After a month, I want to be done...

[brianycpht]

I've been in a nursing program for a month now. I'm not really doing poorly or anything, I just have this nagging feeling that this isn't what I want to do. Every time I tell anyone this, they either say that they felt the same way, or I get criticized for not wanting to put the work in (I'm a month ahead on my reading and have been doing nclex questions since before class started. I'm not lazy.) The thought of going to clinical s and dealing with real patients just isn't for me. Everyone tells me that I should stick with it, but I just don't enjoy anything about nursing school. .I'm not much of a critical thinker, more of a concrete numbers guy, which is why accounting was my first path, but for some reason, in a moment of misguided reasoning decided to try and become an RN. I have all the respect in the world for the people who are and will become one, but I just don't like anything about this. I don't want to be a quitter, but I think theres a difference between a quitter and someone who's being honest with themselves. I don't want to let my wife down, who's seen me go back and forth in my career decisions without making any real progress. Of course I might fail out and my mind will be made up for me. I just feel like this isn't right for me and I should just get out now before I'm too far into this...

[niskagirl]

Hi,

I think it takes a huge amount of courage to admit to yourself that something feels wrong. If you are feeling like this isn’t the area for you….then by all means listen to your inner voice. I don’t have any experience as an RN, but I have worked as a CNA for two years and after that as an LPN for two years. I am currently in an RN program now about a month in like yourself. I want you try and think about how you feel about nursing school now and becoming nurse. Now envision being a nurse in ten years…what do you see, how do you feel?

As far as letting people down, think about how you could be letting them down with your behavior and attitude later in life after working in a profession you hate for a couple of years. The reasons I can come up with why you might be feeling like this isn’t for you is due to jitters, you could be experiencing excitement let down in regards to finishing your prereqs and getting into a program, or may be your experiencing genuine fear of taking care of real people, and it could be causing some anxiety. If these hit home then maybe looking at the cause of your anxiety could help ease you into feeling better about nursing.

However, if you have no real desire to be in the profession then don’t do it. Your prerequisites will transfer to another degree. Try working with advising to find a career you will enjoy and your talents are suited for. Remember to be true to yourself and what you need to do to be happy in life. I wish you all the best in your decision.

Niska

[umbdude, MSN, APRN]

Sorry you feel this way. You are correct that there is a difference between quitting and giving up. Quit due to dislike is the proactive and smart thing to do; give up due to minor obstacles, lack of effort or motivation is a bit disappointing.

What part about dealing with real patient do you think you don't like? Do you like the healthcare field and nursing process in general? There must be some reasons that you chose RN. Obviously, if your only reasons were stability, money, flexibility, then the decision to quit should be fairly clear.

I still think you should stick it out for clinical....who knows, you might like it.

I was a numbers guy too (investment mgmt) but strangely I was never that into numbers, although over the years I learned to be good at it and like it. It took me a while to decide on nursing. I hope I won't fail out.

[HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD]

Agree with PPs.

As a "numbers guy" you already know that it doesn't make sense to continue to invest in a losing proposition. If it's already clear that nursing is not what you want to do, it is not likely that further effort will change your mind. If it's too late to get tuition refunds, you may want to just stick it out for the semester.

Have you looked into other health careers - in which your pre-requisites would not be wasted? RT, XR tech. . ? Laboratory science may be appealing - it's much more a 'numbers' game, with little to no patient interaction.

Hey, I understand your wife's frustration - particularly if she is acting as the bread winner while you 'find yourself' (or do people even say that anymore?). Be sure to talk this over with her. It may be difficult, but you need to uncover her resentments and talk about them... as well as how/what you can do to make it right for her so that she doesn't feel that you're taking advantage of her.

[9#n]

I could have posted this myself. You sound like me. It takes a lot of courage to admit to yourself and others that this isn't what you want. If you are certain of this and know you aren't going to regret it then I would leave now. For me, once my mind is made up its really hard to concentrate on something my heart isn't into. Best of luck.

[gummi bear]

Switch majors and do it now, or you'll be miserable later. I think that a lot of people felt this way in nursing school and continued on anyway, had regrets, and became bitter nurses. You do not want this to be you. Find a career path that makes you happy, and college won't be as complicated. Good luck!!

[DoeRN]

Don't wait until 5 or 6 years down the road and have regrets. Do what you want to do with your life. You won't be letting anyone down. If you aren't happy then everyone will know.

Do what's best for you.

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