'Confused' could be an understatement!

Published

Hii everyone ,

I have been following this site for a while now.Let me first brief you all about me.I am a 27 yr old person.I have no concrete idea on what my real purpose in life is.Like what I am best at doing.It did not seem to come very easy to me,unlike some fortunate others.I have been bitter about it in the past,but now I just want an answer and I want to fight for this epiphany.

In school, I was a good student,I did well in my bio class,loved Chemistry,did not enjoy Physics or Maths a whole lot.But it was school and I never had an opinion.When time came for me to pick a undergrad major,I basically was made to believe that since everyone is doing a degree in engineering,so should I.And why? 'Security' and 'stability'.From where I came,these two reasons governed everything.Did not matter if you had no interest.

After an undergraduate degree in electronics engineering, a very mediocre IT career,yet another failed attempt in trying to figure out myself in the form of an expensive Master's in Computer science,here I am,not even employed in my supposed area of education.

The feelings of being a loser,having no career,no idea of what could be a possible career have been really eating me up from within.after doing some research,talking to people and taking that bold step, I have felt I could make a good nurse.I feel I have the makings,and by that I mean ,I am curios to know about the human body,I am a kind and compassionate person,I am empathetic and good with emotional connections.I enjoy knowing what happens with our bodies and learning more.I do admit I am a little repelled by blood and the idea of dissections.(I am being brutally honest)

Now,since I have no,absolutely no,background in this field,am I wasting my life even more?Do people like me actually make switches? I have immense respect for everyone here.For people who knew all along what they wanted to people who took chances and went for it.

I want to be one of those people.

How did you all find your calling?

And could you give me an idea on where to begin if I could study nursing?

Thank you all so so much.

From Looserville

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Look at accelerated nursing degrees in your area, since you have a degree you can get into an accelerated BSN or MSN. I dropped a 7 year career in automotive marketing to go back to school. After all the stress etc. still the best decision I ever made. See what classes your missing to apply and see what ur community college has to offer. Best of luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Look at accelerated nursing degrees in your area, since you have a degree you can get into an accelerated BSN or MSN. I dropped a 7 year career in automotive marketing to go back to school. After all the stress etc. still the best decision I ever made. See what classes your missing to apply and see what ur community college has to offer. Best of luck!

Thank you so much for listening and responding.

I will definitely take a look at that.I have already been,but I did not know that having a degree,even if it is in a completely different field,would help.

But also may I ask, why did you make a switch to nursing?Like,did you just happen to know that this is it.Anything else that affected your decision.

I am not able to trust my decision making skills.I feel like I want to, but I would hate to be here 5-6 years later saying this also was a wrong decision.I do not want to be that person...

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Acute Care, Rehab, Palliative.

It doesn't matter what you did before, or how old you are. If your dream is nursing, go for it. I was, among other things, a horse trainer and a chef's assistant in a fine dining restaurant ( loved both jobs). I went to nursing school when I was a 38 year old single mom. I can't imagine being anything else.

Best of luck.You can do it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I can relate to your feelings of not know what you are "meant" to do or what you should be when you grow up..lol. I too have a BA in something not related to nursing. I too made the wrong decision out of college and got an unfullfilling job out of college, went in the wrong direction and here I am changing geers and directions for hopefully the last time.

Anyways, I don't think there's a book of life that says we have to make the right decision once in life, why not just take some pre reqs, starting researching schools. I too am and have always been interested in anatomy and diseases, and am a very personable, outgoing, easy going person.I too am not all that found of dissections and fluids, but figure that is only a part of the job.....and most likely if you're not into dissections, just don't be an OR nurse!

Good luck and you are not a loser!!! You have plenty of life left to live.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
It doesn't matter what you did before, or how old you are. If your dream is nursing, go for it. I was, among other things, a horse trainer and a chef's assistant in a fine dining restaurant ( loved both jobs). I went to nursing school when I was a 38 year old single mom. I can't imagine being anything else.

Best of luck.You can do it.

Thank you loriangel14.It is definitely strong people like you who make me feel like I am not alone and that I have the liberty of making mistakes to learn some more about me.

I am glad to know you are doing the thing best for you.Good wishes and thank you for those good words!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I can relate to your feelings of not know what you are "meant" to do or what you should be when you grow up..lol. I too have a BA in something not related to nursing. I too made the wrong decision out of college and got an unfullfilling job out of college, went in the wrong direction and here I am changing geers and directions for hopefully the last time.

Anyways, I don't think there's a book of life that says we have to make the right decision once in life, why not just take some pre reqs, starting researching schools. I too am and have always been interested in anatomy and diseases, and am a very personable, outgoing, easy going person.I too am not all that found of dissections and fluids, but figure that is only a part of the job.....and most likely if you're not into dissections, just don't be an OR nurse!

Good luck and you are not a loser!!! You have plenty of life left to live.

We sound like two people with very similar personalities.And the fact that you have had your share of good learning experiences to figure yourself out along the way,makes me feel less lonely in this terribly miserable place I was in.

So have you actually started nursing school?and since you also do not like dissections and blood ,what is your specialization?I just want to make an educated decision this time.May be no one can completely ensure that this is something for me,it is my job at the end,but good strong people like you do provide a much needed insight.:)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in School Nursing.

You would be shocked at all the people with degrees in completely unrelated fields going into nursing right now. They are everywhere on these boards so you're in good company.

I say go for it. You're young, you will find yourself and what makes you shine.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Weezy-

I'm getting my CNA right now (certified nursing assistant). I'm taking my pre reqs at a community college online and in person and hope to apply to a BSN program at a state school in the fall of 2012.

After haveing my 3 kids, I want to be in L&D, emergency, or pediatrics...but my long term goal is to be a nurse educator and teach or...something along those lines. I do need to get my clinical experience in, so I'm just going to try and brave the bodily fluids as much as I can while still maintaining my customer service skills, friendly personality without walking into the room and shouting "oh my gosh, what is that????" lol....:o

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Weezy-

I'm getting my CNA right now (certified nursing assistant). I'm taking my pre reqs at a community college online and in person and hope to apply to a BSN program at a state school in the fall of 2012.

After having my 3 kids, I want to be in L&D, emergency, or pediatrics...but my long term goal is to be a nurse educator and teach or...something along those lines. I do need to get my clinical experience in, so I'm just going to try and brave the bodily fluids as much as I can while still maintaining my customer service skills, friendly personality without walking into the room and shouting "oh my gosh, what is that????" lol....:o

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

OMG - you are so NOT a loser. You have achieved both an undergrad & grad degree in a very challenging field. They don't just hand out MCS's to anyone. AND you managed to accomplish all of this while you are still in your 20's, It's not your fault the economy is in the dumper & good IT jobs are all in Bangalore these days. I am concerned that you may not have gotten sufficient positive feedback from family & the people who know you... if so, it's definitely time for new friends! My oldest is a software engineer, so I know a bit about the IT environment right now.

Switching to nursing is certainly an option for you, but it won't be the magic bullet that can change your life & make you feel better about yourself in general. I would suggest taking some time out to get your head on straight first. Maybe even utilize a career counseling service to determine where your interests & talents lie.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Weezy - you are NOT alone. There are alot of people on this board who have come from completely unrelated backgrounds. I have found alot of comfort on these boards. Like you, I have never felt a "calling" to be a specific job, I have felt a calling only to improve peoples health and help them live healthier, happier lives. I had NO IDEA when I went to undergrad, majored in Spanish and then found my way into health communications. I liked it but never found it that rewarding. I also got a Masters of Public Health and through that experience started becoming increasingly interested in the more hands on, clinical aspect of medicine. So here I am, 30, with a BA and an MPH, starting my prereqs in Jan and volunteering at my local hospital. Way I see it, if I have always disliked doing health from a computer and office, that will only increase with time. I need the hands on, I need to work with people, I want to help people one -on-one so I am going to be a nurse. I am scared, second guess myself sometimes, get freaked out my all the new change coming but I try to concentrate on the fact that I will be learning all kinds of amazing new things, I will meet new people, I will be able to make a difference in someones life, a real difference and be able to see it on their face.

Check out schools, look at volunteering, talk to nurses, see if you could shadow a nurse at a local hospital, go to open houses at accelerated programs and keep coming back to this board for support! Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion