A bit frustrated in school/nursing career

Chris787n · Nov 29, 2011

Hey, I saw this topic and decided to post me 2 cents. I am 18 years old, 19 next month (woo!). And for me the expereince isnt really the same. You say you have read others experiences right? Well, how heavy of research have you done on the nursing career? Is it truly something you want to do? There should be some motivating factor somewhere that can help push you along.

Like me personally:

Burn Victim, major motivator. To give back what was given me. Grew tons of respect for Nurses and what they do.

Medical Family, 99.9% of my family is in the medical field. So it wasnt a hard choice to what i was influenced to.

The knowledge, I love all things medical, not to mention learning for me is fun. Crazy huh?

Love for people, yes the world isnt the happiest place. But I have a strong desire to help people. Its just who I am.

So i mean, find things that will make you want to study and be the best you can. Dont always rely on others experience because your time in school may be similiar or nothing like theirs at all. But I do wish you luck and look forward to hearing back!

crittytn · Nov 29, 2011

I'll be the old lady (haha, only 34!) and chime in here. I think in this instance, you would be well served to go volunteer at a hospital or find a nurse to shadow for a few days. You really need to actually see what the medical world is about and decide if it interests you before you keep going. There are so many possible career choices out there and there are even many different medical career choices that you can look at in addition to nursing. Maybe after some looking, you'll find what gets you motivated.

Having been 19 already and having gone through college and a professional degree as well, all before I was 24, I understand your lack of motivation. It's hard to know for sure at that age what you want to do or what your passion is. That's why you see so many people going back to school for a second (or third!) career.

You've got a little time to play with since you're young. Get out there and explore your options and what interests you. But if you're worried about it, it won't get solved while you're being lazy and unmotivated. At least be motivated about discovering what you want to do!

Good luck to you!

Rookie0 · Nov 30, 2011

Looking for some tips....
I am currently in pre-nursing and I constantly go back and forth on whether nursing is right for me. I have written here before about it but I have been doing some thinking and would really like some honest opinions. There are many reasons why I would like to be a nurse, and I know there aer a lot of negatives about it. But lately it's like all I can think of is why I wouldn't be a good nurse. I just read an article about College Grads Being Unprepared for Adulthood and I kinda wanna talk about it... I read about a lot of college students and I could totally relate. I think I struggle with comprehension of concepts and skills, I am kind of one of those people who goes "Wait, what?" and I'll ask you to repeat it or I'll have to do it a couple times before I understand it, I can't just listen and get it. I know I need to have good critical thinking as a nurse, and I worry I don't, maybe I can improve on that, but I am not sure. Also, I just plain lack motivation and time management at the moment. I put off alllll my homework and if something is complicated I get extremely lazy and try to find mental short cuts. It's like, if it looks difficult, it almost gives me a headache and I just don't want to go near it, which is a horrible quality to have! Along with the fact that I am timid and shy, (It has gotten worse over the past year) I am only 19, so I am reallly hoping that these are things I can improve on as I get older, but its tough because I just want to figure out my career path and there are times where I totally think I could be a great nurse.

My 2 cents...if you are not thoroughly committed...please pause before you get any deeper...you will do yourself and someone else a favor....as admissions are scarce...let someone who is committed have a chance....no offense...

Skybang6 · Nov 30, 2011

Hey Rookie :) . I'm 34 and I'm still trying to figure it out. A smart person once sang "Age ain't nothing but a number". Take it slow do all your pre-requirements. Like that other person said if you can volunteer do it. But above all pick the right institution they are not all the same. Do your homework and do it well. Check, double check then check it again. The critical thinking comes with reading the material the "ah ha" moment does come and if it doesn't well it doesn't. Listen, your young you have nothing but time. Know that nursing school is one of the most stressful situations you can put yourself in i.e. I have no hair. Don't do it unless you are willing to sacrifice your friends, family, social life, tv, movies, you get it. I wish you the best of luck.

NothingsImpossible4U · Nov 30, 2011

Oh if I could rewind to when I was 19...we'd sound JUST alike. Im 27 now, earned a B.A. in Spanish 4 years ago, and am a wife and mother of 3 kids. In my first years of college, I really grappled with what I would major in. I wanted to be a teacher to help kids, but wanted to study English, then Spanish...I really wanted to do nursing, even in high school I wanted to be a nurse, but I had taken the ASVAB which told me anything medical wouldnt be for me. HA! Well turns out those diagnostic tests carry a lot of weight in a teenagers mind Even though I loved the idea of nursing, TOTALLY admired my friends who did nursing, I never thought I could do it. Science was always hard for me to understand, and although I did ok in it, I was scared to try and fail. WELL 8 years later, Im trying to juggle doing these prereqs for nursing and taking care of my husband and little ones. Its no easy task! I have to spend a lot of time, where I should be enjoying my family, doing all this HW and studying that I shouldve done when I was your age!! I love Spanish and am so glad that I majored in it-it was my true passion and led me to meeting my husband and where I am today. BUT through all the difficult times Ive had in my adult life, I learned you REALLY can do anything you put your mind to. Yeah, you might have to ask "what?" a bunch, but SO WHAT? Be the student on the front row, drag your butt to class when youd rather sleep (ohhh I was so guilty of this), and know that your life will be OOOBER easier after college with a set career. Nursing requires a deep-down calling, I think, and unless youre in it for the money, you probably have the desire to do it for a reason. Dont let your insecurities dictate what you can and cant do. If you work hard enough, you will build all these skills you worry about. You will grow into the person you want to be! By the way, youre maturity shows in the fact that youre AWARE of the laziness/confusion, and know you should change. Youre still very young, just keep plugging and doing the hard thing (i.e.the schoolwork you dont want to do). Then you can enjoy your life-after school and your family, or traveling, or whatever you want to do. If you dont do it now, you might regret it and go back later when your situation is difficult. If you still really have your doubts and struggling, just switch to studying the subject that makes you happy and figure it out later:)

MidLifeRN2012 · Nov 30, 2011

I am 44 years old and have one more semester of nursing school (2nd degree). I am not a natural in 'critical thinking'. The school will teach it from day 1 in Pathophys and it will eventually get easier. Nursing prioritizing is a focus almost immediately. Basically, Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Pain (pain is first if all of the 3 others are not a current issue), then according to Maslow needs.

Alot of your characteristics sound like me. I get extremely overwhelmed by projects and tend to procrastinate, although I do know the absolute point where I have to do cram focusing for tasks such as writing papers. Can never begin those easily. Heck, I should be working on a paper at this moment but I'm posting here and listening to the Conrad Murray sentencing as I'm going back and forth to the paper.

Basically, if you know you want to be a nurse, go for it. Don't let these 'imperfections' stand in your way. Believe me, once you get into the program, the first semester will whip you into shape responsibility wise-- if you don't want to continue to waste money and time.

Looking_ahead, ADN, RN · Dec 13, 2011

Thanks for your answers, you really made me feel a bit more motivated that I can be a nurse. Part of the reason I want to become a nurse, besides doing something that can help atleast one person, and stop being so self-involved, is because of these insecurities, and I am determined to work through them. NothingsImpossible4U! Wow. I really relate to the beginning of your post- I started off in college to become a teacher, but I lost interest. Ive ALWAYS wanted to become a nurse, never thought I could do it, and pushed it aside. Always admired my friends for becoming nurses, and the onest hat are currently in nursing programs, I am constantly trying to fish information from them, same with my sister who is a new nurse. I am going to continue on my path of doing pre-reqs. I am currently a home health aide, never thoughrt I could do that, take care of the elderly and be social/responsible? Didn't think I had it in me, but I proved myself wrong and keep trying to better myself!

Faith2012, ASN, BSN, RN · Dec 13, 2011

when I graduated from high school I wanted to be a nurse. At 18 I had my son and could barely concentrate on my school work. I changed my degree form nursing to Administration Assistant. Since then I have tried the military and banking industry. Now I am 27 and I am heading back for my degree in nursing. I understand your point of not being 100% sure. I wasn't either. Sometimes I still doubt but I keep in my mind my goal and the purpose for my goal and that motivated me to keep at it. I have not yet started but I am finishing my pre-req towards my bachelors degree. My advise would be take the two, sometimes plus, years to do your Bachelor pre-reqs and if your heart still desires to be a nurse go for it. Don't drop out of school because sometimes it is harder to pick back up later. Seek assistance if your work is too hard. Most times I notice what appears difficult is not but some simple things are the hardest. If you have to lighten your course load to maybe a class or two. thats just my :twocents: , good luck.