Graduating nursing school.....now I'm not so sure I want to be a nurse!

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · May 10, 2014

We have ALL been there! The overwhelming sense of fear when you realize what you are about to do!

I remember even after years at the bedside...somewhere along the way I became the senior person on...I remember a patient was in bad trouble and rushed to help but when I looked for my back you I realized it was me! :eek:

You will encounter moments like this throughout your career and life. I felt the same way when I brought my daughter home from the hospital. I sat her in her carrier on the coffee table and I wondered...what have I done?

I have been a nurse now for 35 years and my daughter just turned 18 and will enter a 4 year nursing program in the fall. We both survived.

Remember school will not make you a "competent nurse" upon graduation it only makes you safe. YOU still have much to learn. Fear is healthy...it makes you safe. Even after many uyears of being a nurse when I returned after maternity leave I had butterflies. Every trauma made me nervous...until it arrived. Fear of making a mistake made me check everything. As long as it doesn't paralyze you.... you are fine.

It really annoys me when instructors make these statements. My first year instructor told me I would NEVER make a good nurse because I was independent and a loner. I looked at it that I was self sufficient and effective. It served me well in trauma flight.

I am sorry you have had a negative experience up until now. Nursing isn't for the faint of heart. Don't toss the towel in yet. Get that year in and if you still don't like it look to areas outside of nursing like pharmaceutical rep....case management. The world is your oyster and sometimes it needs a little more hot sauce....((HUGS))

norlns24 · May 10, 2014

I agree with the admin's comments. A little fear can be a positive. A little fear going into your first job and a sense of concern for the safety of your patients will keep you on your toes and mindful. Obviously the key word is a "little" fear, because moderate anxiety and above can be paralyzing and counter-productive.

I am still only a student myself, but researching the nursing job market and opportunities, there are so many areas to branch out into. There is literally something for everyone, and with work, research, experience, and a little luck, I am confident you can find an area of nursing that will fit your comfort level, interests, and personality.

I totally agree about the limited amount of clinical experience afforded to nursing students prior to graduation. I am part way through a BSN program, and one of our instructors flat-out told us that when we graduate, the ADN nurses will have 6 months to a year's advantage over us in terms of experience. I feel like clinicals are a great learning environment and a great way to apply so much of what we read about in a text book. The problem is the clinical day seems to fly by in a flash and there are so few of them (1 per week throughout our program).

Anyway, I hope you don't get too discouraged. Health care in general is such a wide open field for RNs. It's a highly portable job skill that is not going away anytime soon. You may not love your first job in nursing or even your second, but having any sort of job applying your skills will help you build a solid work resume and gain experience, and lead you closer to finding an area of health care you feel at home with and love..

Stella_Blue · May 10, 2014

I undernstand how you feel. I am too graduating this Thursday. Although I still know I want to be a nurse I am so scared its unreal. I have all these emotions of excitement, fear, anxiety, and nervousness all rolled into one. I think those fears and excitement were grown when I received a call for an interview for my dream job in the ER!

I am sorry that your clinical experiance was not the best. Luckily my teachers were very supportive and if I did not know something or made a small mistake they were very nurturing and helpful. I am hopimg once we actually obtain our licenses and become part of the team, the pieces will start to fall in place.

RavensNation · May 10, 2014

I agree with the admin's comments. A little fear can be a positive. A little fear going into your first job and a sense of concern for the safety of your patients will keep you on your toes and mindful. Obviously the key word is a "little" fear, because moderate anxiety and above can be paralyzing and counter-productive.
I am still only a student myself, but researching the nursing job market and opportunities, there are so many areas to branch out into. There is literally something for everyone, and with work, research, experience, and a little luck, I am confident you can find an area of nursing that will fit your comfort level, interests, and personality.
I totally agree about the limited amount of clinical experience afforded to nursing students prior to graduation. I am part way through a BSN program, and one of our instructors flat-out told us that when we graduate, the ADN nurses will have 6 months to a year's advantage over us in terms of experience. I feel like clinicals are a great learning environment and a great way to apply so much of what we read about in a text book. The problem is the clinical day seems to fly by in a flash and there are so few of them (1 per week throughout our program).
Anyway, I hope you don't get too discouraged. Health care in general is such a wide open field for RNs. It's a highly portable job skill that is not going away anytime soon. You may not love your first job in nursing or even your second, but having any sort of job applying your skills will help you build a solid work resume and gain experience, and lead you closer to finding an area of health care you feel at home with and love..

I'm actually in an ADN Program and my instructor did tell us we will have more clinical experience than the BSN students which is odd?? What is the reason for that? Any way even my clinicals haven't been very "good experiences" most of the instructors are flat out mean and like to scare you half to death...we are students we are there to learn, idk about most people but I don't learn through getting yelled at. I understand we need to have a sense of fear so we don't do anything dumb but some of them are over the top and I've never understood why? I don't think it's necessary.

OP I really hope you find something you enjoy in nursing... Part of me feels like you a lot though, I ask myself if I'm crazy, what am I thinking? I don't want to do this, but when I actually get into the hospital and I'm doing patient care I enjoy it and it sounds like you do too...hang in there, you got this!

M

LiveYourBrilliance · May 11, 2014

You are about to graduate? Congratulations for making it this far. Commend yourself on the caring and strong person you are. Nursing is not for the faint hearted. There are mean people every where, but nursing is no exception. Fortunately, it sounds like you are amongst the kind nurses-to-be. And the practice of nursing would be contributed to to have such as you amongst it ranks. Whatever you choose, take some time to enjoy yourself and pat yourself on the back. You have gained experience and skills that will transfer over to the rest of your life, no matter what endeavors you embark on. Cheers to your accomplishment. My tip for you: Get into a quiet relaxed space and ask yourself "Where will I be in 5 years if I chose to _____ (stay a nurse) Where will I be in 5 years if I choose _______ (to do something else) It's your life. Not your mothers'. What would it take for you to trust and follow your knowing? Good Luck!

bearpaw2222 · May 11, 2014

Thank you all for your kind words of encouragement. LiveYourBrilliance - I agree with taking some time reflect on what each choice will bring. I just can't believe now at the very end is when I have to start having major doubts.... UGH...

RunBabyRN · May 11, 2014

I think what you're feeling is very common. If you spend some time on this forum, you'll see this theme repeated A LOT from new grads. It's scary going out there and knowing that there's so much more to learn and that we DO have people's lives in our hands!

I keep hearing from people that the first year is the hardest, and that this is when the learning begins (I just graduated yesterday). I believe it! Like medical school (according to a DO friend of mine), nursing school basically just teaches you enough to not kill someone. The rest you'll learn on the floor. Be a sponge moving forward, have the humility it sounds like you have, and take the opportunities as they come... No, MAKE them happen!!! :) You've got this!

Congratulations!!

krisiepoo · May 12, 2014

I remember one of my first shifts on the floor after graduating. an aide wanted me to see a wound on someone and I almost said, "let me grab his nurse" then realized it was ME and that I needed to make the assessment. it's scary. I actually hope it never STOPS being scary because we can never know everything. School teaches you how to think critically so you can use that skill in your practice. I imagine I'll feel incompetent for at least a year.

Dia1234 · Jul 2, 2014

Wow, this is exactly what I've been thinking all this time... I got accepted into the program, but I decided to not going there. I might be doing a bid mistake, cuz "who knows - i might like it later", or "find a job that doesn't have to do with bedside care". But what if not?? I am really afraid to 1)deal with instructors like you described, 2)not find a "stable, well-paid, CLEAN" job after graduation....