Ever Had Second Thoughts?

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Apr 26, 2006

I think we all have those days, Rine. I still do, and I've been doing this for years.

In fact, I'd venture to guess that any student just entering a new field has a few doubts, not just nursing students. It's only human.

Good luck on your test. Let us know how you do, ok?

cathleenmermaid · Apr 26, 2006

I to Rine have had many doubts of late. As I read some of the threads

I wonder if I really want to work at this degree, only to be beaten up

on the job when I finally finish. I am wondering if I should go for my

Medical Assistant degree. I am also not very assertive although I was

a Restaurant Manager in charge of a 200 seat fine dining place.

Do you know what the difference is between a R.N. and A MA?

Although in my heart I have always wanted to become a Nurse.

I am 47 this year and if I don't do it now I never will.

knowing I will have to work all hours of the day and night, and not be

respected etc. Sorry not trying to be - but I feel the way you do as well.

Thanks for listening. :uhoh3: :nurse:

tookewlandy · Apr 26, 2006

RINE

trust me outspoken isnt the quality that makes you a good nurse its how you are with people i am shy by nature and when i started in this field i was nervous on how i would be, How would i relate or be able to talk to patients etc.When i started CNA clinicals i wanted to quit after the first day because i was overwhelmed But now it comes so easy to me, i dont know it happend but one day i started to fit rght in and do a great job helping and taking care of people. Keep up te good work and you will be fine

Rine · Apr 26, 2006

Hi Angie and Cathleen,

Thank you both for writing! It makes me feel better that others have/had doubts too.

Cathleen -- I'm going to be 43 in three weeks and I know what you mean about now or never. I am sure that as a manager you have developed great skills that you will need in nursing!! I was an executive admin assist for 20 years and I've dealt with the Good Ol Boys Club but I hear the medical world is even rougher than that.

I'm still getting all the definitions down so I can't answer your question about the differences between RN and AMA. If I dig something up, I'll post it for you. I've often thought of Alternative Nursing as I'm really interested in that.

I can really relate to what you wrote -- it sounds like where I am coming from too. I am no where near giving up -- I'm going to start researching other areas of nursing and see how they are. I am still very hopeful that there is a place in nursing for me. One of my family members is a nurse and I am blown away at the griping and stress that she vents about during family get-togethers. I sit there, quietly horrified, thinking, Oh GAWD what am I getting into?!!!

There's gotta be alot of happy (even satisfied) nurses, right ??

shock-me-sane · Apr 26, 2006

i had tons of doubts during my pre-reqs, mostly stemming from the concern that my grades wouldn't be good enough to get it. now at the end of my first year of nursing school i have doubts. i wonder why i am doing this, when my plan for my career are to continue on in school is a non-medical related field, i wonder if each quarter i will actually pass or be one of the lost souls that misses the mark by one point, i wonder if i will be able to cut it as a nurse because there is so much to remember, so many signs and symptoms, disease processes, psycho-social factors etc that are expressed differently in each patient. am i smart enough to do it?

with that said, my doubts exist when i am not in class/clinicals. when i am in the hospital or lecture, my eyes light up a bit because i am learning/doing things that fascinate me and each time i slowly get a piece of the bigger picture of nursing. and i know that someday i will get to that point that i will be confident in my skills and knowledge. and that my work as a nurse will greatly benefit me in my future.

Rine · Apr 26, 2006

RINE
trust me outspoken isnt the quality that makes you a good nurse its how you are with people i am shy by nature and when i started in this field i was nervous on how i would be, How would i relate or be able to talk to patients etc.When i started CNA clinicals i wanted to quit after the first day because i was overwhelmed But now it comes so easy to me, i dont know it happend but one day i started to fit rght in and do a great job helping and taking care of people. Keep up te good work and you will be fine

Thank you tookewlandy,

I know I do have good people skills -- even though I am shy too. Your message has helped reassure me of what is important. It is so calming to hear other people talk about feeling nervous or overwhelmed.....it's strange how knowing I'm not alone with this makes me feel empowered and brave enough to keep going forward.

Thank you all again -- Rine

ps: 5 more hours till Physio Exam !! hee hee

Pump Pump Pump the Heart !!!!

Rine · Apr 26, 2006

with that said, my doubts exist when i am not in class/clinicals. when i am in the hospital or lecture, my eyes light up a bit because i am learning/doing things that fascinate me and each time i slowly get a piece of the bigger picture of nursing. and i know that someday i will get to that point that i will be confident in my skills and knowledge. and that my work as a nurse will greatly benefit me in my future.

Hi Shock-Me,

So beautifully put!! You reminded me that my eyes do light up -- even in Physiology. I get giddy because I realize that I'm actually understanding this stuff!! I can remember when electrons,ions, and chemical equations used to blow me out of the water and now it's all part of what I know. I believe that's how nursing will be -- overwhelming and almost over the top at first, and then we'll relax into those situations as we take on new and more challenging situations. Thanks for your message

Fun2, BSN, RN · Apr 26, 2006

I've felt the same way at times.

Last semester when I got my denial letter, I slowly started to get the feeling of "do I even want to do this?" Of course, I know I do. I didn't let the feeling overtake me, and I continued on with my classes.

Now, I'm starting Nursing School in August, and I am on cloud 9!

I don't know if I will make it, or even like it when I get there, but I'm determined to find out on my own.

I hope you give yourself that chance as well.

Keep motivated, and good luck! :balloons:

stpauligirl · Apr 26, 2006

I sometimes have second thoughts about nursing. I wonder if it's because the journey to get from start to finish is so long and as I continue chipping away at my prereqs it's inevitable that doubts creep in from time to time. I sometimes doubt I've got the assertiveness that nursing requires. Many of my classmates are the classic outgoing, outspoken types that I tend to envy thinking they will indeed become the best nurses.
I'm a introvert by nature, however after spending 20 years in high tech I've managed to learn how to shift into a more assertive personality when it's necessary.
My goals include taking some assertiveness training while I'm on the waiting list.
I hear that the reason that nurses are in short demand is because of the hazing from upper management and burnout. I really hope that's not true about nursing as a whole. I haven't pinpointed the area of nursing I want to go into yet, although I'm drawn to mental health and maybe chemical dependent patients.
I guess I'm just having one of those days and I'm running into people who have negative perspective on nursing and that what I'm being warned about isn't true for all nursing areas. I'm not interested in a career, no matter what the pay is, where I come home each day feeling mowed over.
Maybe this feeling is because I'm having my Physiology midterm in about 6 hours -- ughh. Tension is high.
I don't mean to be a bummer -- any input?

I have second thoughts every other minute...Advertisements for nursing kill me, nobody tells you how HARD it will be to get there.... the pressure of having to get A's...the competitiveness of getting into nursing school....the games of fellow students...the games of professors that make it almost impossible to get A's in the prerequisite science classes (how high can we set the hurdles?) ....

Even though I rise to the challenge, I feel very, very intimidated. I am not able to take a full load of classes and make A's in all of them so I take it a notch down and take fewer credit hours per semester jsut so that I can get A's.....then there will be the application process and the following denial letters, I don't know how well I will cope with that....I have worked very hard to get to where I am currently. Good GRIEF, wonder why all that hype???? I ended up in the hospital as a patient and ran into some real bad nurses and you scratch your head how did they EVER get there???? It's all a big game that we have to learn to win. I may not follow through with it...will see how much of it I am able to tolerate as time goes on. I am looking for a fullfilling career that also pays good money adn I know in my heart that I would make an excellent nurse ....but I might become roadkill on my way there!!!!! It's truly depressing at times.

Rine · Apr 26, 2006

Hi StPaulieGirl,

Oh I'm right there with you. I'm only able to take Physio right now. Last semester I took Anatomy, Spanish II (still can't speak spanish) and an online course AND worked fulltime. Almost put me in the hospital, and nearly drove all my friends, family and boyfriend crazy with my huge stress-related fits.

I'm attending a community college where the GPA sounds like it's much more generous than what I'm hearing on these boards -- so I better be grateful for that.

I'm taking a very similar approach.....for myself, I won't be devastated if nursing turns out to be a bad match for me. I will have my AS degree and that can work for me in many other areas. I have a greater appreciation for the nurses that do make it -- I never realized how HARD it was to become a nurse. You don't see me spouting *medical facts* at parties these days -- as in my pre-college days when I used to think I knew so much after watching an informative Oprah show....dear lord !!! So much to know and learn yet!

I still don't have a clue because I'm not even in the nursing program yet. I do admire and respect the nurses that have made it.......I hope to see us all get there too!!

Thank you for the support today -- Rine

2 hours till Exam time and I'd better get going

stpauligirl · Apr 26, 2006

Hi StPaulieGirl,
Oh I'm right there with you. I'm only able to take Physio right now. Last semester I took Anatomy, Spanish II (still can't speak spanish) and an online course AND worked fulltime. Almost put me in the hospital, and nearly drove all my friends, family and boyfriend crazy with my huge stress-related fits.
I'm attending a community college where the GPA sounds like it's much more generous than what I'm hearing on these boards -- so I better be grateful for that.
I'm taking a very similar approach.....for myself, I won't be devastated if nursing turns out to be a bad match for me. I will have my AS degree and that can work for me in many other areas. I have a greater appreciation for the nurses that do make it -- I never realized how HARD it was to become a nurse. You don't see me spouting *medical facts* at parties these days -- as in my pre-college days when I used to think I knew so much after watching an informative Oprah show....dear lord !!! So much to know and learn yet!
I still don't have a clue because I'm not even in the nursing program yet. I do admire and respect the nurses that have made it.......I hope to see us all get there too!!
Thank you for the support today -- Rine
2 hours till Exam time and I'd better get going

Good luck on your exam. Our friendship will get us through the down times, support is what we need!

Holler anytime...we can do it, yes we can :monkeydance: