Frustrated and confused....

franciscangypsy · Aug 23, 2007

This is about YOU and YOUR career. Don't let anyone's expectations make your decision for you.

I would suggest giving it one more semester, try clinicals before you make your final decision. But, ultimately, if you think nursing isn't for you, quit. Try something else.

NURSING ISN'T FOR EVERYBODY.

And that isn't bad.

A wise friend once told me that you can't make yourself love nursing if you don't quite like it going it. You can't learn to love nursing -- you have to love it from the beginning.

If you are unhappy, your patients could notice.

I hope you find what is right for you. It is a hard decision to make, I am sure.

DesertRain · Aug 23, 2007

What is it exactly that is bothering you? The hospital environment or the school part? I can't speak from experience but I can only imagine that being an actual Nurse, working in a hospital is a lot different then going to school to be one, you know what I mean? Maybe if you can figure out what exactly you don't like about it you can figure out what you want to do.

Another thing you might want to keep in mind, if you can deal with the school, is that there are so many different areas of nursing that if you do know that you want to do something "medical" perhaps you will find something in a different part of Nursing that interests you and makes you happy.

It is your life and your career choice, my only advice is to make sure you always go through with your decisions without creating the possibility of "what if I...." questions later on in the future.

Good luck and I hope you feel better about everything!

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Aug 23, 2007

I think you should sit down with a career counselor to have a serious talk about career options. I'm not talking about a counselor in the nursing department, but someone who specializes in counseling people on careers.

Is there a possibility that you may also have an underlying depression and need to be seen by a doctor and evaluated?

deeDawntee, RN · Aug 23, 2007

I really do agree with Daytonite that getting evaluated for depression is an awesome idea. I don't think you can really make an informed decision until you rule out (or rule in) depression.

In the meantime, do you think you can tolerate school a while longer or is it so overwhelming that you don't think you can? Please take good care of yourself...

I do think it is too early for you to really know whether you and nursing are a good fit. It really sounds to me that the school stress is what is getting to you...but that is just an opinion.

FLAreN · Aug 23, 2007

What do you mean by "nitty gritty"? If you are going into your second semester I am assuming that you haven't even started clinicals yet. I can tell you from my personal experience that I literally had to pray EVERY day while in nursing school to not quit. It was very rough for me because I was used to a certain lifestyle and going to BACK to school at that point in my life changed my comfort zone tremendously.

I whined and cried to my friends every day, but in the end, it was worth it.

I can only suggest that you at least try and make it until clinicals so you can see what it's like. Also understand that there are many many facets of nursing that you can specialize in if being bedside is not for you.

If you truly don't think it's for you after clinicals then do what you have to do and don't feel like a quitter. I didn't know I would like what I did so much until I started doing it so you never know until you have experienced it.

I am truly sorry to hear you are going through these emotions in an already stressful program. I went through it too and I think I came out alright.

By the way, I went through 2 bachelors and a masters program before going to an associate nursing program (this doesn't count all the other programs that I applied to and got in and decided not to attend the first week of classes). . .so I understand about wasting time and money but sometimes you have to just bite the bullet and do what you have to do in order to be happy. . .for some like me, it just took longer to find it.

Good luck and God bless...

MikeyJ, RN · Aug 23, 2007

I honestly think many students have these same thoughts throughout nursing school (actually, with any professional healthcare schooling). Nursing school is rigorous and it wears and tears not only on our bodies, but our mind.

I would not make a drastic decision and quit nursing school yet. I would seek some mental health counseling (your school probably provides free services -- most do) and see if it depression.

Furthermore, if I were in your position, I would really try to struggle through with nursing school. There are so many different different careers an RN can pursue. You don't have to be a staff RN at a hospital or clinic.

ALH2004 · Aug 23, 2007

I appreciate everyone's responses. I know it's not depression. I've been to the doctor to see if it's that and it's not. And by "nitty gritty" I do mean clinicals. We started doing clinicals half way through our first semester. I guess what I'm trying to say is my heart is not as into as it used to be. I guess I'm just frustrated because I've gotten this far only to now not know what I really want to do. I'm going to continue on with this sememster and see how it goes and then go from there.

Music in My Heart · Aug 23, 2007

One semester is 25% of the way through? If that's the case and since you're already in the program and your second semester is underway, I'd personally choose to finish and then decide what you really want to do. That way, you could at least work some while pursuing another field. Also, as I'm sure you know, nursing is an incredibly diverse field.

During my junior year as an undergraduate, I realized that I didn't really care for what I was studying and I seriously considered dropping out. My parents both encouraged me to finish out my degree program and then make decisions because the degree would open up many doors.

I took their advice and in the end, decided to work in that field. My career had its ups and downs. Enough of the latter finally convinced me to leave that field and go into nursing. The good news is that, because of that degree from 20 years ago, I will have an MSN less than three years after making the decision to go into nursing.

My encouragement would be to hang on and stay with the program that you've already invested this much time and energy into. No matter what you end up doing, the education will be worth having.

As a mature student I'll say that you don't have to love or even like a subject in order to get through it. Sure, it helps, but you can do it. The same thing applies to working. It's not necessary that you love your work in order to be successful. Yes, you'll be happier if you do like it or love it, but you can manage even if you don't like it.

Presuming you're in an ADN program, I'd say finish it off and get your degree and your license. Then decide whether you want to go into another field for a BA/BS, vocational training, or something in the broad field of nursing. Earning your AA will let you go back to school for a BA/BS in any subject and you'll be an upper division student which means no more GE classes and priority registration.

I second (well, third, I guess...) Daytonite's suggestions.

JennyRN09 · Aug 23, 2007

I think we've all been there at the very least once in our nursing school days. I know for me, I didn't want to quit but I questioned myself many times as to whether or not I could do it. You wouldn't be a nursing student if you didn't have your doubts from time to time or had a good long cry when the stress of it all really hits you. Nursing school is an emotional roller coaster.

With that said, I'm not sure if its the education part that is getting to you or the field of nursing itself. But, you should not worry about disappointing other people! I lost so many years that I could have been a nurse (I'm now 37) and went to college out of high school and got a degree in computer science, and ya, although it was a decent job and I was good at it, I hated it and I was so happy when I was laid off in 2003 and that's when I headed back to school to get my nursing degree. But, see, I lost a lot of time not doing what I really wanted because I was afraid of disappointing everyone around me and I listened to everyone telling me what I should or shouldn't do. Whatever you decide to do, decide it for YOU, not everyone else! This is your decision, your life. I wish you all the best and I hope you figure out what it is you want to do. You are not a failure if you decide to leave nursing school so don't think that! Believe in yourself! Take care, good luck!

Janet

TakeTwoAspirin, MSN, RN, APRN · Aug 23, 2007

You have received some great advice and support. The bottom line is that this is a very personal decision that only you can make for yourself. However, you are NOT a failure regardless of what you decide. The only people I have met in my life who are failures are those people who never tried to do anything because they were afraid. You tried this, and it may or may not work out. But you gave it your best, that does not make you a failure. It makes you a person who is strong enough to determine their own destiny and acknowledge their mistakes.

Good luck to you whatever happens with nursing school. I am sure you will find your path in the end.

krenee · Aug 23, 2007

A lot of people have asked me what if I don't like nursing? And of course that's a fear of mine, I have no clinical experience (and haven't started yet). But what I tell people is that there are so many options within the nursing field. The things you don't like will not likely apply to ALL jobs. For example, I imagine nurses in the ER don't have to give bed baths routinely. School nurses probably don't deal with a lot of the more gory stuff. There are even advice nurses who work only over the phone and don't see patients. I think you've come so far it seems a shame to give it all up without weighing all your options.

With all that said, still only you know if nursing is for you at all, if it isn't of course it's not what you should be doing. Just think long and hard, it's a big decision.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Kelly