Is this right for me?

Nurses General Nursing

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Hi all,

I'm new here, so I hope I am posting this in the correct location. I'm looking for some advice. Here's my background:

I'm a 22 year old female with a previous Bachelors of Science in Psychology and Math degree (graduated in May of 2010). After weighing the pros and cons of grad school, I decided it wasn't right for me. Initially when I started college, I began on a pre med or nursing track (for whatever reasons, I changed my mind halfway through). I decided shortly after graduating that I wanted to go back to school for RN. I found an ASN program relatively close to where I live, took my required admissions test and scored very well, and I was accepted into the 18 month accelerated option. I was ecstatic, I couldn't wait to start. I have always had a HUGE interest in the medical field, and felt like I was headed in the right direction.

I started my first course this summer. Did very well, learned basic skills, etc. I just started back for the fall, and I'm feeling discouraged. I'm doing great, but I constantly feel like I'm jumping through hoops. I dislike all of the theory coursework and the seemingly pointless assignments, although I realize it's importance, at the same time it's incredibly intuitive at this point. I really enjoy the clinical skills we're learning though, but I am definitely nervous about our first real day of clinical coming up soon. I've heard horror stories of people getting into the field and hating their jobs, their coworkers, the politics, and so on and so forth. I'm terrified I may be making a horrible mistake. All of my previous degree was paid for by scholarships, but now that I am going back to school and have a previous degree, I don't qualify for anything but unsubsidized loans. I'm already out several thousand dollars for school. I don't know if I'm just in a funk right now or what, but I can't help but have this nagging feeling like I'm potentially making a mistake. It all felt so right to begin with, but I'm just discouraged by the course content. I LOVED school during my first degree, enjoyed nearly everything about it...but I just feel underwhelmed by the material at this point.

So nurses, does it get better? Is nursing school just always about politics and hoop jumping? Does anyone regret all the stress of school after becoming employed? A very large part of me still feels like I'm headed down the right path, I really do have a heart for working with people in this type of setting...but I just don't know if it will all meet my expectations when it's all said and done.

Thanks for any advice that can be offered!

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Specializes in ICU.

meh..life is about politics and jumping through hoops. You are the only one that can decide it if is right for you. ;)

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Specializes in LTC.

nursing school is nothing like nursing, in my experience anyway. I started nursing school at 30 something, and really it was the most horrible experience of my life.

Most days I hate my job. The JOB part of it. The pill pushing, paperwork and the politics...I could live without! But being a nurse and seeing the light in the eyes of someone that really needs me, it makes it all worth while.

Just think about what you want to do with your degree. Where do you want to be in 5 years, 10 years, 20 years?

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Specializes in OB-L&D, Post partum, Nursery.

All school is jumping through hoops. I also have a business degree in addition to my BSN. One day you will pause in the middle of your busy nursing shift and think "That's why they taught me that!"

Best wishes, you will love nursing, it's the best job in the world!

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The negative stuff is always seen more than the positive with everything :) Ever see a weather report going into details about how the sun was shining, it was 79 degrees with a mild breeze, and people everywhere were outside having picnics and walks in the park? :D The bad stuff is just publicized more- doesn't mean that there aren't a LOT more people who like what they do :up:

There are cruddy days in all jobs- just gotta weigh out whether or not the good outweighs the bad for YOU. And with nursing, you don't get a real picture until you're actually IN it :nurse:

Being a CNA would be a good preview on the patient care end of things. Any chance you could go for that at first? Just an idea :idea:

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Actually, the place I work right now (office job) isn't doing so well and may have to close its doors...my hours, along with everyone else who works there, just got cut by more than 1/2 (not so awesome when you're newly married and not financially stable :uhoh3: ). I have just applied for a CNA type position, but honestly school is taking up a lot of time (4 days a week with an hour commute each direction)...so it would have to be good pay and better hours for me to quit where I'm at and take on more responsibility.

Like I said, I still have hope that this is right for me because I really do enjoy learning the hands on clinical stuff. But the classroom lectures are just blah. The lecture work is blah. Is it really relevant for me to draw a picture of myself when I'm old for an assignment? It just all feels like busy work. Not to mention constantly feeling like a lot of instructors are just waiting for you to screw up so they can have a reason to rip you a new one (thankfully, I do have really excellent clinical instructors this semester). I'm hopeful that the further you get into the program the material becomes less about nursing theory and more about relevant clinical material. I'm also hopeful that nursing as a career is nothing like nursing school...:confused:

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Nursing theory is boring. NS is about preparing you for the NCLEX. You'll learn how to be a nurse on the job. You just have to make it through school and pass the boards.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

As a brand new nurse, I can agree with the above posters that nursing school is NOTHING like the nursing profession. Don't second guess yourself because of the countless projects, care plans, presentations, etc. because that is all just a part of getting a degree, no matter what field you're going into. Nursing school isn't suppose to be all fun and games, there is a reason we nursing students count down to graduation. Having started orientation as an RN, I felt completely unprepared and like nursing school did not teach me anything. This is normal, you will get to your first job wondering what you were doing for the last 18 months. School will give you the nursing theory that will help you apply it to nursing practice as you begin your career. There is just no way to master your nursing skills in school, it is all about on the job learning!

The best of luck to you and DON'T GIVE UP!

Nursing is AMAZING :)

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Maybe try working as a cna for a little while so you can see what the nurses do and get a feel for the culture. If its not for you, but you still want to do something healthcare related, you can always try a allied health program where you specialize more in a area..like pt, ot, rt or rad tech.

Best Wishes to you

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Specializes in ICU/ER.

I agree with samirish. Any of us can go on a rant of how bad or great nursing is, but it's by a case by case.

I decided against another career due to burn out. Oddly I'm meeting so much more burn out cases now that I'm in this field that I ever met in my other field. Other days there are nurses in my environment that are beyond clueless and you wonder how they were awarded their RN license. For that reason I feel relieved that I'm there to correct their mistakes and teach the residents. It's really a toss up but you have to talk to many people to gauge a general consensus. Establish your priorities and see if they match up with your profession requirements (ie, holidays, alternating shifts, on call, high stress/low stress).

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Specializes in ICU.

If you are already dissatisfied with your classes, maybe you should consider other careers. Yes, I know that other posters have said that school is different than actual nursing will be. But since you already have a Math and Psychology degree, maybe you would like something like physical therapy instead. There are other careers in the medical field besides just nursing. BTW, didn't you have tons of theory in your psychology classes? I suggest you stay in the nursing program, pass NCLEX, then work as an RN while you pursue whatever your real passion turns out to be. At least you will always have your RN degree, and can earn a salary if you decide to return to school. Best Wishes, dear.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Don't get too discouraged. By my last semester of school, I was kicking myself in the behind for choosing nursing. I hated school so much towards the end that I really believed I was going to hate nursing as well. Right after graduation, while I was preparing for my boards, I worked as a nurse aid and really saw how different the job was from school. I passed my boards and though the first few weeks of the job were spend being taught all the things I already learned in school, once I got on the job I loved it. I do hate coming to work, but who doesn't. That just comes with any job. But once I get here, mingle with my patients, and get busy, the days FLY by. I have had a harder time adjusting to the schedule of working every other weekend/holiday, but that too will just come with time. Don't give up. Nursing school sucks, big time. But know its nothing like the job. If you enjoy your clinicals, there is a good chance you are where you should be! Good luck to you :D

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