Do You Regret Nursing School?

Lmoynihan · Sep 15, 2004

The question is...are you sorry you're not in nursing? I love being a nurse(LPN)

My biggest regret is that I didn't go for my RN years ago, because I can't get a job anywhere as an LPN.

I'm surprised you had already been in school for a year even though you have a BS in another field. There are many colleges that will take your BS regardless of the field and apply it to your BSN. It would only take you about a year total to do the nursing portion. (probably alot less since you've knocked out some classes already) Is that a a possiblity for you?

There are a hundred different things you can do as an RN. I hope you look again if nursing is really in your heart

Hi everyone
After earning a BS in another field, I decided to give nursing a try and went back for my BSN. After one year, I dropped out due to burnout working as a CNA and hearing negative comments about nursing. All I ever wanted to do in nursing was become a NICU nurse. I am in grad school for physical therapy now, and I wonder if I made a mistake. I don't want to go back to nursing school only to decide it is not for me...again, seeing as I would be losing a lot of money.
So, my question is, does anyone regret becoming a nursing student? Looking back on their schooling choices, do you wish you pursued something else?

nsgstudentjen · Sep 16, 2004

well, I am new in nursing school this year, but initally began my BSN in the fall of 2002 (long story, bf in the military and we moved cross country...) and to answer your question...NO. I am very happy to be in nursing school. My first degree is in psych, I worked in mental health and clinical research before deciding that nursing was for me. Yes, I have met many many nurses that are burned out and say "don't do it!" but then there are many more who love what they do. With nursing, you know you will have a job when you graduate. How many other fields can say that these days? You know you pretty much will make a good salary (depending on location and type of nursing) and you have so many options - direct care, administration, research, working in industry...it's also flexible if you want children, which I do.

I don't think many people on this site will say they regret it at all. However, only you know where your heart pulls you so your trust your gut.

Good Luck

Jen

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Sep 16, 2004

Nursing school is a necessary pain. The endless hours of reading and panic attacks over the sheer amount of work is not for the squeamish, that's for sure. I'm still in second semester so it may be premature to address regret issues but I do know that CNA work is not the same as the work RNs or even hospital based LPNs do. It doesn't take long to get burned out on CNA work. Many of us were warned by clinical instructors that taking aide work might turn us off to nursing and lead to early burnout. I've been doing aide work for six months now on a med/surg floor and I'm definitely ready for a change. But when I do my clinical work as a nurse in school, I notice a great difference because the focus is different.

So far, no regrets.

ladylou88 · Sep 16, 2004

Great question Lmoynihan! The answer is....that's what I'm trying to figure out! I really love the nursing field, but I really love physical therapy as well. The only nursing I ever wanted to do was NICU. I really hated all the other parts of nursing school. But what if I ever got sick of NICU? Or didn't like it as much as I thought I did? I pretty much like all fields of PT, and can see myself working in all of them, including the NICU as a PT. I don't know if I am just discouraged because I really hate the city my PT school is in (I moved away from home to go to PT school), my classmates are catty and rude and unsupportive. NO ONE is nice in my class to each other. It's really horrible. So I am living in a city I hate without any friends of family here! It's tough...

I have one year left in PT school, so I may just finish it, and then if I still really have an itch to nurse, I could always go back to nursing school. But everyone's posts have really helped me. THANK YOU EVERYONE!! Oh, another thing- yes, I looked into the accelerated BSN, but it was double the price of tuition than if I did the BSN in 2 years, plus I couldn't work if I did the BSN. Thanks again! Good luck to all you future nurses!!:)

The question is...are you sorry you're not in nursing? I love being a nurse(LPN)
My biggest regret is that I didn't go for my RN years ago, because I can't get a job anywhere as an LPN.
I'm surprised you had already been in school for a year even though you have a BS in another field. There are many colleges that will take your BS regardless of the field and apply it to your BSN. It would only take you about a year total to do the nursing portion. (probably alot less since you've knocked out some classes already) Is that a a possiblity for you?
There are a hundred different things you can do as an RN. I hope you look again if nursing is really in your heart

Catma63 · Sep 16, 2004

I've known all of my life that I wanted to be a nurse.....just didn't think the option was open for me. I'm a 41 year old and feel blessed to have the opportunity.

I'm now in my second year (eight months to go....again, God willing) and though it's been incredibly hard (emotionally, physically, financially) I'm reminded everytime I do a clinical and see a patient needing care why I've wanted this. I've so often heard that grand ole reminder, "If He leads you to it, He'll lead you through it."

I don't suppose anyone can tell if this is something you, personally, want to do. I reckon that's something you have to search for from within yourself to know. I think, should you decide to continue. you'll find it worth it, though. Something led you to it in the first place, right?

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Sep 16, 2004

No. I only regret not having gone years and years ago.

Life.. and work... is what you make it, how you take it...

...and what you give. :)

LPN-n-2005 · Sep 16, 2004

i highly recommend not taking aide working during nursing school. i worked as a patient care technician on a respiratory floor for 6 months and i ended up hating it. i didn't use any actual "nursing" skills and did nothing but baths and run water and ice while the floor nurses sat at the nurses station on third shift and ate t.v. dinners and read a magazine. :angryfire on top of that i was by myself (only aide on floor) for 26 patients! they would expect me to do like 12 or 13 total care bath's myself. needless to say i jumped ship and decided allied health was for me. good luck to everyone!

Katnip, RN · Sep 16, 2004

I'm with Jnette. My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner.

manna, BSN, RN · Sep 20, 2004

So, my question is, does anyone regret becoming a nursing student? Looking back on their schooling choices, do you wish you pursued something else?

There are times when I find myself wishing I was doing something more related to the medical model (I'd dreamed of going to med school before I had children)... but those thoughts are fleeting and few. I've found, now that I'm in nursing school, I enjoy taking care of people more than I imagined. I think it's normal to have some doubts and fears

RN34TX · Sep 21, 2004

..... Yes, I have met many many nurses that are burned out and say "don't do it!" but then there are many more who love what they do. With nursing, you know you will have a job when you graduate. How many other fields can say that these days? You know you pretty much will make a good salary (depending on location and type of nursing) and you have so many options - direct care, administration, research, working in industry...

I've noticed a pattern whenever I've polled people as to whether or not they love nursing. Those who "love what they do" as you put it never seem to be direct patient care staff or floor nurses. They are always CRNA's, clinical specialist this or that, research, education, case managers, drug reps, etc.

Yes, if I took home a 6 digit figure and never had to deal with conscious sick patients or their psychotic families, I'd love my job too.

But that's not really being a nurse now, is it?

Of course if you count new grads who get their dream job in ER or NICU, they love direct patient care until the hollywood drama fades and reality sets in.

And those nurses who say "don't do it" aren't necessarily "burned out" they may just have the experience to know what it's really like.

It's pretty sad when you see a lot of nurses who have been doing it for less than 5-10 years and would not recommend it to others.

Don't get me wrong, I do NOT regret nursing school or my decision to enter nursing as my ADN affords me a better financial lifestyle than many bachelors and even master's degree prepared people in other fields. But it comes with a price.

I still enjoy taking care of people and feeling like I've made one small difference in someone's life every time I clock out. If I didn't, that paycheck wouldn't be nearly worth the crap you go through to get it. Walmart would be better.

Money isn't everything and I would be a fool to tell people to go into nursing because the pay is great and you are guaranteed a job right out of school.

Too many people focus on that instead of why there is a nursing shortage to begin with or why a person in this field with an associate's degree can make a lot more money than people in other fields with more education.

babynursewannab · Sep 21, 2004

Clinical Specialists engage in direct patient care.