Advice needed

[Lauren D]

So I was a student in an accelerated BSN program. Began August 2014 and expected to finish October 2017. Straight out of high school I started this program. 1. Because my mother is a nurse 2. Nursing is almost the only career in my culture and ethnicity (Filipino) 3. My mom has pressured me my entire high school career about going here. I volunteered in the hospital, did my research and decided it would be best since I'd be getting my degree faster than most, my

mom would be happy and proud, and I'd be able to stay at home. I've completed all of my prerequisites. FYI a term is 10 weeks with 9 weeks of classes and the 10th week a break. Every term these classes change. Fast forward to now, I've failed introduction to medical surgical theory (by 1.5 points) and have just failed physical assessment theory. I'm getting kicked out. Why did I fail? I feel like I've been so stressed from all the pressure my mom gives me to finish on time and if I ever fail it'll be the death of me, and the feeling that I'm too young to be doing this. I'm 19 years old. I'm too young to be so overwhelmed with all of this pressure and responsibility. It would've been amazing to have a career by the time I'm 21. But now I've failed because I've been feeling so burnt out lately and discouraged. I've been questioning If i even really want to be a nurse. Now I've failed and im

getting kicked out. If i continue to want to be a nurse, I can get my LVN then come back to my school for LVN to BSN. But that's going to add another 3 years basically. I was thinking about changing my major to Marketing Manager because I'm great at mathematics and etc. I guess what I'm asking is A. How did you KNOW you wanted to become a nurse? B. Am I too young and naive to know what I want to do for the rest of my life? And C. Am I wrong to have been so overwhelmed with this school..

It would mean so much to me for some advice.

[jhinds12]

I started off in law enforcement, and now I am currently a mental health tech on a psychiatric unit and a nursing student. I realized I wanted to be a nurse when I realized there was such a stigma about mental illness and substance abuse. I wanted to help people struggling with these problems. So I left law enforcement and got the job I do now, and I got myself into a nursing program.

Nursing school is very hard, it consumes your life literally a lot of people will tell you that. Therefor you really have to want to do it and be passionate about nursing in order to survive nursing school cause it will test you. Follow your heart and follow your gut. Maybe take a year off from school and just work and give yourself time to decide what you want to do.

[tootRN]

Hi, Lauren-

Sorry to hear about all this stress coming your way... deep breath!

I think a super important question you need to ask yourself is how do YOU know that YOU want to be a nurse? Forget other people's reasons and the pressure that's surrounding you to do it... and really do some self-reflecting on if this is what you want to do with your life.

Nursing is a fantastic career... for those who choose it! School will be tough and overwhelming for even the most prepared of students! Nursing is a life-long commitment; to yourself, your patients and the profession.

Whatever you choose to do with yourself should be your choice-- this is my best advice. If this is not your desire, don't do it! You don't want to be a miserable nurse :-) That can equal danger!

I wish you well and hope that you follow your heart! And don't rush yourself... it's not a race. ;-)

[Ladyscrubs]

I think being a LPN is a great way to go. I had difficulty in high school, and was unable to pass the test for RN so I went the LPN route. The class structure, skills lab, and the clinical were intense but very doable to a shy 18 year old. I graduated at 19, took NCLEX, and went to college and continued to take all my prerequisites and electives. I entered a RN diploma program when I was just 24—graduated at 27.

When I was 45 I earned two undergrad degrees, one being my BSN—In a total of six years I earned a total of three degrees, my last being an MSN. At present I am seeking my specialty certifications and in three short weeks I am starting law school.

I love working with LPN's and I feel I am a terrific bedside nurse because I was privileged to be one, and I think it is a crying shame that LPN's are underutilized.

I work as a floor nurse and part time as a clinical instructor (both LPN and BSN). When I hear a BSN student make a comment that "well she only is a LPN," or "she only has her ASN or Diploma," I enlighten them to the fact that they are under the tutelage of a LPN and Diploma nurse and we are all an integral part of the health care team.

We all mature and come into our own at different ages and times in our lives. Hugs to you Lauren

[SCSTxRN]

A. Because I wanted to be a nurse practitioner; and I wake up every morning excited to come to work. I tried to get all of my kids to do it, my older 2 went to CNA school and decided nursing is *NOT* their passion. They are happy in their chosen fields, and I am happy for them.

B. No - some people know what they want to do, some don't... but if you are doing it for anything other than passion for the profession and the fact you can't imagine *NOT* doing it - nursing is not for you.

C. ABSOLUTELY NOT.

And you didn't ask - but I'm going to add a

D. Pursue your passion. Being miserable in your job, whatever it is, is not worth it. The pressure and stress you are putting on yourself sounds like it is pushing you toward depression.