Anyone regret ever having stepped foot in nursing school?

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I did. I ended up deciding to not come back. I switched my major. I'm happy and I'm myself again. I really do feel I was one of the brave ones to realize so soon. Too much illegal and abusive behavior goes on and nothing is done about it. I remember looking through the nursing handbook and seeing how students were pretty much set up for students to fail. I remember this one instructor failing this girl because she didnt like her and not only did she fail her but she humiliated her. I still know people trying to complete a 2 year degree and they have been there for 5 years! Most students keep their mouth closed about it. Not sure why. From what I understand much of that behavior in NS is just giving you a taste of what its really like working as a nurse. Conditioning I suppose?

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Yesterday, instead of clinicals, they had a "stress reduction" seminar for us - we had our first exam in theory and our first skills scenario evaluation on Monday and Tuesday of this week. They planned this stress reduction seminar, taught us meditation, massage, accupressure and other means of coping, brought out therapeutic coloring books and then reviewed our exam with us. In the midst, they had organized an ethnic pot luck lunch where every student brought a dish important to their cultural background, gave us all a chance to tell a story about our dish if we wanted and handed out door prizes. We have had numerous seminars already on how to take NCLEX style exams, on study skills and time management....and there is just a pervasive attitude, even from the really stern, tough instructors, that they WANT us to succeed. They aren't making it any easier - the program is known to be tough academically. But the sense of value in the students is palpable.

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Specializes in Operating Room.

I attend a wonderful nursing school, and I don't ever regret going. However, yes, I'm going to complain, that they are sometimes over the top with the assignments and projects. We have a bunch of one credit pass/fail courses and these are classes with all the obnoxious busy work that leaving you asking "why are we doing this?" rather than facilitate learning. I am an A student, I've proven that I can make it in NS but some things we are required are just wacky and ridiculous and quite frankly, a waste of ALL our time (I'm not the only one complaining).

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I regret it, it was not useful. I regret the money, time, and effort I wasted there and since.

Hey CaliOtter!

I'm just curious. Are you still in the field? If not, what did you move on to? :redbeathe

What do you feel made you regret nursing school the most..and if you could

do it all over again, what would you have done? I really like your replies, they

are always very useful/helpful.

-CaffeineRx

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Sometimes I wish I had picked an easier major, but no, I don't regret going to nursing school. One year away from a BSN and the NCLEX. Then I can actually learn how to be a nurse! In fact, I used to think that my instructors were sometimes difficult, spiteful, and unfair, but after reading these forums for a bit, I think my instructors are probably on the nicer side of nursing school. If some of the behavior from instructors I've read about on here had been directed at me, there probably would have been a physical altercation.

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nursing school professors learn to weed out what students are meant to make it and who are not. they push you to the breaking point to see how much you can take. its like boot camp, seriously. the hardest days in clinical i feel like i just went through boot camp. its like they put everyone in a strainer to sift out the weak ones and keep the strong ones. people KNOW when its the career thats meant for them or if its not. i knew immediately that it was meant for me. its ok that its not mean for you, its obviously not for everyone. i never regret going to nursing school. its been the hardest but best few months of my life.

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I did. I ended up deciding to not come back. I switched my major. I'm happy and I'm myself again. I really do feel I was one of the brave ones to realize so soon.

Good for you for realizing that it was not for you.

While I agree with your decision to change your educational path, I disagree with your self assessment as "bravery." I'm not at your school, but I am also in an ADN program and have not witnessed any illegal or abusive behavior. We indeed are pushed very hard, but we signed up for that. I have seen students reprimanded for various things, but never just because instructors, "Did not like them."

I started my nursing school education in July of 2007 and will finish my "2 year degree" in May of 2011. Those students who re-took classes like A&P and Chemistry over and over again because they got Cs certainly will take more time than that. The community colleges wink and nod at the two year degree tag, but as has been discussed before, an Associates in Nursing degree is almost nothing like other Associates degrees.

Best of luck in your new major.

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Okay, so here's my question.... If you guys hate nursing/ nursing school so bad why are you posting on the nursing blog??? lol.....

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I am sorry that so many people have had bad experiences with their schools! I absolutely love my school, and most of my classmates. There are 59 of us, and while everyone has their differences and bad days, we are very united as a class and work well together. Needless to say, I do not regret going into nursing, or the school that I chose. I have days...and weeks...that I feel like I can barely make it through, but then I look at everyone else and they seem to be having the same struggles. That was my experience from my first year of nursing school, but we will see about next year! :nurse:

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I'm not yet a nursing student but I look at it this way...In every aspect of your life you will encounter crabby people and challenging situations...Just deal with them, move on, and don't use them as an excuse for your actions.

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I don't regret it, but I do have days when I seriously look at myself in the mirror and say, "what have you gotten yourself into." Then I remember that the only person that can stop me from becoming a nurse is myself, not my school. I try my best to keep a positive attitude and use humor to get me through the tough instructors.

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Specializes in Emergency, Pre-Op, PACU, OR.

No, I do not regret having stepped foot into nursing school. It is tough, incredibly demanding, challenging, and will push you to the edge of your capabilities, but I absolutely love everything I learn & do. With the confidence that I am right where I need to be comes dedication. If nursing is not for you, then you are smart to save yourself unnecessary hardship and to move on.

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