[SPCStudent]

I am only in week 2 and I am starting to worry, "what If I have spent all this money on books, taken out a loan, stressing out studying every day and then it's not the right profession? Does anyone else have this fear? Maybe when I get into clinicals and start going to the hospital I will know? I have never worked in an office (non-medical related) for 11 years and now I am making a big change and am worried. Please help!
Thanks!

[HealthyRN]

You may not really know if nursing is right for you until you begin working as an RN. Clinicals will give you an idea as to what being an RN will be like and they will help you to identify areas of nursing that you may enjoy. Even when you begin working as an RN, you may find that you don't like the speciality that you choose. It doesn't necessarily mean that you don't like all areas of nursing. Remember, there are lots of options in nursing and a place for almost everyone if you are willing to be flexible and put in the time and hard work.

The first year of nursing school can be very challenging because you are learning a new way to think and all of the information is new. Keep that in mind if you are feeling stressed and overwhelmed. I know that I went through a period where I was certain that I made the wrong decision. However, if you don't find anything that you are learning to be interesting and you hate the work involved in your clinicals, you may want to reevaluate your career choice. Talking to a career counselor or an academic advisor about your concerns may help.

[allthingsbright]

Originally Posted by SPCStudent

I am only in week 2 and I am starting to worry, "what If I have spent all this money on books, taken out a loan, stressing out studying every day and then it's not the right profession? Does anyone else have this fear? Maybe when I get into clinicals and start going to the hospital I will know? I have never worked in an office (non-medical related) for 11 years and now I am making a big change and am worried. Please help!
Thanks!

Well, don't let the stress of nursing school disuade you from persuing nursing! I guess I know I want to do this because all this work wouldn't be worth it otherwise--despite the He** I have been through, I still want to be a nurse!!! Of course, it may take me some time after I graduate to find the right job and be comfortable, but I am willing to be patient.

Take a deep breath and dig in...you applied, took pre-reqs, and changed careers for a reason! Remember the reasons you left your old job/career and use those to motivate you. Best wishes!

[krenee]

I've had the same worries . . . and I'm starting to sound like a broken record, I think, because I've said this before, but my theory is that there are many very different jobs within the nursing field. I think if you don't like floor nursing, for example, you might like to be a school nurse, or a home health care nurse, or a nurse manager . . . there are nurses with Kaiser who are phone nurses and don't see patients at all. I definitely say stick with it. There are many opportunities and obviously something about nursing appealed to you or you wouldn't have come this far.

Good luck!
Kelly

[SPCStudent]

Thank you so much!! I needed to hear that!! You have made my day.

[Crimsonking]

I don't know about others and how they knew it was the right profession, but for me it was more of an epiphany (I hate spelling that word). I compare this question to "How did you know you wanted to get married?" My answer these questions are the same. I couldn't see myself doing anything else. Caring, selflessness, devotion, passion are what I'm bringing to the relationship and I know it will be receprocated. I know there will be bumps in the road, but I'm willing to work through them. Nothing worth having is easy.

Anyway, this is my "corney" answer, but it is honest. I wish you luck. God Bless.

[nursekatie22]

I've been on my own as a RN for only about a month or so, and I know what you mean. I owe about $92,000 and I think that kind of thing all the time. But it's a good place to be....it's harder to imagine that while you're in school and studying your ass off and getting stressed beyond all reason, etc, but it'll be okay. I didn't even want to do nursing at all until I hit OB, and that was halfway through my second year of the program!!

I'm still not sure if this is what I'll do for the rest of my life, but, I don't know. I guess we'll always have questions about what-if's and if-onlys, but if you even like nursing a little, stay with it because it's one of the best jobs in the world!