Not sure if Nursing is for me, guidance please? :)

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Okay so I've seen this post around a few times, but everyone seems to have different circumstances. I know that my indecision is currently being felt by many, and I just wanted to get an opinion from some other nurses out there.

I'm just about done my first year of nursing (bsn), and I am stressed out of my mind. I can't sleep because I can't stop thinking about this, I'm crying all the time, and can't focus my mind. I'm not too sure what made me apply for nursing in the first place, it just sort of came to me. I spent a year at a college, taking some courses to lighten my load for the first year of nursing. I still wasn't sure if nursing was right for me when I started the school year, but everyone assured me that I would know at the end of the year if it was right. Well, I'm at the end of the year, and I'm more confused than ever. Obviously I am aware of the job security, the countless options, how there's always something to do, etc, but I feel that that's not enough when it comes to a career in nursing, I don't want to hate what I'm doing just to have job security and a good paycheck.

I have loved all the theoretical work and book work we have done, and I just went into my first clinical setting this semester at a rehab/medical floor at our local hospital. I learned very quickly how difficult and draining it was, and how as an actual RN, I would have so much more to do. I ended up making a decision about mid semester that I would finish the semester, then not return to the program. I really did not enjoy clinical. I hated how stressful it was, and how their lives were in my hands. I learned how extremely significant a med error could be, and how an error of mine could seriously injure a person. I like doing vitals, but the charting is endless, and I hate the paperwork we have to do. I like interacting with the patients, and am okay with the sight of blood, but am feeling woozy looking at and cleaning wounds, etc. The thought of putting an NG tube or catheter in someone scares the heck out of me and really grosses me out. I am a very emotional, and stressful person as is, and I worry that nursing would just lead me to have a mental breakdown. However, I do love helping people and interacting with them, and I love science and learning how the body works with diseases, etc.

I have always thought I would be an L&D nurse, and never really considered or had any pull to work in any other speciality or floor of nursing. Obviously though, I haven't had the chance to experience OB yet, and I hear it can be crazy stressful, and have so many ethical issues.

Lately, I have been second guessing my thoughts of dropping out of the program. I don't want to regret this decision 10 years down the road, wishing I would have stayed in. The night shifts and holiday work make me cringe, but I just feel so unsure about what I should do. Now that I have experienced what an actual nurse would do day to day (on a rehab floor at least), it makes me extremely disgruntled to think of having to do that all the time.

I have learned that nursing is an extremely draining, and a physically and mentally tough job. I appreciate all the nurses so much more after experiencing what you guys have to do, and the amount of work that goes into a crazy 12 hour day. I just want to know, have any of you been in this position? Did you almost drop out? Do you wish you would have? I'm not looking for someone to make this decision for me, as I know that I can only make this decision myself, for me, but I just want to know if nursing is something I should seriously reconsider since I feel this way? I used to feel so passionate in the beginning, but now, I feel depressed.

Thanks for all of your help.

Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

There are many nursing positions that do not involve being in an emergency position. I wouldn't like that either.I work on a Complex Continuing Care Floor and we have many rehab patients. We also have palliative and patients waiting for nursing home placement and some medical as well. I really enjoy the teaching aspect and figuring out what is going on based on symptoms.Unfortunately assessing BM and doing charting is part of the job as well. Any nursing job will have charting, you can't escape that.

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Specializes in AC, LTC, Community, Northern Nursing.

If u like to help and teach then u can do dietician, pt/ot, diabetic education.. You dont have to be a nurse.. There are lots of different jobs in healthcare

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Specializes in geriatrics.

If you want to be a dietician, that's a separate degree. RD is four years of nutrition, plus a one year Masters or internship. OT/PT is also a separate program.

Diabetic education is possible, but that is also a separate certification after your nursing program has been completed.

You could try to get in to Public Health nursing, but those positions are not easy to obtain straight out of nursing school. Mental health might be an area of interest to you.

There are many avenues that you might enjoy OP. However, the job market is poor across the country, so you will need to be flexible with that first job. After a couple of years, you will have more success moving into an area you want. There are many options.

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Everybody is giving you lots of ideas. Have you thought about seeing a career counsellor?

You are only one semester or perhaps a year into nursing school. There is no shame in walking away.

Put it this way, one year of your life, walk away and chalk it up to experience. Finish the degree? Three more stressful years and approximately $30K in student loans. Then you'll have to work full time hours to repay the loan, in a job that you seem to veering towards not wanting to do. Then hopefully after you've paid off the loan in a couple of years, you might find a job you enjoy or wind up hating everything and wondering why you did this to yourself.

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Yeah i've been looking into other careers, but it just seems like my mind is all over the place. I may just go and see a career counsellor. You're right, Fiona, and I appreciate your honesty. I have only invested 1 year specifically to nursing, and I am only 19 so I suppose it's right to take time to make this decision instead of staying and occurring even more student loan debt.

I really appreciate all the help. It's nice to be able to talk about this, I don't talk about it with anyone else in my program. I'd feel judged and like I'm a failure. Props to all these great nurses for the support, y'all are the best :)

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It's OK, some of us have kids your age and we know what they are undergoing trying to figure out their lives. One of mine planned on nursing but after hearing about my shifts said no way in hades, no matter how good the money would they be able to stand nursing for 35 years to get a pension.

You are still young with your entire life ahead of you. Most of us who have answere you came to nursing as a second career sow we have other life experiences to judge nursing against.

Somebody once told me never to settle for anything in any aspect of my life. If I'd listened to him, my life would be very different and I wouldn't be a nurse!

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

Haha I have one that always said there was no way she wanted to be a nurse.She just started an RPN program in January.

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Why not try the LTC? Ontario long term cares have RNs as the nurse manager . Ull have more of a leadership role . An with few years of experience as a RN you an be an associate director of care or even Director of care ! More management work . Still nursing!

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Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.
Why not try the LTC? Ontario long term cares have RNs as the nurse manager . Ull have more of a leadership role . An with few years of experience as a RN you an be an associate director of care or even Director of care ! More management work . Still nursing!

That's not a good plan if she doesn't want to be a nurse. Managers in LTC need nursing experience first.

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The best managers I had in LTC/CC were the ones who would come out and turn and change products when the;units were short staffed.

The same in Acute Care. The manager I respect the most will still do bedside when needed.

A nurse that doesn't want to nurse isn't going to be a good manager.

Like the OP has stated they don't want to be the nurse that doesn't want to be there. S/he is just finishing the first year. There is no shame for walking away. Telling someone to persevere and become an NP or a manager when they don't enjoy it now is almost cruel.

There are many, many things in my life I have regrets about. Nursing isn't one of them. I loathed the LTC part of my education. I sat in the parking lot and cried a couple of times but I just knew I wanted to do it in the long run.

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Specializes in AC, LTC, Community, Northern Nursing.

If u are not interested in nursing but want to help then look at the jobs i previously posted.. Theres no she in walking away.. Better than incurring debt.. Looking at how i came to nursing i wouldnt of done the careers i had previously and went straight to be an RN.. This job is not right for everyone.. You are still findig yourself but u recognize that this may not be for you.. Kudos.. Talk woth a guidance counsellor.. Good luck

All management nursing requires a few yrs of experience they may say 2 in the job description but usually its alot more.. Again Good luck

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Specializes in geriatrics.
Why not try the LTC? Ontario long term cares have RNs as the nurse manager . Ull have more of a leadership role . An with few years of experience as a RN you an be an associate director of care or even Director of care ! More management work . Still nursing!

I've worked LTC for almost 3 years. I enjoy LTC, but I'm looking to change it up. Aside from all the administrative duties, you have a ton of meds and documentation.

Think 30-50 residents or more, depending on where you work and one or two nurses for everyone. Two nurses is generous. You need to develop superior assessment and prioritization skills, because geriatric patients quickly deteriorate. You learn to work smart and fast...but the care needs to be done properly.

After 3-4 years, nurses can apply for an Associate Director position, but many people discover LTC is not for them. It's becoming more and more acute in LTC, since less complex cases generally live in lodges or at home.

Management positions still involve floor shifts, too, which means you'll need to understand the role of the floor nurse first. When we're short, the manager has to work shifts and push a med cart, transcribe orders, wound dressings, etc.

Effective leaders started on the floors and they understand nursing care. The admin duties are in addition to their nursing skills. Also, people don't respect managers who only push papers.

LTC is expanding, but suggesting that someone can apply for a management position without the experience....well, any reputable facility would not accept someone without the knowledge. LTC is a specialty in its own right.

OP, sometimes the first year is very overwhelming. However, only you will know whether nursing is the right choice. Just be prepared for long hours, hard work and politics wherever you end up. There are no easy nursing jobs. Each area has its pros and cons, and as a new grad, you will probably need to accept a less desirable position in order to gain the experience and transition into your preferance.

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