Help! Should I be a nurse?

[Rdawson11]

Hey guys,

I am a nursing student currently in the midst of taking my prerequisites. I am now 25 years old, but when I was 19 I was hired as a Patient Care Technician for a dialysis company after graduating from a Medical Assistant program. I absolutely loved Medical Assistant school, but I resigned from the dialysis company just before my training ended. So my question is, should I become a nurse? There are three reasons why I quit dialysis. 1) I had caused a patient pain when inserting the giant gauged needle used for dialysis into the patient's fistula, and I felt so bad for hurting the patient that I went outside to cry. 2) I am absolutely horrible at math and I would freeze every time my preceptor would ask me a dosage/math question. 3) The hours were horrible. 14 - 16 hour shifts. I know that all three of these are things that I would have to deal with as a nurse. Do you think these are things that I can better handle now that I am older and going to school and know what I would be getting into? Or should I think about looking into a different career? Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

[FutureNurseInfo]

Only you know what is best for you. However, I would say that making mistakes as a nursing student and, as a new grad nurse, is inevitable. No matter how well you do in the nursing program, you WILL make mistakes. So, you did hurt the patient and I know how horrible you must have felt. But, this is an experience you learn from so next time you think twice before you do anything. I will also add that you are not the only one who may struggle with math. Just practice some dosage calculations problems and you will be fine. Finally, I am sure everyone at one point or another froze up when caught of guard or in front of the class to answer a question or say something. And it is ok. Nobody wants to be put under the spot light. If you truly want to be a nurse, you will do whatever it takes. Working a 12 hour shift does suck, but eventually, with experience, your body will adjust to such long hours and you will persevere.

Btw, I am not a nursing student but I have been through school twice, earning two degrees, so I have experienced scenarios I have described.

[KiwiKatt]

Hi! If nursing is something you think you'll enjoy, go for it. No one enjoys hurting other people or working such long shifts! Only you know what you can handle and can't handle. If you want it bad enough, you CAN do it. I recommend at least trying it. See if you can shadow a nurse for a day and you can kind of get an idea from that. As for hurting people, @FutureNurseInfo made a valid point. It is inevitable when it comes to making mistakes. Even the most experienced nurse can and probably does mess up. You're a human being and you'll learn. No one is perfect. I'm really bad at math too, but a little practice with medical math become a easier over time. You eventually come to memorize the information because you'll be applying it. When I first started taking classes invloving math I panicked. It was so difficult at first because it takes me longer to solve problems. If you really want to do nursing, you'll find ways to overcome your habit of freezing. You have to fail to learn sometimes and that's okay! I wish you the best of luck with everything and I hope it all turns out well for you!

[Rdawson11]

Thank you so much for your response! Sorry I took so long to reply. I have decided to continue on in pursuit on my nursing degree! Thanks again!