Considering dropping out

caliotter3 · Nov 5, 2015

Either way, this is a decision you are going to have to live with. Be advised though, that the road could very well be more difficult should you drop out and subsequently try to return to nursing in the future. Good, bad, or indifferent, your reason for leaving nursing school, the schools tend to hold it against you when you try to return. If you even think you have a chance to salvage this, and want to do so, I suggest you plow through it. Good luck with whatever you choose.

CryssyD · Nov 11, 2015

3rd year--you're almost there!

On the other hand, if you plan to get out of nursing eventually, why are you going into it in the first place?

I've known a few people who went into nursing "for the money" and found it wasn't worth it. Nursing is hard work, in every way, and every day brings new challenges. There are all kinds of specialties and sub-specialties in nursing--there is pretty much something for everyone, I've always thought--but you have to get through school and that all-important first year as a nurse. If your heart's really not in it, I don't know how you will manage.

edmst · Nov 12, 2015

I'll be straight forward with you because as an adult, I believe the best advice is not the sugar coated advice but the real cold hard truth. I have worked in med surge, tele, stepdown, tiny bit of ICU, and now settled into one of the busiest ED's in a large metropolitan city (which the ED sees appx. 100,000 pts/year). You have this illusion that a nurse's salary will be sufficient enough to pay off your student loans, pay for your current bills and such, and after those bills are paid, you will be having enough left over to save to purchase your own business. That's unrealistic. the salary just isn't there.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Nov 12, 2015

You need to discuss this with your academic counselor. Failing 25/60 is a reflection on the teacher, not the student.You are paying to learn a profession, and that ratio tells me something is wrong.

Define "chewed out".

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Nov 12, 2015

3rd year--you're almost there!
On the other hand, if you plan to get out of nursing eventually, why are you going into it in the first place?
I've known a few people who went into nursing "for the money" and found it wasn't worth it. Nursing is hard work, in every way, and every day brings new challenges. There are all kinds of specialties and sub-specialties in nursing--there is pretty much something for everyone, I've always thought--but you have to get through school and that all-important first year as a nurse. If your heart's really not in it, I don't know how you will manage.

Third semester, big difference.

RegularNurse · Nov 12, 2015

If you are entrepreneurial, you are years away from having the experience or credibility as an RN to start a business or be in a leadership at a hospital. I only write this because, if you are not into nursing, the few years you will have to work in bedside care are going to be miserable. I live in the NE of the US, every new manager or supervisor or educator must have an MSN. Even going nearly full-time, a MSN will take a few years to get; years you will have to work as a bedside RN. You might even want an MBA too. An MBA will at least take a few years also. I think you will be fine and should grind it out, but be aware that you are at the start of a marathon.

Regarding money, I live in an area where staff nurses are paid pretty good. An experienced nurse can make around 80k in base pay at one of three large hospitals in my area. As soon as you leave the downtown area, pay drops by about 10-15 dollars an hour. As a new grad, you will likely not get a solid staff nursing job right away. If you want to be a small business owner, be prepared to be broke until the business becomes solvent.

You sound smart. My advice is to grind it out, but have the right expectations before you enter this field. Also, remember that businesses, especially ones in healthcare, have tremendous overhead, liability, and salary costs. They typically are brick and mortar etc. If you will regret not doing any of this just dive in. Life is too short for

calivianya, BSN, RN · Nov 12, 2015

I will disagree that you can't save enough to do what you want to on a nursing degree. It depends on the area you live in, but I make more than enough to live well, and I'm starting to throw a bunch into savings, too, even though I have made some stupid decisions lately (like buying myself a nice car earlier this year and a Le Vian diamond ring for myself as a Christmas present).

The fact is that money doesn't grow on trees, and not many other degrees pay as well as nursing starting out. And you've only got a little ways left to go! How long would it take you to graduate if you start over in a completely different field? Too long, if you ask me, considering you could be making a decent salary in the meantime.

I would say finish nursing, live very frugally and pay off your loans ASAP, start saving, and then pay for your next degree out of pocket. You absolutely should be able to do that on a nursing salary if you are reasonable about your budgeting.

calivianya, BSN, RN · Nov 12, 2015

Third semester, big difference.

It depends. The nursing program I went to was a two year program that consisted of the junior and senior years - the first two years you were just a pre-nursing student and not in nursing school. Third semester of my nursing program was the fall semester of the senior year. I would say OP is going to graduate in seven months.

edmst · Nov 12, 2015

I will disagree that you can't save enough to do what you want to on a nursing degree. It depends on the area you live in, but I make more than enough to live well, and I'm starting to throw a bunch into savings, too, even though I have made some stupid decisions lately (like buying myself a nice car earlier this year and a Le Vian diamond ring for myself as a Christmas present).

A nurse's salary is extremely limited especially factoring in student loans and current bills/loans/mortgages. Yes, in certain areas the salary is greater but so is the cost of living.

I would say finish nursing, live very frugally and pay off your loans ASAP, start saving, and then pay for your next degree out of pocket. You absolutely should be able to do that on a nursing salary if you are reasonable about your budgeting.

Nursing is a very stressful job both physically and mentally. You stated you purchased a "nice" car and a "nice" diamond ring yet are lecturing about living "frugally."

Libby1987 · Nov 12, 2015

Failing the 3rd semester of my BSN program would have meant I had only completed 2 semesters out of 6.

The first year or three of nursing seems to be reportedly tougher for most than nursing school. Between the the failing and it not being much related your end goal, I would give serious consideration to other options.

calivianya, BSN, RN · Nov 12, 2015

Nursing is a very stressful job both physically and mentally. You stated you purchased a "nice" car and a "nice" diamond ring yet are lecturing about living "frugally."

I don't have student loans, and my goal is not to open my own business in the next few years. OP's goals are different from mine, hence why I don't follow my own advice.

I pointed out the things I bought to show I do in fact have extra money around, while some posters are acting like every nurse is struggling to pay bills because we're paid so poorly. I'm not struggling at all. I think it's worth considering that not everyone is living paycheck to paycheck as a nurse.