Anyone regret ever having stepped foot in nursing school?

Nursing Students General Students

Published

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?

Specializes in LTC, Psych, Hospice.

It's a love/hate relationsip with me. I love learning, but hate the hoops I'm forced to jump through. There are some days I just cry and think to myself, "You ARE a nurse. There is NOTHING WRONG with being an LPN". Then I dry my tears and head to school. Just keep in mind that this isn't going to last forever.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
nope! i admit nursing school was one of the worst experiences of my life at the entry level. my career afterwards has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my life. but -yes- i would agree w. anyone that entry level nursing school is a beast.

this is how i feel now.

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).
yup! those projects are killer and useless. projects for public health comes to mind.

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.
i think this is very true. they will give advice but if you are still failing then the sympathy is over there. also add to that if you explain to a professor how something is not efficient and useless they just kind of stay silent and say " i know".

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.
i had this feeling plenty of times.

sometimes.

i'm only a first year nursing student, but so far i don't find the content hard. i actually enjoy the content and reading my textbooks. i just hate the way the classes are taught, the ridiculous competition between the students, and the bs group work.

i want to be a nurse desperately. i just wish i had chosen a different school.

i had a conversation with my optometrist and we basically agreed that the material isn't hard but the time management of school was actually the most difficult part of being in school

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in 6 yrs high-risk OB.

I think every nursing school probably has it's share of issues. I know mine did. We had teachers leave halfway through semesters (TWICE) and basically had to teach ourselves the rest of the semesters. Some of us had great clinical instructors, while others had sh*tty ones. There were plenty of times where I thought or even said "I can't handle this anymore!", but I am glad i toughed it out.

The only way to become a nurse is to go through nursing school. I will be done with my preceptorship 12/4/10, and graduating. I cannot believe it. it's been a long road, but I have made friends that are now some of my best friends. And they will always be my friends. And soon, I will be starting the career I've always wanted, deep down.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Its hard work, being a nurse is a very important and stressful job. we dont need weak willed nurses so if you feel like they are trying to weed you out well they are but for that reason. sorry but there no room for ok nurses. this is life and death situations. does it suck and seem unfair sometimes of course but thats life just get used to it. your nursing school sounds a little off but ya they make you stressed out and a lot of time you do feel like they wanna flunk you out. but seriously stop whinning. what doesnt kill you makes you stronger. trick is to complain in your head and get over it and do what needs to be done

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Rehab.

Yes... although I thought it would be hard, but it's been harder than I expected. But there have been many problems I didn't expect, both from my end and from my instructors. I didn't expect to have such a major roller coaster of thoughts & emotions in 'semester 5', but I sure have. I think it'll be day-to-day until I somehow feel like 'yeah, I'm going to finish this', or I don't.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatrics.
Seeing this really makes me wish peop,e were required to dabble in the medical field for awhile to make sure nursing is really the right profession for them...because with uit being as competitive as it is, those who truly find nursing a passion for them and would give anything to get in, therir spot is taken by people who just change their minds... Its saddening really. I'm sorry your experience wasn't what you thought it would be...but I feel more sorry for the students whose spot you wasted.

This couldn't be more true!! I think it does take a brave sole (for some reason) to admit that nursing is not for them. It is not for everyone, just like law, medicine, accounting, architecture, and teaching are not for everyone. I feel like too many people are pushed into nursing, because it has sort of an appeal: you can get it done fast (sort of, meaning 2 years, as opposed to medical school) and possible cheap (if you go the state school/community college route) and you can get a decent paying job (when there is no shortage... hey, is it really that appealing, :lol2:). Mom and dad approve of the career choice (you'll always have a job), and nurses are always rated as one of the most respected professions! AND, somewhere along the way, there is perception that it is easy (LMAO!!! :lol2::lol2:). Once all these myths are dispelled, you are left with the question; "do I really want to do this?"

Then the question then arises, "what am I going to to do then?", and "I spent so much time and money with this already, I am not giving up, I don't care." I think far too many students do it just to do it, and I respect the ones who can repsectfully bow out and can say "this is not for me."

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yes Yes and YES!!!

I don't know what's more panic inducing--the clinicals or the classroom nonsense. We're all taught about HIPAA, privacy, professional behavior in the class---and very little of that occurs in the clinical field. Sorry to sound sexist, but it's mostly the female nurses/PCT's that create and continue drama to fill a void in their vacuous and miserable lives. Gossiping about patients in front of strangers, nurses that flat out fail to follow instructions from their superiors because it's too "degrading" or "not their job." You signed up for this! It's NOT beneath you! We all like to toss the word "bullying" around these days after recent tragic events--you want to see bullying--come on up to some of the clinical floors I've been on. Yes, I was one of those students that was driven to tears by a head nurse because she didn't like the way I charted. If I had the money, I'd get a top notch attorney and make an example out of her and the institution that employs her. But I'm also a believer in Karma, and you know what they say about Karma.

The classroom is WORSE. Students need to leave their private lives at home and turn off the cell phones. Enough with the "woe is me because I got a 92% on the exam." I don't care about you uncle's cousin's twice removed that has EVERY FREAKIN' disease or disorder we're talking about. I don't care that you won't associate with others because you don't like their clothes or the cars they drive. That's YOUR problem and I STILL DON'T CARE!!

I'm glad you work in a doctor's office or an EMT, and you may do some things that are different thatn what's taught in class, but you don't need to keep reminding the rest of us every opportune moment you get. Stop arguing with thew teacher about some points you don't like. Too bad. And please stop correcting the teacher if he/she has a "slip up"--a chorus of "Are you sure about thaqt" is not necessary. After all, we all make mistakes. Look at you, you got a (horrors!) 92% on your exam.

I felt nursing and NEVER looked back.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in NICU.
Its hard work, being a nurse is a very important and stressful job. we dont need weak willed nurses so if you feel like they are trying to weed you out well they are but for that reason. sorry but there no room for ok nurses. this is life and death situations. does it suck and seem unfair sometimes of course but thats life just get used to it. your nursing school sounds a little off but ya they make you stressed out and a lot of time you do feel like they wanna flunk you out. but seriously stop whinning. what doesnt kill you makes you stronger. trick is to complain in your head and get over it and do what needs to be done

Seriously?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Yes Yes and YES!!!

I don't know what's more panic inducing--the clinicals or the classroom nonsense. We're all taught about HIPAA, privacy, professional behavior in the class---and very little of that occurs in the clinical field. Sorry to sound sexist, but it's mostly the female nurses/PCT's that create and continue drama to fill a void in their vacuous and miserable lives. Gossiping about patients in front of strangers, nurses that flat out fail to follow instructions from their superiors because it's too "degrading" or "not their job." You signed up for this! It's NOT beneath you! We all like to toss the word "bullying" around these days after recent tragic events--you want to see bullying--come on up to some of the clinical floors I've been on. Yes, I was one of those students that was driven to tears by a head nurse because she didn't like the way I charted. If I had the money, I'd get a top notch attorney and make an example out of her and the institution that employs her. But I'm also a believer in Karma, and you know what they say about Karma.

The classroom is WORSE. Students need to leave their private lives at home and turn off the cell phones. Enough with the "woe is me because I got a 92% on the exam." I don't care about you uncle's cousin's twice removed that has EVERY FREAKIN' disease or disorder we're talking about. I don't care that you won't associate with others because you don't like their clothes or the cars they drive. That's YOUR problem and I STILL DON'T CARE!!

I'm glad you work in a doctor's office or an EMT, and you may do some things that are different thatn what's taught in class, but you don't need to keep reminding the rest of us every opportune moment you get. Stop arguing with thew teacher about some points you don't like. Too bad. And please stop correcting the teacher if he/she has a "slip up"--a chorus of "Are you sure about thaqt" is not necessary. After all, we all make mistakes. Look at you, you got a (horrors!) 92% on your exam.

I felt nursing and NEVER looked back.

I'm sorry you had such a terrible experience. But if you left nursing and never looked back, why are you still here?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
sorry but there no room for ok nurses.

Okay means sufficient, means meets the standards. It's impossible to have only "better than average" nurses. Perhaps one may think the standards are too low or that the standards aren't being properly enforced, but those are different arguments.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC, Hospice, home health, ms, resp....

The only reason why I may regret it sometimes is fear of failure #1. I am in med surge and only passing by 2 points and we have 1 test and the final. I guess my #1 reason isn't regret it's just fear. My regret is now I am broke, with the economy, and being unable to pick up extra hours.... ugh. my credit which was perfect is now showing late payments. My children who hang out and do nothing because of no money and I have to study. I have however grown so much in the nursing program. It has been very challenging. I pray everyday that I just make it through. My professors are wonderful however the program is difficult. If i make it through or not I would have nothing bad to say about the school or the professors.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
Seeing this really makes me wish peop,e were required to dabble in the medical field for awhile to make sure nursing is really the right profession for them...because with uit being as competitive as it is, those who truly find nursing a passion for them and would give anything to get in, therir spot is taken by people who just change their minds... Its saddening really. I'm sorry your experience wasn't what you thought it would be...but I feel more sorry for the students whose spot you wasted.

Believe me I get your frustration, I was on the wait list for 3.5 years because my number finally came up, add 1.5 years of pre preqs I have waited for my spot for a LONG time. BUT unless you are a Nurse in the medical field, you won't really get what you are in for with nursing school. In our first year, majority of the people that failed out of my program were CNA's or had their CNA certification. They had exposure, but it wasn't the same. Just like I have no idea what medical school is like even if I work with Doctors. So I can't really get mad at someone for taking a spot and than realizing it's not for them.

Yes Yes and YES!!!

I don't know what's more panic inducing--the clinicals or the classroom nonsense. We're all taught about HIPAA, privacy, professional behavior in the class---and very little of that occurs in the clinical field. Sorry to sound sexist, but it's mostly the female nurses/PCT's that create and continue drama to fill a void in their vacuous and miserable lives. Gossiping about patients in front of strangers, nurses that flat out fail to follow instructions from their superiors because it's too "degrading" or "not their job." You signed up for this! It's NOT beneath you! We all like to toss the word "bullying" around these days after recent tragic events--you want to see bullying--come on up to some of the clinical floors I've been on. Yes, I was one of those students that was driven to tears by a head nurse because she didn't like the way I charted. If I had the money, I'd get a top notch attorney and make an example out of her and the institution that employs her. But I'm also a believer in Karma, and you know what they say about Karma.

The classroom is WORSE. Students need to leave their private lives at home and turn off the cell phones. Enough with the "woe is me because I got a 92% on the exam." I don't care about you uncle's cousin's twice removed that has EVERY FREAKIN' disease or disorder we're talking about. I don't care that you won't associate with others because you don't like their clothes or the cars they drive. That's YOUR problem and I STILL DON'T CARE!!

I'm glad you work in a doctor's office or an EMT, and you may do some things that are different thatn what's taught in class, but you don't need to keep reminding the rest of us every opportune moment you get. Stop arguing with thew teacher about some points you don't like. Too bad. And please stop correcting the teacher if he/she has a "slip up"--a chorus of "Are you sure about thaqt" is not necessary. After all, we all make mistakes. Look at you, you got a (horrors!) 92% on your exam.

I felt nursing and NEVER looked back.

I am assuming on this last part you meant you left Nursing???? If so than why are you always posting about things you would love to say to your fellow nursing classmates and posting as if you are STILL in nursing school???

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment