Feel like giving up. Help, please!

Simplistic · Mar 21, 2017

There are plenty of people who graduate from nursing school without CNA experience... Im sure you will be fine without it.

jtboy29 · Mar 21, 2017

Just because you weren't invited to join your school's chapter of sigma theta tau doesn't mean you're not worthy of the profession. Your GPA doesn't determine what kind of nurse you will be so don't harp too much on the fact of not being invited because that doesn't determine what kind of nurse you will be. To have good character is I think how you conduct yourself as a nursing student and not just maintaining strong grades which is a good thing though. Don't beat yourself up because you didn't get in to sigma and your clinical group did. Just pick yourself up and dust your shoulders off and get back at it and continue to work hard.

Sensibility, BSN, RN · Apr 11, 2017

I was in STTI for two years. I did not receive anything special other than the honor of being chosen. Still, my hospital could have cared less. 99.9% of the nurses in my unit are not STTI nurses. So after two years of paying the dues, I stopped paying it and joined a different group more relevant to what I do. I did not get nurse of the year for being so honored. Seriously, there are too many nurses on the floors that do not have those honors because in their day of being a nurse, nothing like that was offered. So nobody cares.

GPAs are marvelous. But being a good nurse is not about that. It is actually being the kind of person that can take rejection and mean things said and even when they do hurt, bounce back and stay the course. I cannot even tell you how many times stuff like what you are sharing has happened to me. I refused to quit. Nursing is a wonderful profession of sacrificial love to people who are hurting and need us. Yes, we are paid well compared to other professions but we earn every single dime and we are often expected to work in pain, lack of sleep, and putting family to the sidelines. Children need positive people who are showing that positive to them even when they are not feeling it inside. You will be the better person in the end if you can grasp what I'm saying. When a medical professional of any kind thinks it's about them, they become the WORST nurses and doctors on the planet. Every decision, every event, every moment is funneled through their state of being and ego etc. They are difficult to work with. I hope you can hear this and receive it. :up:

kiki617 · Apr 11, 2017

Hi Ilovenursing15. You have worked very hard and are fortunate to be in the program you are. Give yourself some credit! I worked very hard to get into an accelerated BSN program in Boston and was finally accepted and had to decline due to changes in my financial situation. I'm currently retaking prereqs and relocated to Texas to get it done - for cheaper. It's been an incredibly long road and I'm no where near where you are. Hold your head up, volunteer at MGH if you can (I used to volunteer in the neuro ICU and would chat up all the nursing that would give me a time of day)- meet as many people in the field as you can as networking matters, and you will be done in a semester anyways and will have to work on up so work on getting some thick skin. And again, give yourself some credit. You deserve to be where you are and you will be a great nurse.

Guest957596 · Apr 11, 2017

Hi, everyone
I've been crying for the past few hours, and am making this post because I really need encouragement
i just posted last week about starting my pediatric clinical. I'm a 3rd-semester student in a 4-semester accelerated BSN program.
ive been applying to CNA positions at every place that needs them: major hospitals, community hospitals, LTC facilities, everywhere. I want to get the experience of having more than one patient, because we only get one in clinical (and that's not real life)
i have above a 3.0. I mention that because I was not invited to join my school's chapter of sigma theta tau. You need at least above a 3.0, and must be in the top 35% of your class. I have above a 3.0. I don't know my ranking, but apparently, I'm not in the top 35. Everyone in my clinical group was invited. My heart sank. I feel like this says that I'm not worthy of the profession, that I don't have good character. I worked so hard to get into the program. I've worked so hard during. I'm currently a TA, but I want a pca/cna job. I have to think about my future. I would give up a kidney to become a nurse. I belong in this profession. But today, I feel so defeated.
I was wondering if anyone had any words of advice? I honestly feel so defeated.

My school doesn't have Sigma Theta Tau. So what does it matter? It doesn't. Get over it and become a nurse!You don't need CNA.

LovingLife123 · Apr 12, 2017

I'll be honest here, you are throwing up red flags all over the place that nursing is not for you. You are placing your self worth over things that do matter in life. Your upset over an honor society and feel like you are not worthy of the profession? I feel like you are being a little dramatic. You would give your kidney to be a nurse? Again dramatic.

You need to suck it up here and get yourself together. Sorry if I seem harsh, but this is the reality. You will have a hard time in the job itself if these small things are having you question your self worth. Nurses need to be strong people for so many reasons. Dig down deep here and get strong.

Jdyerian37 · Jun 26, 2017

Don't give up. You undoubtedly worked very hard to be where you are. Think of how long you dreamt of being in that classroom, being a nursing student, wearing those scrubs for the first time..... this is just part of the process for many. If it's any consolation, I had a 3.5 GPA and was very involved in leadership and still didn't get an offer to sigma theta tao. I was a bit bummed too, but i think it's helpful to recognize that this is not the only opportunity you have to stand out as an accomplished student or future nurse. There are many volunteer positions, student nursing associations, community outreach programs etc that you can become a part of to gain some of the networking and leadership opportunities I would assume you're looking for. If it is awards/achievements you're looking for to add to your resume, sigma theta tao membership is impressive- but so are scholarships- maybe that's an avenue to explore.

As far as looking for a job as a CNA or tech, I would encourage you to seek feedback from interviewers who did not hire you. What areas could you improve upon? What are they looking for that you didn't exactly deliver on? What criteria is most important to them when considering an applicant? If you do not feel comfortable asking them, I would pick a mentor/teacher/etc that will be honest and upfront with you. Ask them to help with reviewing your resume/mock interviews possibly.

Last but not least- I will part by saying, DO NOT GIVE UP SIMPLY IF YOU DIDNT GET A HOSPITAL JOB BEFORE YOU GET YOUR RN. I can speak from experience when I say that having cna or tech is very helpful- but it isn't everything. I had two years of experience as a CNA in the ER before I became a nurse. I learned TONS, I made strong relationships with colleagues- but I didn't learn to become a nurse, until I WAS A NURSE going through orientation. It's stressful and overwhelming whether you have any experience or not. Do not under estimate the value of other jobs you may have held especially if they deal with customer service, difficult personalities, managing your time, etc. There's more than one way to learn how to interact with people, pay attention to detail, show compassion, and be an effective communicator and things of that nature.

I hope this helps! Focus on your schooling for now and know that you're never alone- always reach out when you need support or guidance because someone is always here to help! And trust me- your post alone will provide comfort to someone else who is experiencing the same feelings you are!