Congratulations, Millet! We need all the nurses we can get.
Woah, I just found this thread, and I’m totally embarrassed. blushblushblush 
Thanks everyone!!! I have no pics, and I’m totally exhausted right now, but I’ll post more tomorrow. I’m actually in Chicago on business (somewhat nursing-related, somewhat not), so my schedule has been booked for the whole weekend. But I’m so glad I checked in on the Dope before going to sleep!!
thinks about getting a sexy nurse outfit…thinks the husband might REALLY appreciate that…
I’d say give it a try. My husband works in construction, and if I ever get to see him in his gear, it makes me feel kinda funny. And his baseball uniform… 
Many congrats, MtF! That’s quite an accomplishment, and you should be very proud of yourself!
On a related note, it’s interesting that in light of the current nursing shortage, in the US, at least, several people of my acquaintance who are in their 40s and 50s have just gotten their RNs. It appears to be a popular choice for second profession.
I have no idea if it’s your first or second, MtF, but in any case, ya done good!
It’s my second career, actually. But I’ve only been in my first (clinical trials research) for three years. And it’s probably the best career move I could make right now, not to mention “my passion!”
No, really, I’ve been wanting to do this for over a year. I got the idea almost two years ago, when a co-worker enrolled in an accelerated nursing program at Columbia. It seemed too easy–I could go and get a second Bachelor’s degree AND an RN in only 12 months? No way! (Yes way!)
So I looked into it, and lo and behold, it looked great. Not easy–I would have to take Microbiology, Anatomy and Physiology I and II, and Organic Chemistry–but great. But at the time, I didn’t think I wanted to be a nurse.
Fast forward to about one year ago–I had changed jobs and was working at New York-Presbyterian, with cancer patients. (My current job.) I looked around at hat I was doing and realized that I would rather be doing what out research nurses are doing. I asked around, and I found that not only would I be qualified to work almost anywhere, but a BSN would nearly double my salary. I mulled it over some more, had some serious talks with some RNs, and it hit me: this was the Perfect Fit for me.
Now, I’d never had a Perfect Fit before. My husband swears he’s wanted to be a writer since he was 7, but I’d had no such moment. Suddenly, everything in life became clear: I would be an RN. Everyone I knew was really supportive; it just seemed so right.
So, many grueling night classes later (I’ve had class almost every night since January, after working 9-5) and many application essays agonized-over (I posted about my essay-writing difficulties here, I remember), I finally got an interview. Two weeks ago, I flew to Chicago to convince the bigwigs at Rush to give me a spot in their relatively selective program. My interview was pretty uncomfortable; I thought I’d blown it. I was nervous and agitated the whole time. Stressed out beyond belief, I started having night terrors. (Night terrors! It’s a first for me. I’m not the most sane person I know, but night terrors are a new development.) I wondered why I thought I could pull my life together and do this.
And then, on Thursday, at 4PM, I got a call from “my faculty adviser,” introducing herself and wondering if I had any questions. I did.
Her: “Hello?”
Me: “Yes, I’m Millit, returning your call.”
Her: “Hi! How are you? Do you have questions?”
Me: “Um, yeah. You say you’re my faculty adviser. Does this mean I’ve been accepted?”
Her: “You haven’t received your letter yet?!”
Me: :eek:
So yeah, I called everyone I knew, and I’ve been trying to find time to celebrate, but I had to come to Chicago on business for the weekend, so it’s been hard. I actually invited some friends to my hotel room, but no one’s taking the bait. Anyone in Chicago? Want to hang out at my hotel??
Post-script:
OK, so, reading this thread over, one might think I’m Gisele or something. I’ve never been so thoroughly extolled before. Stop it, you guys! I’m thrilled to be complimented, but you’re giving me a big head. :o
No worries. Just give me some space, because I’m still working out my issues from high school! When I was an extremely unpopular chunky nerd-girl…in the color guard… 
Well, even more congrats for finding your Perfect Fit! I kind of fell ass-backwards into what I do, and while my preferred Perfect Fit would be “independently wealthy,” this is the most tolerable second choice I’ve discovered – but only “tolerable,” not “I love what I do!”
So I envy you having that feeling, and to find out what it is you really want to do so (relatively) young in your life. Trust me, I’m past 50 and I still say I’m trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up! 
I’m still setting for “tolerable” - if I don’t actively hate what I’m doing, and wake up each day wishing that I could just stay in bed and not have to face another day of hell, I figure I’d doing real good. So yeah, envy here too. 
(I still somewhat think that people who say they love what they do for a living are pulling my leg, it’s so far outside of my working for a living experience.)
Some space for that big head? “I’m a walking candy apple!” I just learned in another thread that being deservedly proud of yourself is not prideful at all–you pursued something and despite uncomfortableness, GOT IN!!! How great for you. As mentioned, the world needs more smart and caring nurses.