First semester of clinical made me change my mind

Azure1213 · Jan 4, 2011

I can honestly relate to you, as I have felt the same way about my clinicals and some of my classes, and also made the desire to change my major, but my aunt, who's an LPN, has encouraged me to stay in nursing because of the many benefits it has, it's not about the money, but what you can do in the field, you don't have to work in a hospital or a nursing home, you can travel and it may seem like it takes forever, but once you pass first semester, the end is already in sight, even though 2 years seems like it will take forever. But having a poor attitude really messes you up and can cause you to fail. My poor attitude caused me to fail twice in my nursing classes. You are going to have instructers that are going to seem evil and sometimes not very good clinical instructers and it may seem harsh but sometimes you have to just have to suck it up and seek help from other people, I have found your instructer is someone you periodically touch base with and you are more working with the staff and the students around you. I also would suggest taking a moment and decide if you really see yourself as a nurse? Good luck with everything!

Chapis · Jan 4, 2011

finish the program. you cannot change your mind solely b'c of one clinical rotation. you were turned off b'c all the things you had to endure while in the geriatric department. i say go on, experience ob, peds, med-surge, l & d, or, etc, i'm sure you'll find your calling in one of the many areas that are in nursing.

don't change your mind about nursing if nursing is what you want. don't change your mind just because of that rotation you didn't like.

KareBear0609 · Jan 4, 2011

I am not in nursing school yet, still working on my pre reqs.... so I don't know what nursing clinicals are like but....

I got my CNA this past summer. Since they are mostly hired in LTC facilites, that is where I got my first CNA job. I have worked at two places since August and I can tell you that I have never seen one nurse change a diaper, turn a resident, change a bed, give a shower, feed a resident, or anything that is supposed to be a CNA's job. They pretty much pass meds and change dressings. I recently quit my CNA job because I do not like working with the elderly. Not everyone has to like working with them and that's okay. Nursing is a field that has many opportunities and you certainly do not have to work with the elderly.

Hang in there and don't give up!!!!!

llg, PhD, RN · Jan 4, 2011

Wait until you have experienced 2 or 3 other settings before deciding. It is very possible to hate one setting and love another.

However ... if you NEVER had any real interest in the acts of nursing themselves, then it would be foolish to think you would be happy as a nurse. If that's the case, you would be better off quitting ASAP and saving your money -- and investing it in a career that involves doing work that you really want to do.

fleurafor · Jan 4, 2011

I almost gave up after semester 1 bc I HATED clinical in LTC. The changing of diapers, the smell, was almost too much for me to handle and I seriously questioned if maybe I had made a mistake. But I decided to stay. I think you just have to get through Nursing school and understand that the real world for RN's has sooo many opportunities that wlll never require tracheostomy's, colostomy's or changing diapers. You could work for a Dermatologist, Dialysis Center, work as a Medical Case Manager for an Insurance Company, etc...And they all still provide that salary youre looking for. I dont know if youre supposed to be a nurse or not but I do know for sure that you shouldnt base your decision on Clinicals in Nursing school when there are so many other areas besides hospital nursing to work in.

2ndyearstudent, CNA · Jan 4, 2011

I hadn't done any volunteer work. Honestly I was in it for the job security and salary.
My initial plan was to go to veterinary school, I LOVE animals:heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat:D....but I knew it would take forever to get that degree. I'm only 23 now but I would like to have children one day, when my ovaries aren't too old and when I'm financially stable...which also persuaded me to go into the nursing field....but now I hate it. I don't want to be miserable in my career, nor do I want to be 35 having my first child when the chances of birth defects increase drastically.

Thank you for a great post! I quit my previous job to go into nursing because I knew I would be unhappy doing that for a living.

Your post underscores the value and importance of working in the healthcare field before starting nursing school. Working alongside nurses is a great way to get to know a little about the profession. A prospective student can find out a great deal about themselves and nursing while they are taking prerequisites and avoid schocking experiences during first semester clinical.

I really enjoyed being able to focus on the new nursing care aspects during my first semester clinical as the ADL stuff was old hat. Get ONE PATIENT a complete bed bath, dressed, and off to breakfast? That's a freaking vacation compared to my job at the time.

I think everyone is a little afraid and apprehensive when working with patients for the first time. I was, I had no idea what it would be like. Unlike you, I found it extremely fulfilling. Most of my classmates expressed the same thing: fear at first, then pride at being able to help take care of people.

I can tell you one thing about working with "sick old people". The younger they get, the scarier and tougher it gets. It's never easy, but it sure doesn't get easier as patients' ages fall. I welcome the challenge, but taking care of a 38 year old 280 pound guy on a vent with pancreatitis, alcohol withdrawal, central line, 6 IVs, a G tube, rectal tube, and c-diff constantly trying to break out of his restraints was orders of magnitude harder than taking care of that sweet 85 year old lady with dementia and a hip fracture.

Sure, as a nurse you'll also have young patients that don't require much care, but there is a downside to that: You will have a LOT of them at once. Not any more fun than taking care of a lower number of more acute patients.

If you are in it for the salary, it won't matter if your patient is 5 or 105. You'll hate every minute of it. I understand though, that's why I changed professions to nursing - I knew I didn't want to be an engineer anymore.

No one could ever tell you what to do based on your post, but it sounds like your focus is babies and money, not taking care of people. You mentioned animals, but I suspect you won't like taking care of sick old animals any more than you liked taking care of sick old people.

My hope for you is that as you gain experience working with patients you begin to appreciate the nursing profession for rewards other than monetary.

Good luck.

gina1982 · Jan 4, 2011

I guess Im one of the few that would actually prefer geriatrics. LOL! I am used to taking care of older people and never really had a problem with them. :)

Nighthawke30 · Jan 4, 2011

I agree with some of the other posters. Stick it out, don't base your entire career decision off of one bad clinical. Nursing is a very large field with lots of different job opportunities.

I personally have not started clinicals but the above was the advice given to me by a longtime friend and nurse.

Dazglue, ADN, BSN, MSN, RN · Jan 4, 2011

At least wait another semester. The reason why? First semester clinical you're just learning the basics and during clinical you're basicially just learning how to be a care assistant or a patient tech. If you're lucky maybe you are to pass out oral meds. Everybody doesn't like changing diapers or working with the elderly. It's not for everyone but during nursing school you gotta do what you gotta do and act like you love it! Lol. Been there, done that! There will different clinicals in the future (OR, OB, Med-Surg, ER, ICU) and there will be some you like and some you don't like. And this is coming from a 5th semester student! But if your heart is really in becoming a vet then go or it. You're only 23. Good luck in whichever path you choose to take!

CrazierThanYou · Jan 5, 2011

I am not in nursing school yet, still working on my pre reqs.... so I don't know what nursing clinicals are like but....
I got my CNA this past summer. Since they are mostly hired in LTC facilites, that is where I got my first CNA job. I have worked at two places since August and I can tell you that I have never seen one nurse change a diaper, turn a resident, change a bed, give a shower, feed a resident, or anything that is supposed to be a CNA's job. They pretty much pass meds and change dressings. I recently quit my CNA job because I do not like working with the elderly. Not everyone has to like working with them and that's okay. Nursing is a field that has many opportunities and you certainly do not have to work with the elderly.
Hang in there and don't give up!!!!!

I'm sure that's true in a LTC facility. However, two of our local hospitals do not hire ANY CNA's so guess who does the things that are the CNA's job? That's right. The nurses do it all.

2011NursingStudent · Jan 8, 2011

I went through a bunch of CNA clinicals and felt the same way, I was truly scared off, especially because I realized how difficult it was to move large patients and that the nursing homes rarely had the hoyer lifts, etc avail. I was sad when I quit and went back to my regular job and it was always in the back of my mind, and two years later I decided to renew my CNA because it had just expired, and the clinical to do that was rough - but I expected it. It was a shock the first time, but then when you expect it and just keep saying "I can do this, I want to do this" and get through the rough stuff, at the end of the day you feel awesome. So I was thrilled to have renewed my CNA and applied for Fall 2011 nursing school at my community college. (And hope I get in!!) But just be aware that you might miss it and might go back a couple years down the line. It's just a shock at first, and takes time to realize you might want to do it anyway despite the hard aspects of it.