Pre-Nursing Worries - Anyone Else Experiencing This?

[usfgirl]

Okay, so I am going to try to sum this up in the most efficient way possible...

I am on my last semester of pre-reqs and am also in the process of filling out apps to FL schools (BSN programs) for fall 2013. I initially got into nursing because I thought I wanted to be involved in medicine, but was not interested in being a doctor. I am an extremely nurturing person and enjoy taking care of others. I liked the idea that nursing felt more tangible to me - fewer prerequisites than MD, and only 2 years of school after pre-reqs. Also, I really felt that nursing would be more suited to my personal goals in life that are non-career related (like having a family, etc.).

So here is my problem: Half of the time, I am so into being a nurse. The other half, I am desperately looking for another major.

When I am volunteering (at a local hospital), I see what the nurses actually do, and I am so confident. For a volunteer, I get A LOT of patient interaction, and help the nurses with anything they ask. I'm not crazy about all of the aspects of bedside nursing (cranky families, customer service, etc.) but I believe I could do it with a smile on my face because, in my experience, there are a few patients whose wonderful attitude and appreciation make up for a lot of the negativity (I have met some WONDERFUL patients who I know I will never forget!). I should point out, though, that this is just my observation and initial thought based on what I have seen.

Here's where my confidence gets ruined:

- I cannot stand my pre-requisites. I have had A+P I and II online, and am currently taking Micro and Sociology online. Doing my A+P work online excited me just as much as getting a root canal would. I managed to get As in both (for the lecture and lab portions), but man was it a pain! I feel exactly the same way about Micro, and luckily Sociology is easy and painless. My main worry here is that I feel like I should enjoy A+P and Micro - isn't science the foundation of nursing? Could I feel this way because of the online experience, rather than having had a live class?

- I live in FL, and I hear about the horrible job possibilities and low wages (especially on AN). I would hope that, after graduation, I could seek help through family/friends/past volunteer supervisors to help me find a job since I have heard that knowing people can greatly improve your chances. But, isn't it sad that it comes down to knowing people? I just don't want to go through nursing school and come out of it jobless.

-I don't know if Nursing is for me anymore, but sometimes I think that I have just psyched myself out. I find hope in the fact that, when I browse other majors and careers, I always come back to Nursing. But, I know that Nursing school will take a lot of dedication and study hours. At this point, I am so confused and I am afraid that my heart's not in it. After all, when I am up to my neck in hw, I often cannot even remember why I truly wanted to be a nurse in the first place. That complicates things application-wise (essays often include a question like that).

The bottom line is, I am having these feelings and I feel like I am alone. I can't tell if this indecisiveness (which is so not like me) is simply from the stress, long pre-requisite process, and reading too many AN articles (just the truth lol), or if I have a serious problem on my hands.

Even on my worst days, I tell myself to see where I get accepted and to give it a try. If I honestly hate nursing school, at least I can say I followed through and gave it an honest try. I would rather know and have hindsight then to pass up the chance and think "what if?" So I'm thinking that's my path for now.

Any comments/advice would be great, especially if you have gone through this, or know any nurses who did.

[phoenixnim]

I waver sometimes, because science has never been a strong suite for me. But my end goal isn't nursing, it's nurse-midwifery. Which sometimes helps push through, and other times I get agitated wondering why I need to clog my brain with so much stuff. I could just become a direct-entry midwife, instead of going through all of this schooling, but I feel I could make a greater impact on my community by going for my masters instead.

Sorry for rambling. But I hear you on dreadful trudge through pre-reqs. Have you taken any career tests? Most schools offer a full career/personality matching test. They can be pretty helpful.

[usfgirl]

ldrphopeful, glad I could motivate you to register on AN...it's a great place .

But in all seriousness, your reply is a relief to me. It's nice to know that you go back and forth too. For the record, I am not the brightest, mathematically, and I found Stats to be a breeze. Nutrition, however, was daunting for me (my teacher put 10+ chapters on each exam so it was very difficult to learn all the information, and our grades were based entirely on our exams). Unlike you, I don't have a particular specialty in mind. Many interest me though. I am told I am wonderful with kids and people in general. On the other hand though, I get so frustrated with people that I think the OR (sleeping pts) is the place for me lol. So I am open-minded. Hoping clinicals will lead me to an interest. But that's in the future.

Right now, I am taking small steps and setting small everyday goals. Right now, I am too hoping that I fall in love with nursing school. So much anxiety. Thank you for your response. I hope we can stay in touch because I am interested to see where your journey leads.

[usfgirl]

Phoenixnim, you aren't rambling :).

Science isn't exactly my thing either. I envy your perspective on things, but I just don't have that long-term vision yet. I have never taken a career test, but I have heard of them and I know my school offers them. Thanks for your response and the wonderful suggestion!

[phoenixnim]

Phoenixnim, you aren't rambling :).

Science isn't exactly my thing either. I envy your perspective on things, but I just don't have that long-term vision yet. I have never taken a career test, but I have heard of them and I know my school offers them. Thanks for your response and the wonderful suggestion!

Oh, definitely take the career test! I know at my school they have specific career advisors. The test I took was broken down into like 5 sections I think, based on personality, life goals, money you'd hope to make, hobbies and interests. It was very thorough, in my opinion.

Midwife came up as a suggestion on several sections for me. It was something I had thought about on and off, but I was always fearful of making it through school. Then I decided to just go for it and give it my best. I'm a single mom, and I'm hoping to show my kids they can do anything if they try. So far, I'm doing well. But I have a lot of the hard classes ahead of me yet.

You'll figure it out!

[usfgirl]

And you sound like you are well on your way to success. Good luck to you!

[dt70]

I've done online. I don't like it. It's great for flexibility. I even had a classroom environment where all lessons are online. I had to come in for that??

Try to make best of it. Enjoy the convenience.

Fighting for positives is always worth the effort.

Good luck

[itsdoc2u]

Taking a Hybrid A&P class... 4 hour lab once a week. Sucks twice as much but classes filled up and I didn't want to wait another year to be able to apply to the nursing program. Ugh! So far I'm bombing!!! I can't afford to fail!!!

[usfgirl]

I've done online. I don't like it. It's great for flexibility. I even had a classroom environment where all lessons are online. I had to come in for that??

Try to make best of it. Enjoy the convenience.

Fighting for positives is always worth the effort.

Good luck

I agree - I don't like it, but I like the flexibility. Online makes it easier to procrastinate though. Don't recommend it for people who aren't self-motivated (aka me, lately). Thanks for the encouragement. I am going to try to make the best of it, and if it doesn't work out for me, at least I can walk away with the experience and confidence behind my decision.

[usfgirl]

Taking a Hybrid A&P class... 4 hour lab once a week. Sucks twice as much but classes filled up and I didn't want to wait another year to be able to apply to the nursing program. Ugh! So far I'm bombing!!! I can't afford to fail!!!

I know what you're saying...definitely cannot afford to fail but felt the pressure to get pre-reqs done ASAP. It's rough! Good luck with your hybrid course though :)

[European]

Hey if you are stressed about your prereqs know that once you're done with them it is a thing of the past. Something much more stressful than prereqs is your first year as a nurse, those times when you are on the floor and gotta come up with solutions, no more teachers or classmates, just you and your knowledge.

According to my experience nursing is something that gets progressively harder as you move along culminating with your first year as a nurse as the hardest part, expect your life to be changed by this process and expect to question yourself if nursing was right for u even after u graduate.

Good luck!

[Isthisforreal?]

If you enjoy your volunteer work, like what you see nurses doing, and imagine yourself liking it too, then that is very good in terms of how much you will enjoy actually being a nurse, which I think, is the most important question. Taking pre-reqs on-line is brutal. And if you don't enjoy the pre-reqs, you'll likely hate nursing school. However, find one person who loved nursing school, and I'll alert the press! It's fast paced, overwhelming, and half the instructors have a personal agenda. Some of them will deliberately make your life difficult, guaranteed. That said, it comes to a close eventually, and you're done. I agree with you, I don't like the job prospects. Low pay doesn't sound good either. If I had known the economy would tank early on, I've asked myself that question. Would I have still pursued it? And as with you, I can't think of anything better to do given my interests and temperament. At least in nursing school, you'll find everyone is in the same boat as you, with the same pressures, the same worries. You'll develop a support group of peers at school that you don't have now, on-line. It's no wonder you feel so alone.

[usfgirl]

Hey if you are stressed about your prereqs know that once you're done with them it is a thing of the past. Something much more stressful than prereqs is your first year as a nurse, those times when you are on the floor and gotta come up with solutions, no more teachers or classmates, just you and your knowledge.

According to my experience nursing is something that gets progressively harder as you move along culminating with your first year as a nurse as the hardest part, expect your life to be changed by this process and expect to question yourself if nursing was right for u even after u graduate.

Good luck!

Thanks for your insight. I have heard people say that you couldn't pay them to re-live their first year after nursing school! I'm just a little worried that I am questioning nursing school before I begin nursing school. I appreciate your honest advice very much. I think it's better to know what to expect, rather than wish you had known!