Do You Regret Nursing School?

[ladylou88]

Hi everyone

After earning a BS in another field, I decided to give nursing a try and went back for my BSN. After one year, I dropped out due to burnout working as a CNA and hearing negative comments about nursing. All I ever wanted to do in nursing was become a NICU nurse. I am in grad school for physical therapy now, and I wonder if I made a mistake. I don't want to go back to nursing school only to decide it is not for me...again, seeing as I would be losing a lot of money.

So, my question is, does anyone regret becoming a nursing student? Looking back on their schooling choices, do you wish you pursued something else?

[guiltysins]

Wow LOL I don't think many people noticed this post was started over 6 years ago!

[ag11]

I cried when my 1st semester clinical instructor yelled in my face; screamed at my hubby when the kids wouldnt sleep and I needed to study; had many mini melt downs because of paper work deadlines on top of lecture exams..lost an enormous amount of wt because of the stress involved; ended up with htn; and even became broke with the recession; But I will never call it regret...I can call it the essence of blood and sweat that lead me to my dream come true and now my last semester...thank goodnesss!

[ag11]

lol was it? hehe..got carried away there

[Nepenthe Sea]

Right now, no, but I worry that I will. I have spent the last four years doing prereqs and nursing classes. I used to love school, but last semester took it's toll on me. I am graduating in May, and hating school right now. My kids were 18 months old when I started school (twins). I feel like I have had very little time for them. I have ignored my family. My dad died last spring, six months after being dx with lung CA, and I did not spend enough time with him. I have spent an average of 10 hours per week with my boyfriend of three years (while in school, at least). My sister has accused me of being a crappy mom because I don't spend enough time with my kids. I have spent no time with friends, and hardly do anything fun. Now, if the end result is that I have a career that I enjoy, and can make eough money to support my kids, then it will probably all be worth it. But I'm afraid that I will get out there and hate it, like so many do.

On a positive note, my goal is to get into NICU, and I spent six weeks externing there last summer, so I have a pretty good idea of what it really is like to be a nurse in that setting. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and couldn't believe that I got paid to do it (and I didn't even make NEAR what a nurse would make!). There are nurses in that unit that have been there for 27-30 years, and have never worked anywhere else. So maybe I will love it too!