Man goes on quite a trip....

[gja1000]

I'm glad to hear that she is dead set on nursing because it is such a great career and WE NEED MORE NURSES. Not only do I love being a nurse, but there are a zillion different things you can do in your career. And the educational possibilities are endless and with increased education comes increased possibilities!!! (oh and more money too!)

UT is just crazy difficult for ANYONE to get into. My daughter went to Texas State (then SWT) - she could have never gotten into UT - didn't even try. She did transfer to UT after a year of good grades at SWT, but she didnt' like it. She was in Elementary Education and SWT has a much better program. So she went back to SWT and was able to finish at their extension program in Round Rock. Oh and it only took her 7 years to graduate! But she only went part time since she (oops) had a baby during the summer between her freshman and sophmore year and then went parttime for the next 6 years.

I know things will work out for your daughter. She'll get in and get through. A BSN program is a very rigorous program, but if she is really interested in it, it will be fine, and she will love it!

[Marilyn]

Gayle, thank you for the encouragement!! At this point, we need it. It took me almost 5 years to get my engineering degree not including the two years I dropped out. Majored in biology for two years, dropped out for 2 years, returned with a vingence to get the engineering and finally made it. Graduated from high school in '72, graduated from college Dec '78.

I think Melissa will get her nursing with about the same amount of schooling that I had, maybe a little more. Our other daughter is approaching the point of being a career student. She seems very committed to what she is doing now, and we have told her that this is it. We will help her get her engineering degree, but if she changes majors again, she is totally on her own.

I've spoken with so many parents these days who are having the same problem. So many of our young people don't know what they want to do, and I think they just don't have a vision of their goal. They have no motivation. It's harder to define careers today with all the technology. Choices in the past were more clear, fireman, policeman, nurse, teacher, engineer, doctor. Technology and our developing society have blurred the lines, and added so many other options. It's difficult for them to decide. Also, many of them want to do something that will make money and make a difference, but just don't know what that is. Our society is moving more and more to vaguely defined desk jobs.

Not as many are getting married as in the past, or staying married, so their life goals are not the same as in the past. House, family, a dog, two cars in the garage isn't appealing anymore to many of our youth. Most of the people I work with that are in their 30's and 40's don't live like that anymore. They are hopping from girlfriend or boyfriend or wife or husband to the the next, and having children with some of them along the way. Their lives are sooo complicated.

Most of my generation is trying to raise up solid stable citizens with solid stable jobs and families, but sometimes you feel like it's a moving target.

I'll get off the soapbox now. This is a forum, not a blog.

[judy]

I prefer to use a nurse practitioner over a gynocologist. Fortunately, I have not had problems lately, I'm certainly not pregnant, so why wait for a doctor?

I'm sure both of your girls will find their niches at some point Marilyn. One day at a time.

[judy]

I think your Alzheimer's post was fascinating Gayle. Although I forgot what it was about ().

[gja1000]

Originally Posted by judy

I think your Alzheimer's post was fascinating Gayle. Although I forgot what it was about ().

Ha Ha Ha - ever the trickster!!!

[gja1000]

Originally Posted by judy

I prefer to use a nurse practitioner over a gynocologist. Fortunately, I have not had problems lately, I'm certainly not pregnant, so why wait for a doctor?

I took my daughter to a nurse practitioner for her first gyn exam many many years ago. I knew it would be less traumatic with a nurse doing it and it was!!! My daughter still goes to a nurse practitioner for her primary care and so do I. I go to an MD endocrinologist (female - so she can be an honorary nurse ) for my low bone density and low thryoid - but for all else, the nurse practitioner is much better (for me). They ask good questions, listen and make you feel like they are paying attention.

[judy]

"They ask good questions, listen and make you feel like they are paying attention."

I agree. A lot of doctors are busy and may rush through a visit. I prefer a female anyway, and the nurse practitioners I have used were much more nurturing and caring.