the "dream" has come to an end

Nurses General Nursing

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I would first like to say I know this post my offend a few people but I have to get this out.

I wrote a post a few weeks ago about my contemplating staying in nursing school. I wondered if all nursing was like this. I've see and experienced some things that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. Just in case no one read my previous post, I'm a young nursing student. I'm half way done . I'm at the top of my class. Today, I officially decided that I am not coming back to finish my last year of nursing school. I've never cried this much, obsessed about my health this much( #1 to me) and worried that if I said the wrong thing I'd be kicked out of the program. I'm intelligent and I have a lot to offer. There are other careers out there. I'm so much better then this. I'm sorry if this is coming across the wrong way because I don't mean it. I just think all the good nurses don't deserve this treatment. I know I'm a (ex) nursing student but I've met a few nurses already that made me smile and were so genuine get dumped on and disrespected.

Right now I'm a vibrant 23 year old and I can see a sad future ahead of me if I stay in this. I don't want to walk out a burned out 55 year old. For a long time, it was between nursing and pharmacy school. I've decided to go to pharmacy school . I know no job is perfect but this has to be the worst job. I also don't see where all money in nursing is. The hospital where I do my clinical rotation at, they start at 20 dollars/hr ......give me a break.

I do appreciate all the support and encouragement i've gotten from here. I really do. I really feel in my heart I'm making the right choice. After being miserable for 8 months. I'm saying "yes" to life again and my future.

Specializes in Med/surg, home health, ICU, PCU, Cardio.

I think you have to follow your instinct. I think it's the braver thing to do, to change direction midstream:yeah:. Life is too short to be miserable. Best, best of luck.

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I hope your new career works out! Pharmacy always seemed kinda interesting to me too. Though I do have to say that I wouldn't turn your nose up at $20/hr. right now. My fiance just graduated with a bachelor's degree in new media (sound and video production) and there are no jobs in sight. He will be lucky to have his measly part-time $8/hr. retail job give him any extra hours. It's sad, but we are even getting excited over a fedex job that pays $11/hr. that he is applying for. Sounds terrible for someone with a bachelor's degree, but in this climate you really have to take what you can get.

Good luck, though. :) At least it won't be a very messy job, haha!

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Specializes in Psych ICU, addictions.

Life is short, and you need to do whatever makes you happy...and from the sound of it, it apparently wasn't nursing.

Good luck with the new school! :)

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Keep in mind that you have the same chance of ending up a burned out 55 year old whether you choose nursing, pharma or any other career path. At the end of the day it's what's inside you, and not the career path you choose. Twenty bucks/hour is not bad to start. Doctors start out at less than that during residency and they are salaried so for the hours they put in their hourly wage might average out to 6-7 bucks/hour. There are CEOs and world leaders who started out making less than that. My point - it's not where you start - it's the career growth potential that counts.

Which is not to say that nursing or any other field is for everyone. If you were severely unhappy then it was time for a breather and if you need to change course altogether to find yourself that's fine too. Good luck.

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Nursing school about killed me. I used to wish I would get in a wreck so I wouldn't have to go to clinical. I was too ashamed to quit and be a failure. Well I am still a nurse 24 years later and I really have no regrets. I have had some tough jobs, but I have had some great ones too. I have cared for thousands of patients, cried over them, worried over them, and helped many of them. From what I have seen of phamacists- it is no walk in the park. They get little patient contact which to me is what it is all about. Anyone who is in nursing school should know that it is not the same as work. Yes, it reflects real stresses that nursing involves, but the constant fear that you experience from being in a student role is gone once you are able to use what you have learned.

I did not go to my graduation either. I thought it might be some terrible joke and they would say "Sorry, you are not supposed to be here. You failed". I just wanted to be as far away from that place as I could. I did not accept my award or go to the awards banquet. I told them I had to work. All that out of fear. Why did it have to be that way? I don't know. It is an old field, and like medicine they push you to the limits to make sure you can take it. After all, lives are at stake.

Good luck in your new field of study. I hope it suits you. I would never encourge anyone to go into nursing unless they were sure it is what they want.

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Specializes in jack of all trades.

Good for you on your decision as you must do what is best for you. I was a police officer before entering nursing. I left being an officer as my husband was worried something may happen and we had a young child. Now almost 30 years later, I still regret not pursuing law in lieu of nursing. Short of it is, the husband is now an ex husband lol and I'm still in nursing and guess what he's still in Law. I'm good at it and very successful but it was never my first and preferred choice of careers. Dont wait till it's too late to make that change coming from an old bird whose been there and wish I had stuck to my guns. Heck I'd be making a whole lot more if I had continued pursuing law as an attorney then I do as an RN.:)

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Nursings not for everyone, sucks you came this far and didn't finish. That's one of the reasons I did my LPN first, now my problem is forcing myself back in school this August to do my RN haha :) Good luck!

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Specializes in Psych and Substance Abuse.

Good luck, and I definitely would pick pharmacy over nursing if I were you too!

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Specializes in MS, Hospice, LTC.

Hey Summersent.... good for you. Congrats on having the courage to not only realize that something isn't for you, but the courage to do something about it. Nursing isn't going anywhere should you ever change your mind. Good luck to you in all that you do :)

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Good for you. No doubt you have been through a lot and this is not an impulsive decision. My BFF is a pharmacist who started at just under 100k as a new grad. I have no idea what she makes now, but I NEVER hear her complaining about work. She goes on some nice vacations, too! Good luck. If you are at the top of your class is nursing, pharm should be pretty doable!

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Specializes in CVICU, anesthesia.
I hope your new career works out! Pharmacy always seemed kinda interesting to me too. Though I do have to say that I wouldn't turn your nose up at $20/hr. right now. My fiance just graduated with a bachelor's degree in new media (sound and video production) and there are no jobs in sight. He will be lucky to have his measly part-time $8/hr. retail job give him any extra hours. It's sad, but we are even getting excited over a fedex job that pays $11/hr. that he is applying for. Sounds terrible for someone with a bachelor's degree, but in this climate you really have to take what you can get.

Good luck, though. :) At least it won't be a very messy job, haha!

My boyfriend is in the same boat. Bachelor's in psychology from a private university, working maintenance for $8.50/hour. We are grateful he gets benefits! I find it REDICULOUS that good, upstanding citizens with bachelor's degrees from good schools can't find decent jobs. BTW, he wants to be a cop. He's putting himself through the police academy now instead of waiting for some department to foot the bill.

Hopefully the job outlook will be a little brighter for me when I graduate from nursing school! $20/hr sounds fantastic!!! Haha :icon_roll

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OK, I am 49 years old and I'm starting nursing school next week. This scares me! I've worked in a hospital as an EKG tech 33 years ago. I know some nurses can be jerks, I'm just blown away that this is still going on. Grow up jerky nurses, you know who you are! This is all about "TEAM" work and taking care of people. WOW, I'm still shaking my head. Can't wait to see how I'm treated....

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