BSN student questioning my career in nursing

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I have one year left until I graduate with my BSN and I am questioning my place in this field. I am in my mid 30s, married with 2 kids, and I have own my own business which I started in order to pay for nursing school. My business has grown exponentially though and has left me wondering sometimes why I'm doing both. I'm running myself completely ragged managing all of the above, but I keep telling myself not to give up...I've come to far! But because of all of my other responsibilities, I have not excelled like most of the other students. Their lives revolve around nursing and nursing school. I don't even know what type of nursing I want to practice and graduation is right around the corner. The other students have become so passively competitive that I'm really not even friends with anyone anymore. I have already gotten off on the wrong foot with my professor on the first day of this semester because I have a vacation planned with my husband and requested a makeup for the clinical I am going to miss. I haven't had a vacation or been away with my husband in 6 years - I emailed her the days of my absence last semester before the schedule was made and she said ok if I find someone to switch with. This morning I got an email from her denying my request and reminding me that this is a professional program and my choices effect other people as well. Well there's a $3,000 trip down the drain.

Does life get better after nursing school? Is this a representation of my nursing career? I would love to hear some stories from you guys on your experience in RN school and transitions afterwards. Did you ever second guess your decision to pursue nursing?

I think you are being hard on yourself. You have a lot on your plate and there are only so many hours in a day. I would think about what is going to be more important in the long run. For me, that would be spending time with my family. Surely your instructors are not going to lose it over missing one clinical day. Go on the vacation. Be good to yourself. Your family needs you no matter what you choose. Give it some time to think over your future in nursing. There is nothing wrong with leaving if your heart is not in it. After all, you have your own business; that sounds like a win to me!

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Specializes in PICU.

It does sound like you are pulled in a lot of different directions. Give yourself a pat on the back for accomplishing all of this thus far. Nursing school is tough, you will be pulled in a million different directions, but when you finish it is really great.

As for your clinical, in our nursing school handbook it was very clearly stated we could not miss any clinical, and if we did, it would have to be a very very good reason. I am glad that you are allowed to have a make-up day as we could not. This is probably your one time "get out of jail free" card. Use the time to also relax and take it easy.

It sounds like you have a cool business. Think about nursing school as your second business.

It IS okay to question and think if it is for you, especially as an older student, we tend to think about many other factors.

Good LUck and keep it up.

Oh and life does get better, in my opinion, after nursing school. There are so many options and paths for a nurse to take. It is only one year left, that isn't that much time.

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You state that you have not excelled as much as the other students have and then comment that their lives revolve around nursing school. Maybe there is a connection.

When I was in school it was understood that school came first. The teachers don't care how long it has been since you had a vacation.You are expected to show up unless it is an emergency. Once you start working you won't always get what you want when you want it.

A request was made and there was a verbal agreement since the end of the prior semester. Perhaps, allowing it was not feasible but why the insult in her reply? So in denying a request it's okay to do so in a most unprofessional manner? It's a real shame to put up with such uncouth people. And they are many.

Right now blogs like these help me put things in perspective.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

((HUGS)) We have all had doubts....I would not chuck it all in the trash because of a road bump and I would still go on that vacation/wedding. Nursing programs have the unrealistic expectations at times but your clinical hours are required by the state to qualify to sit for boards/NCLEX. Nursing will require some sacrifices...we work 24/7 365 days a year and that will include holidays and weekends. The instructor was wrong for treating you that way after knowing this for almost a whole year

That being said...what an amazing story about your successful business!

Grades count but they do not define you as a nurse. Finish school then decide where you go from there...if it isn't nursing at least you have your education.

I wish you the best

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Specializes in Education, research, neuro.

Get established with a BSN and some clinical experience. Then... consider becoming a nurse entrepreneur. You have outstanding credentials and can obviously see a market, put together a business plan...

I don't see it as an either/or proposition.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
Thank you Mrs, Hope, and Everline for your words of positivity and encouragement! I feel like I have no one to relate to in nursing school which worsens my feelings of doubt. I am by far the oldest in our class with an average age of 20. I own a party rental company specializing in inflatables...bounce house, waterslides, concessions, and much more. I had to come up with some creative way to pay bills through school and I knew I couldn't be on someone else's clock while in a nursing program. So when I rented a bounce house for my son's birthday I decided to buy one. We now have 17 units, clown entertainers, outdoor cinema, and DJ/karaoke service. We are also the only legal, insured and state inspected bounce house rental company in our area and very proud of that. As you can see, it's not in my personality to quit something. If I'm going to do something, I'm going to do it with all my might and I want to be the best...the gold standard. But, I'm so far from that in school. I made all As before nursing and now I'm all Cs/Bs. If I had started this company before I went back to school, it would be 3 times the size it is now and I would have never even pursued nursing. So that has to mean something! There has to be a divine reason that I am still on this path. Obviously I have been very passionate about nursing or I would not be here...I would not have made the grades I did, or been accepted to a very difficult program to get into. But the wind in my sail has ceased and I feel like I'm stranded in still water. My professor just emailed and said she found a day for me to make it up, but that email also came with a tremendous guilt and reminders of how this is a professional program and shame on me. It was insulting and reiterating that I don't deserve any rewards for working 7 days a week, going to school, and raising 2 little boys. There's no room for error and there's no sympathy. Now I don't even want to go on the trip because she's made me feel so unprofessional. She could have made the adjustment when she was writing the schedule because I gave her my days of absence last semester in writing - she was clearly teaching me a lesson. Lesson learned.

No, I don't take great care of myself. When I get out of class or clinical I have customers I have to call, quoted to submit, paperwork, bills to pay, marketing, etc. Then I pick up my kids, get their homework done, supper, baths, and then to my studies. Not a lot of gym or me time. On a bmi chart I am technically overweight, so of course that contributes to my diminished self esteem.

It see a bit of my own perfectionism in your post. It's hard to accept a "C" when we know we are capable of an "A". You have so much on your plate right now I suspect your sense of yourself and your perspective are skewed by the stress. Between the lines I hear you saying you really do want to finish your nursing program, so you should.

Forget about the attitudes of your classmates. They are in many cases the first people you forget all about after you finish. You can mend fences with your professor. Her type is not unusual in nursing, (nor is it necessarily a bad thing), but on the plus side it won't come as much of a surprise when it happens again. I suspect she will value having you as a student once she gets to know you.

Try to realize that is really is OK to accept less than perfect grades and a few extra pounds. I'm pretty awestruck by your resourcefulness myself! Hang in there and all the best to you!

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Do not! I repeat do not quit your business! Nursing is unpredictable- reason being that it depends heavily the other individual emotions- co-workers, patients, family blah blah and therefore in most cases disappoints. Therefore have the business as a backup plan.

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Specializes in Home Health.

"Trust in yourself, your ability, and your struggles, but not in your appetite" -M.F. Moonzajar

I wouldn't quit. People would do unknown things to be in your shoes right now. Not everyone gets into nursing school. You don't sound like a quitter. Stick it out, graduate, sit for your boards, and then you're free to do whatever you want to do. A little bang for your buck. Ultimately, you'll have two 3 careers!

Mom, nurse, business owner!

Nursing is one of those careers that literally can take you anywhere. You don't have to work in a hospital. You can do homecare, school nurse, private duty, office work, insurance claims and the list goes on. Even better you don't have to work Full-Time you can work PRN(as needed) and not be obligated to work for anyone! Just stay on your husbands benefits ;)

I know many people who work multiple jobs as PRN/Pool staff and make their own hours, get paid more, & have their freedom. The beauty of this career is a blessing in disguise. Take advantage of it! You can do it!!! You won't regret it! :nurse:

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I questioned myself over 35 years ago. While working as a new grad I would alternate days of hoping I passed the exam to days I wished that I wouldn't. We'll here I am still an RN working full time. Is it easier than school? Yes and no. But as with all other professions, there are good days and bad days. My advice, stick it out, find an area you like in nursing give it time. The beauty of this profession is that there are many different avenues to take. Remember to take time for yourself as that is one of the keys to staying healthy and happy. Good Luck

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I want to thank each and every one of you for your encouraging words. I am so glad I posted on here. You all have helped me realize that it's okay to be passionate about more than one thing. I can be a great nurse and a business owner. You know, I thought back to the day I got my acceptance letter to Texas A&M's nursing program and how incredulous I was...that I had actually pulled it off after losing my shoe store I built and ran for 10 years...when I hit bottom and started all over again with 2 little boys at home to raise. Now, 3 years later, I have a new business and an inevitable nursing degree. One more year of this...one day at a time...I'm going to have a bachelors degree, and that gives me chills. I'm sure over this next years I will continue to experience tearful, self-doubting moments. But, the tears I shed when I walk across that stage will be worth it. God bless y'all. Thank you for lifting my spirits :)

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Maybe you should keep your party rental company on hold and focus on your nursing school first. After you get RN license, you can work only three days a week and have plenty of time to take care of your company.

Does this sound right?

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You don't put a company on hold when you have monthly expenses. If I do that, I might as well sell it. This is how I pay my bills and my tuition when financial aid is not available. I have wind back in my sail so I'm just gonna push through one more year, and then yes, my plan is to do three 12s and have the other 4 days for business or whatever. And it will make a wold of difference when papers and documentation isn't always due or exams to prepare for, etc.

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