I don't think I want to be a nurse

Nurses New Nurse

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I have gone through the ADN program, waiting to sit for the NCLEX and I really don't want to be a nurse. I haven't liked any of my clinicals except psych , L&D, and newborn. I had a close call needlestick incident (I don't "think" it punctured my skin) with a hepC+ patient, which has made me realize that I shouldn't be in this profession if I don't want to take this kind of risk. I don't like the thought of making an error where I could really harm someone or even kill them and I am thinking "what a mistake this was?" Is anyone else in the same boat? I am trying to think of other areas I can go into. I already have a degree in Finance, but I didn't utilize it due to having young kids and the cost of childcare. I can't believe I have a BS in Finance, an ADN, soon to have RN and I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up? The clock is ticking because I have to start working soon. Any advice would be appreciated:) .

Allison

Does your state have CE requirements to keep your liscence? WA doesn't so I would sit the NCLEX and pay the $50 a year.

EVERYONE hates nursing hell....I mean school. But being a nurse is amazing. I am much more worried about those who aren't afraid, they're the nurses I worry about. Being a nurse is a huge responsibility, and there are times that you will wonder why you are doing it, then a patient will smile and thank you, and it is all worth while. You've come this far, give it a shot, otherwise you will never know.

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I used to think I didn't want to be a nurse, either. However, after over 20 years of NOT working as a nurse (RN), I am seriously thinking of going back into nursing (Yes, I'm scared!). The reason I left nursing (after passing the NCLEX )was due to the fact that I absolutely HATED Med/Surg! In hindsight, I should have worked as a Med/Surg nurse for a few years, then gone into either school nursing or community health nursing---both of which I absolutely LOVED (in nursing school). So, now I am in my late 40's, haven't touched a patient in over 20 years, will have to take a refresher course(of course), and will have to start again.....in Med/Surg.

I wish both you and I well! :-)

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Definitely take your NCLEX, get your RN license, then make up your mind about what you really want to do. I suggest at least one year in Med/Surg for all new grads. After that experience & with your degree in finance, you may be able to find a niche that fits both very well.

Examples: Discharge Planning, Risk Management, Staff Development, Infection Control/ Nurse Epidiomologist, Sales Rep for a variety of Medical/ Healthcare businesses.

The one advantage of having the RN license is that you have more opportunities open to you than not having the RN license. Good luck with your decision.

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That was a pretty mean response. No education is ever a waste.

I don't think the poster is being selfish here. A lot of people go and get degrees then decide it's not for them. Nursing students have cold feet very frequently before starting out.

Like Tweety said, we all have doubts even after we start our careers, and even those who have been in it for many years. There's no shame in that.

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I feel EXACTLY the same way...and I honestly don't know what to do. I just took my final last night and I am done with school, I am going to take the NCLEX (hopefully in March) and thought I wanted to work in the OR ....but just found out that they don't have a program for new grads until August....I HATED all of my clinicals...psych was ok but I don't think I could stand sitting in those groups all of the time....mother/baby was ok...but can i really see myself assessing lochia all day...yuck! (no offense to any one that does that) I don't want to work 7pm to 7am...that is crazy...med/surg is gross!!! :crying2: I am so confused....

No it sounds like you have a lot of growing up to do. Med/surg gross? How can you get through nursing school with that attitude? Maybe you need to be more positive. Look at all the wonderful things nursing has to offer like flexible schedules, good pay, many many different areas to work in, constantly educating yourself and keeping up with technology, helping people on a daily basis, etc. It's not guaranteed that you have to work 7pm-7am. In my opinion 3 days on and 4 days off is a great schedule!!!!!!!!!!! Screw the 9-5 boring cubicle life most people live!!!!!!!!!!!

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Hi! I can empathasize with your feelings, TOTALLY! When I first got into nursing I kept thinking it wasn't for me. It took me nearly three years to find an area that I felt validated in. I went from med/surg to peds to home health to other patient areas. Most posters, in the General Nursing Forums, i've noticed are bedside nurses. It wasn't my niche. I started specializing in administrative nursing (QI, UM, CM which have more need for nursing/financial perspectives). I also became an educator. I am not a bedside nurse per se, although sometimes I do some registry to keep myself intact (don't want to lose bedside skills). One nurse mentioned pharmaceutical sales rep and this is another area which you may do very well in. Most of us are very supportive, empathetic and helpful. I wish you well. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy New Year!:balloons:

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Was just thinking of another role for you, Allison. How about being a case manager? With your degree in Finance (and having a logical organized thought process??), this field may be up your alley.

Again, I encourage you to have at least one year med/ surg clinical experience, then move on to non-clinical areas. The one year experience will make you more marketable.

The two attributes that I hope you do have are caring & compassion for others, even in a non-clinical field. If these are not within you, then, unfortunately, nursing is definitely not for you. What a shame in wasted time and effort. What a shame that your slot in the school was given to you when there are students who truly want to become professional nurses.

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

ok merry christmas to all, and no more one on one ok? good cheer and all that, no grinches allowed.

i finished school and didn't work at it for more than a year. nothing struck my fancy and after not seeing my family more than an hour or two a week i wanted to stay home, cogitate and rest.

my first venture was into or nursing...that'd been my dream.....ugh i hated it. then school nurse.....again ugh, then rehab nurse.....double ugh, then public health ugh. you'd think i would have given up. finally i got into a float pool at a big hospital and guess what? plain old nurse worked for me.

no education is ever a waste. even that stupid shorthand i took in secretarial school helped. and guess what i learned how to wire motherboards for computers.....this 16g wire goes to that hole and that 16g wire is soldered to it. oh, you say, wires not chips? yep as i said no education is a waste. see i just taught you something.

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Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.

LOVE this response!! After reading some of the posts on another thread about "I wouldn't go in to nursing again", you've hit on some of the reasons I want OUT of my boring cubicle job and the 8-5 grind...I was getting concerned I was making a huge mistake going back to school after only getting my BS in Business in '99!!

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I realized 2 weeks away from grad'ing from an electronics tech program that I couldn't sit at a desk all day. That knowledge has proved invaluable and saved me thousands as well as made me thousands in another job where those skills were a minority part of the skill set.

At the time, I thought I had made a huge mistake. Now I realize there ARE NO MISTAKES :rolleyes:

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