Anyone regret ever having stepped foot in nursing school?

[summersent]

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?

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

As far as the original question. I was very excited for nursing school, I waited a long time for it. I read horror stories here about it, but I was determined to go in with a positive attitude about school, accept that it wouldn't be perfect and take any negative experience and learn from it.

With that, I would say I have been happy with 95% of my program. There are a few things I don't like, but overall I love nursing school and love what I am doing.

I have really liked all of my Clinical Instructors and I have had great Co-Nurses 95% of the time. A few were grouchy or burnt out, but not to where they were deplorable to me like I read. I also wouldn't tolerate being treated like that though and when I have had a nurse in a bad mood it isn't more than an hour or two before I must rub off on them because they turn nice. I generally get great feedback from my co-nurses.

I don't feel I am just a rare "lucky" student. I truly feel your attitude and what you make out of your time determines for the most part how your school goes. (with a few exceptions, I don't doubt their are some really crappy schools and teachers and nurses out there, I just don't think it's the majority people try to say it is and I think self reflection would do a lot of students some good).

Just my opinion.

[TerpGal02, ASN]

I have no regrets about nursing school at all. I am really in a wonderful program with caring, nurturing, and scary-smart instructors, but I had to quit my job to do this. And the lack of my income has been EXTRAORDINARILY hard and overwhelming. DH and I are literally living hand to mouth and I have moments where I second guess myself because of that, but nursing school itself? Nah, I love it. I think it is your program that makes all the difference.

[1lpn2rn]

Im so sorry you had such a horrible experience in nursing school. But for me, it was the best decision i have made thus far. I enjoy what i do on a daily bases and so does the many people i encounter thru out the day. im glad that you realized it as soon as you did, and good luck on your new career path

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

I have no regrets about nursing school at all. I am really in a wonderful program with caring, nurturing, and scary-smart instructors, but I had to quit my job to do this. And the lack of my income has been EXTRAORDINARILY hard and overwhelming. DH and I are literally living hand to mouth and I have moments where I second guess myself because of that, but nursing school itself? Nah, I love it. I think it is your program that makes all the difference.

Absolutely it's your program that can make or break it, or teacher and so on. Living on a single income is tough. I am same situation. My husband has been the only provider for a long time by choice, but add to that school and childcare now as well I am thankful for student loans to cover the 220 a week in day care for my 3.5 year old. If it wasn't for that I couldn't have done it, thankfully my other 3 kids are older and are in school all day. Hang in there, once you're working it will be worth it.

[rnintwo]

Yes!! I went into it with a very postive attitude, totally committed. Had I know that the program was so poorly organized and haphazard, that when you asked questions you would get your question reiterated back to you as a response and that we would be required to read 700 HUGE textbook pages between tests with no real hints as to what of those 700 pages would be on the test, I would not have entered. I am so dissapointed in nursing school. I put blood, sweat and tears not to mention a ton of money preparing to enter the program and had I know it would be like this I would have not done it. Now I feel like Im in too deep $$ wise to quit:(

[LG1137]

I am happy with my decision to be a nurse, but the nursing school which I attend it a nightmare. Very disorganized, students are setup to fail. There is no personal concern for the individual. I am not a whiner, I can endure adverse conditions, and I will continue to through to completion of this program. But they treat us far worse here than what I experienced in a 6-month live-in police academy. Big disappointment.

[soushee]

I just have second thoughts on if nursing is for me. I am a black and white, backed by science type of person, and some of the stuff taught in nursing school really makes me cringe (not to mention some of the morals they try to force on us... like "everyone is a Christian, if someone comes into your care and isn't religious, they need to be taught spirituality stuff" yes, this is a public school). I know wholeheartedly I should've gone into clinical lab school (med tech) since that is my true passion, but I have NO intentions of quitting nursing school. I am 1 week short of completing 1st semester of an ADN program, so I figure sticking out 3 more semesters is going to be fine. And I do plan on continuing onto my BSN concurrently next fall.

Yeah, school sucks most of the time. It has more drama than 8th grade does, the teachers are fruitcakes, and it's horribly disorganized, but I'm not going to let that get to me enough to quit.