not used to sharing it, maybe I'm not ready to--it's out of my comfort zone to go there. Give me time. I was not having children, or working much of another career, and I never wanted to be a nurse, or thought that I would be...It was not my goal in life. I wanted something very very different. My dad wanted me to go into nursing when I was young, and it didn't take me one half a split second to say no. Having said all that, I have to say that now I wish I had gone into nursing when I was young, and I love nursing. I love it so much! It was my mistake in a sense to stay away so long. I just had to follow my own dreams first, and be totally convinced it would not be possible for me to have my life's desire before I could come to nursing--and I'm not sorry for that. That journey has the the trip of a lifetime--literally. That journey gave me a healthy, mature outlook to bring to nursing, where I have to empathize with patients who have to adjust to not having the health to have the life they want....

I always wanted to go into nursing but just never did it. I went to college right out of high school ( haited it)went into the Navy and was selected for the Nuclear Power Program. I got out 6 years later got a full time job and went back to school again.Completed a BA from Stony Brook University and now I just decided it was time to look into a nursing program at 45 years old. I have applied for a September 08 start I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Mostly because for 45 years, i have been letting someone else make all the decisions...first my mother, then my husband...even the fact that I ultimately started back to school just two months ago after a two false starts and a 15 year hiatus (family joke is that i am on the 30 yr plan) was almost totally due to the fact that he decided he was burnt out at his job and I should do something more to take some of the financial burden off him. I have been DYING to do something more meaningful with my life for years, but now i have waited so long that i wonder if what it is costing me is going to be worth it...

Someone said that Life is what happens when your busy making plans! So true! I was married when I was so young, a mother before I got my drivers liscence and did a college degree in Art all before 22.... the next 20 years flew! three kids, a divorce, various part time jobs in Dr's offices and hospitals saw me with three older kids, a hankering to 'get in on the action' and finally some time in my life with grown up kids to pursue something 'higher' in life. My sister thinks I am just so used to "looking after" people that I needed to make it my permanent role in life, once my kids grew up.. could be something in that. I feel like I'm useful and fullfilled when Im fussing over someone I guess .. hee hee.. so Nursing was perfect for me. I had the maturity and discipline to stick it out and get the most out of the course at my age so for me... its been the BEST decision I've made. Ive passed the 40 mark now and hope to nurse for 20yrs.. fingers crossed

I so much wanted to go into the Air Force. When I wanted to do that they were known as WAF. The Navy was WAVES and the army was the WACS. I had it all planned. Go to the service and let them pay for my nursing school. Well, I let adults talk me out of it. Get this, I was told about women going into the service: "Only queers and whores go into the service" That was 1968. A young lady I know was talking about going into the service. I encouraged her to go for it. I have lost contact with her so not sure if she will do that or not. In any case, she told me she still hears the same ignorant remark. To this day I regret not doing what I wanted. I was such a stubborn kid I cannot believe that I listened to the dummies. But, then again, joining the service in 1968 was not a very popular thing to do, and, I may have been saved from Nam.

dmchaucer, what a touching story. Good luck.

Deep down, I always knew that I wanted to be a nurse. I would admire my mom when I was a little girl as she left to go to work in her nurse's uniform. I didn't pursue nursing right away because I thought that there was some other mission out there for me. I recently completed my bachelor's degree in business administration at the beginning of this year. It took a lot of hard work and determination to get it done (with a family of two kids -n-all), not to mention money! The degree has opened doors for me in the organization that I currently work for; however, I don't know that I would be happy primarily doing administrative support, even on an executive level. It does not seem appealing nor rewarding. So, here I am. I am going to follow my heart this time and go with the nursing field, hopefully until I retire. Wish me luck. : )

cdnurse said:

sinimin: best of luck to you. You can never go wrong when you follow your heart.

upmcnurse: I am proud to know you even if it is only online. Nothing like going back to school to learn that you are not stupid!

Kay said:

Good question CDNurse. Just like ljr I"ve thought long and hard about how to answer this. My reason is not his though. I was not making money before nursing. My real story is so extraordinarily unusual, I'm not sure anyone would believe it even if I shared it. Because of that, as a rule I usually don't share it. Because I'm not used to sharing it, maybe I'm not ready to--it's out of my comfort zone to go there. Give me time. I was not having children, or working much of another career, and I never wanted to be a nurse, or thought that I would be...It was not my goal in life. I wanted something very very different. My dad wanted me to go into nursing when I was young, and it didn't take me one half a split second to say no. Having said all that, I have to say that now I wish I had gone into nursing when I was young, and I love nursing. I love it so much! It was my mistake in a sense to stay away so long. I just had to follow my own dreams first, and be totally convinced it would not be possible for me to have my life's desire before I could come to nursing--and I'm not sorry for that. That journey has the the trip of a lifetime--literally. That journey gave me a healthy, mature outlook to bring to nursing, where I have to empathize with patients who have to adjust to not having the health to have the life they want....