Nursing School Needs Repair (And Why I Quit)

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I'm a 56 year old former Industrial Engineer and Project Manager who was previously accepted into several accelerated 2nd bachelor degree nursing programs in Florida. Having been a full-time caregiver to my mom for 7 years, I wanted to help people with dementia on a professional level. The problem is I've been accepted into (and dropped) 3 programs. All 3 were disorganized messes with confusion about books, remedial dosage calculation problems where the answer keys were wrong, surprise projects not on the syllabus, and confusion about whether or not we would be injecting each other with solutions that may or may not be sterile??? There has GOT TO BE A BETTER WAY TO EDUCATE NURSES. And there needs to be greater focus on nursing students taking care of themselves rather than being stretched like a banjo wire and expected to take care of very ill patients. OMG. This system is in chaos.

As I see it, anytime you're able to work with a nurse- in school or in practice- you're lucky. I have some good and some not great nursing instructors, but I'm grateful for every bit of time I'm given to learn with them because I always know they could be doing just about anything else. I think there are a LOT of things that could be changed about nursing school, but accept that a bit of chaos is part of the game. If you can't handle the chaos and uncertainty of nursing school, chances are working on the floor with the chaos of patients and disease would be hard for you too.

PS- but yes don't use unsterile fluid to practice shots on anything living!

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Specializes in Critical Care.

The purpose of nursing school is to prepare you to work in various healthcare settings, and in general these settings are fairly dysfunctional, so a nursing program that familiarizes you with dysfunction is doing what it's supposed to do.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

It's not uncommon for strong personalities with years of experience and high achievement in another discipline to have major difficulties switching to nursing. Hell, I had a hard time switching from fashion display to nursing when I was 19. You need to become teachable and at least consider tabling your expectations and trusting the process. There will probably be a lot you don't like.

On the plus side, this crossroads will force you to confront the question of how much do you really want this? I think you'd be an asset to the profession, but you have to get here first. Regardless, all honor to you for years of steadfast caregiving to your loved one.

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That was a dumb comment: maybe try psych nursing? clearly OP is not cut out for nursing school. Psych nurses undergo the same training as any other RN and pass the same boards. So what makes "psych nursing" better for the OP. Wrong answer and insult to psych nurses!!!

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It sounds to me that you are at a stressful life transition. I don't know if you've just lost your mom, but my sense is that you are grasping toward nursing to fill an emotional void.

You might want to take stock and reevaluate the direction you want to take. There are many other paths that involve assisting people. It sounds like nursing school is not for you.

Excellent point. Have you considered psych nursing?

That was a dumb comment: maybe try psych nursing? clearly OP is not cut out for nursing school. Psych nurses undergo the same training as any other RN and pass the same boards. So what makes "psych nursing" better for the OP. Wrong answer and insult to psych nurses!!!

Go back and re-read the string of comments. Been there, done that directed that comment towards Emergent not the OP.

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That was a dumb comment: maybe try psych nursing? clearly OP is not cut out for nursing school. Psych nurses undergo the same training as any other RN and pass the same boards. So what makes "psych nursing" better for the OP. Wrong answer and insult to psych nurses!!!

Re-read the comment. It was directed to the responder, not the OP. The responder brought up the emotional side of the issue and I appreciated that. I would never insult psych nurses, I did psych for years.

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Specializes in ER.
Re-read the comment. It was directed to the responder, not the OP. The responder brought up the emotional side of the issue and I appreciated that. I would never insult psych nurses, I did psych for years.

I didn't realize that comment was directed at me. Thanks for the compliment.

I may have a glimmer of insight into human emotions and inner motives now and then, but psyche nursing is definitely not my calling.

Of course, every bedside nurse should have some ability in this area, since psychologically unstable people often have physical ills as well.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Oh, please. Let's not pretend it's not frustrating to be in a disorganized nursing program. I do not understand why schools can't get it together on a curriculum they run every single year. I attended two different colleges prior to going to nursing school and I was never met with such a level of disorganization, confusion, varying expectations, etc. as I was when I entered my nursing program. There are constant changes to the topical, sudden test/class location changes, inconsistent application of the "rules", vague and conflicting responses from instructors when asking for clarification.... the list just goes on and on. It's truly mind-boggling to me and I can fully understand why OP hates it. All of that said, I expect stress, sudden changes, unpredictability, etc. in the hospital setting because that's the nature of the game, but I really don't get why school itself has to be such a mess and I empathize with OP!

I also would never quit my program just because its disorganized. I have managed to get along fine courtesy of my planner, keeping an eagle eye on the topical and online announcements, and networking with my classmates/instructors to make sure I hear about changes as soon as they happen. All of that is worth it if it means that at the end of next semester I get to graduate and be a nurse :)

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We always need new ideas and fresh blood. However-you have to punch you ticket to ride to the NCLEX to be part of the solution. I always enjoyed 2nd degree.career changers for their perspective/maturity/life experience. I challenge the original poster to get to the NCLEX and be part of the solution!

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

After 3 schools the issue isn't them, it's you. You just have to be adult enough to admit it.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

And the OP was never heard from again ...

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After 3 schools the issue isn't them, it's you. You just have to be adult enough to admit it.

This! I think I quit nursing school everyday and got up and went right back to class. If you really want to be a nurse, you make a way!

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