[Bee06]

I can't say that I always wanted to become a nurse but it was always in the back of my mind. I want a career in which I can make a difference in someone's life and help them, and a career that will always be in demand that's why I choose nursing. I'm am currently taking pre-requisites and transferring to a 4 year university in the fall of '08. But recently I started having doubts. I keep asking myself "What if I finish school and I regret becoming a nurse" or "What if I decide that its not for me when I'm halfway done with school"? This is really stressing me out and I don't know what to do. I've been also thinking about going to college to become a paralegal but this is different than nursing. Blood doesn't really make me woozy but I do have a problem with some "gross" and "nasty" things and I wish I could overcome this fear and just go for it because I keep thinking that this is the right career for me. I'm scared that I won't do good in school once I start clinicals and that I won't be able to start an IV ..lol..I know this sounds so ridiculous but did any other nurses have the same fears? This is really stressing me out and preventing me from doing something I want to do so bad. When I think about it maybe I'm not cut out to be a nurse when I'm worried aboutt it so much! Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you!

[qldmalenurse]

Hi Bee06,
I say go for it. If you find out that its not for you, you can always change careers later on...which is what I have done, except in reverse. I have done many varied jobs in the past and now i'm nursing (I'll graduate next year all being well). I have been working as an assistant nurse on a surgical ward here in Brisbane for the last 15 months and it is very satisfying. You have taken the time to seek out other peoples opinions on the subject, which suggests to me that you are really keen, so give it a go. Hope this helps.

[traumaRUs]

What about getting a job in the healthcare industry first? Or volunteering to see if you like it?

[Bee06]

Thank you both for your answers. I tried getting a job in a hospital and I applied to different hospitals and to different positions but thet never called me back. Volunteering is not an option because I have to work to pay for school. I'm so stressed out over this and scared if I go for it I would have wasted 4 years of my life on something I hate doing and that would be bad. On top of that I would be broke because I'm paying for school, no loans, no grants, nothing, it's all coming out of my pocket.

[qldmalenurse]

I here what your saying, and I know all about wasted years (I'm going to graduate at 38!), but I still thinks its worth it. Good luck.

[DreamyEyes]

Hey Bee,

I would definitely take a CNA course. They're usually really short (anywhere from 2 to 8 weeks). I did this, and I'm glad I did. I always thought I wanted to be a nurse, because I'm a very compassionate and sensitive person. I've been working as a CNA for the past 3 months, and I've decided nursing is NOT for me. I don't regret working as a CNA at all- I plan to continue to work as a CNA until I figure out what I'm going to do as far as schooling goes; I'm just glad that I took the CNA course, otherwise I'd figuring out in nursing school that it wasn't for me! Maybe you could get a non-healthcare job for the time being, but then volunteer once a week at a hospital? Good luck.

[MJK2005RN]

I was in the same boat. I never grew up knowing that nursing was my calling. I just decided to go for it because of security and pretty good pay. Now I am so happy with my choice. Of course there are nightmare days but I think that comes with every profession. I had the same fears and worries when I was going through school. Honestly, the first few months I started working as a nurse I wondered what I had gotten into. However, as I became more experienced and more confident I realized that nursing truly is my calling. The thing I love most about nursing is that there are so many opportunities. If I am not cut out for ortho, I can try my hand at neuro; do I want to be at the bedside or admin; nights or days...the sky's the limit!