Dropping out

Nursing Students General Students

Published

I started NS this semester. I was so excited to start. I am now one month into school I am having second thoughts. I just do not think that I can I am made for this profession. Don't get me wrong - I love to help people I just do not think that I can do it in this capacity. Maybe I had a glamorized view of what nursing is but it is nothing what I expected. I am thinking of dropping out and just continuing to get my bachelors in another field.

Thanks

Tracy

Specializes in LTC, Medical Day Care.

Hello...

I do not know you or exactly what you are feeling, but I can say that I felt the same way years ago starting as a CNA.....touching a patient is touching a patient. I was in the nursing home, and it was like...."you really are going to let me do this?" I was scared to death....this patient was dying and this was my first patient....i was 21 years old...petrified.

But I did it. And with the utmost care and respect(as much as possible). It does feel weird, it is uncomfortable, but that feeling

does pass. I promise, it does. You dont have to give everyone rub downs, and big hugs like some other students will(some people are different). That takes time...dont compare yourself to others...

Let it come to you. Start with small steps, do your patient care and the rest will be easy. You will see how you can make a world of difference by your smile and kind words. The touch is healing also, but it has to be natural.

You have worked your butt off to get there.....dont give up....youll never know if you dont try. Regret can be a ......

I wish you the best.......hang in there!!!

Brandy(Pre-Nursing student)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Thanks everyone for your input. It is just a little depressing because this yet again a thing I start and do not finish. I just know that I will not be able to do the clinical stuff.

I just have to tell my friends and family - which I am dreading. Everyone at work says - oh you are so bright you will be an excellent nurse. I want to help people but I just do not think that this is the way to do it.

Thanks again

Then dont quit, move on and stay in the program. I was in your boat once when I became a CNA, and it was rough the first wekk or so but you get use to it, and the patient care you learn is wonderful experieince, I have several students now in my LVN program with me that had never touched anyone, and 2 of those were boys, they are doing great, SO I know you can get through it. You will be thankful if you do and if you love helping people, the rewards are great and you will be happy with your self for doing so.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am so confused. I am really having an issue with touching someone I do not know. My sister always says to me - if you have a problem with changing my niece's poopy diaper how could I work with adult patients with different issues? I am now realizing that she is right. I am a compassionate person but now I realize that I was viewing nursing as a good salary and not as a helping profession. My biggest fear is having someone's life in your hands (I know that is what nursing is about - but I honestly did not realize it until starting nursing school).

I just think that I am better with books than with personal contact with people. I work with people everyday but it is not so persona. I will give myself until Friday to decide.

Thanks to everyone for your input.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Burns, ICU.
I am so confused. I am really having an issue with touching someone I do not know. My sister always says to me - if you have a problem with changing my niece's poopy diaper how could I work with adult patients with different issues? I am now realizing that she is right. I am a compassionate person but now I realize that I was viewing nursing as a good salary and not as a helping profession. My biggest fear is having someone's life in your hands (I know that is what nursing is about - but I honestly did not realize it until starting nursing school).

I just think that I am better with books than with personal contact with people. I work with people everyday but it is not so persona. I will give myself until Friday to decide.

Thanks to everyone for your input.

Tracy -

Only you know what you can handle. However I do agree with the earlier post - there are a lot of opportunities in nursing that do not require pt. contact. You do have to get through school though and that will require pt. contact. I don't have any advice other than follow your heart and just be sure to think it through and don't make any decisions too quickly. No matter what you decide we are behind you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

Hi, Tracy! I remember you from posts in the pre-nursing forum. In any case, there is NOTHING wrong with your decision and there is nothing wrong with changing your mind a million times, especially if you are young.

If you want to help people but you don't want to touch them, try social work. Other then an occasional hug from some grateful parent or client, you will not have to actually touch anyone. As for being respected, which I think you wish to have from family and friends, it is a very well respected field. It is just not as lucrative as nursing unless you open your own practice and/or gain a reputation within your community as the counselor/therapist everyone wants (this will not be a problem for you since you say most people you know respect your intelligence and love your personality). GL!

By the way, I had a patient emesis in front of me the other day. I do not care about such things so I had no trouble cleaning up the patient etc. but I have been told that it is a big deal to many. So, nursing is not for everyone? No big deal. Don't let anyone make you feel bad about finding a different path.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Hi, Tracy! I remember you from posts in the pre-nursing forum. In any case, there is NOTHING wrong with your decision and there is nothing wrong with changing your mind a million times, especially if you are young.

If you want to help people but you don't want to touch them, try social work. Other then an occasional hug from some grateful parent or client, you will not have to actually touch anyone. As for being respected, which I think you wish to have from family and friends, it is a very well respected field. It is just not as lucrative as nursing unless you open your own practice and/or gain a reputation within your community as the counselor/therapist everyone wants (this will not be a problem for you since you say most people you know respect your intelligence and love your personality). GL!

By the way, I had a patient emesis in front of me the other day. I do not care about such things so I had no trouble cleaning up the patient etc. but I have been told that it is a big deal to many. So, nursing is not for everyone? No big deal. Don't let anyone make you feel bad about finding a different path.

Thanks for your input. My biggest problem is breaking the news to my friends and family. I have decided to start at my previous school to finish up my bachelor's in Sociology and then go from there.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Thanks for your input. My biggest problem is breaking the news to my friends and family. I have decided to start at my previous school to finish up my bachelor's in Sociology and then go from there.

Thats good to hear. At least you have a plan in motion . Sorry you have to break the news to your family and freinds.

Nicolr

Up Vote Up Vote ×

oh Tracy I had no idea you felt this way, you know you can pull me aside and talk to me anytime you want. You've gone through so much and worked soooo hard just to get to this point. Please don't give up now.

(((hugs))) you know you have support and respect here no matter what decision you make.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Okay I don't feel like going back and forth (as I usually do),so just let that be known.

For the OP, I personally think you'll regret it. Eventhought you have som sort of fear of touching patients, if I were you I would stick nursing school out, get an RX or some therapy, and finish school. That is just my commn sense opinion.

Usually you would hear me say evaluate where your heart is first, but you remind me of a good friend, and I am not giving you that advice for a few reasons.

First you are already IN the program, second I don't think you really know where your heart is, and third b/c nursing is a great and diverse field. I do't think you truely know what your passion is, and I don't think dropping out of nursing school, to wander you way to it is your best out. I think that you should stick with it just b/c of what you said, "nurse = good pay (WHEREVER you are)". That way while you are searching for your passion, you will have a job that will enable you to do it being financially set. Also, there are MANY non clinical areas of nursing, non of which will be available to you if you drop out.

So in short, stick with it, get some help to get over your fear, and then find your passion (which just may lie in Nursing after all.)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Adult and Peds ED, Forensic Nursing.

Hey Tracy, I am so sorry to hear that you are feeling this way. I second mystiqx, if you want to talk tomorrow let me know.

I know I am about to break a therapeutic communication rule but.... If it's any consolation you are not alone. So far I have felt frustrated, overwhelmed, underwhelmed, bored, confused, lost, excited, competent, satisfied and tired. I am making peace with the rollercoaster, but it definitely needs enough highs to keep you going.

I have also had moments where I questioned if I am really making the right choice with nursing. Usually it is something specific that has made me uncomfortable (bed pans was one of the earlier ones) and set me off, but then I try and think about the future and all of the opportunities that will be open to me and I get through it. I have felt so awkward the few times I have had to touch patients so far, and can't help thinking I am going to hurt them. Even to just hold an old lady's hand I have been so hesitant, and then I force myself to do it and it hasn't been nearly as bad as I expected.

I can't/ won't tell you what you should do, but it does suck you have to decide so soon. Who knows, it may be something that you would get over given another month, or maybe not. I guess if you think about what part of nursing was attractive to you? There has to be something more that the pay, investment banker's secretaries also make that much. If you do like the helping aspect but don't like touching then maybe what the previous poster said about social work is a good idea? I was volunteering in psych on a substance abuse floor over the summer and there are RNs and Counselors working side by side as a team there (not without friction of course). I obviously have no idea the level of your discomfort, but it would be sad to let something surmountable derail what could be a really good thing.

Good luck, it's not an easy decision.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pain Management, RN experience was in ER.

Maybe I'm just all advice-d out from dealing with family and friend drama over the past month, but I'm going to just say this anyway. I've been telling a friend all month long "do what your heart tells you to do"... but girl, that advise doesn't always work, and I'm tired of giving it in different words over and over.

Now that that's out of my system, I'm going to tell you what I really feel. I'm a CNA now. When I started out, I'd be damned if I ever hugged someone without saturating myself in germocide. I hated the idea of wiping someone's behind, getting close to transfer people, even putting lotion on them. But I kept at it, because the profession of nursing just intrigues me. I love learning about medicine, therapeutic techniques, IV's, and seeing people get better, even if I can't save them all. I love the idea that I'm in the center of all of that.

A year later, the poop, the smells, the gross leakages from every orifice... its ALL second nature to me. You better believe that I carry large amounts of hand sanitizer with me, but I'm not afraid to do those things anymore.

Finish the semester. That way at least get you can get a job as a CNA to see if it'll grow on you. You're in the first semester (I believe is what I read) so you're doing all the grunt work now. But we haven't even got to IVs, insulin, trach's, and lotsa fun stuff :)

I'm not you. I can't make your decision. But I think you're being too rash. It's intimidating seeing everything for the first time in your life. Think about why you wanted to be in nursing school, and believe in that again until you REALLY know what you want to do. I don't think two months is enough for you to make such a hasty decision that took you so long to get to.

Sorry if I'm being insensitive, it's just I feel like being REAL for a whole second, and not that yall arent being real when you give your own advice different than mine. I just mean, I feel like actually saying what I feel, and what I would do if I were you. And I was similar to you a year ago. So I know where you're coming from.

And if you still don't like the idea of being a nurse, I know it's hard to break it to everyone, but you also can't live life miserable because you're afraid to tell everyone how you're going to run your own life. They'll get over it. And when you finally feel comfortable in a position, everything else will come together.

Oh, and do that follow your heart thing too. :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Tracy, before you make any rash decision...I would strongly suggest that you try to finish the semester. Just take one day at a time. I can't tell you how much I kick myself because since I graduated some 20+ years ago, I've been going around and around with nursing...having quit a couple of times when I was in my first month. I've one final chance this January and whatever I do, I will finish the semester even if I should find nursing isn't for me, I will not feel like I am going to spend so much time hitting my head against the wall. Clinicals too worry me, but I realize that I must live one day at a time.

At least if you finish the semester (which is what only two months away?), you can say that I tried it and I don't think nursing is for me. Unfortunately, you really haven't given it a chance (just like I didn't).

Look into the reasons why you wanted to go in for nursing? Has this been a long dream coming? If you've invested a lot of time...don't give up. I, too, flip flopped alot during my years...because I knew I wasn't being true to myself and giving it a shot.

Another thing in the sense of touching your patients, sometimes doing no more than giving a light touch on the arm can mean so much to your patients. How scary is it to be in the hospital and feel so alone and isolated...you need to try to stop thinking about your own discomfort (and this goes for me too!) and think of your patients and their discomfort.

Please, please...don't quit right off. It isn't like you are going to be able to start back on your sociology degree tomorrow...give it the rest of the semester.

Best wishes,

Kris

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment