Thinking about leaving nursing school....what should I do?

Itshamrtym · Oct 8, 2007

:monkeydance:quote=ALMH85;2437007]Hello everyone. I'm a newbie to the board and I'm in need of some serious advice. I'm a 21 year old nursing student. I'm currently in the second semester of the BSN program and I'm seriously considering changing my major to something else.

These past two semesters have been pure hell for me and it's starting to affect my health. I have never felt so physically ill in my life. I have terrible headaches, severe back spasms, and anxiety attacks constantly now. I've been to the doctor for it and the only thing they can find wrong with me is stress. To add to that, I've already been told by one of my instructors that I probably won't pass one of my classes even though I'm doing well in clinical and my other classes which will put me behind another semester . I am so stressed out right now. Nursing just doesn't seem to make me happy anymore. It took everything in me just to go back after the first semester. To be honest, I had my doubts before I even went to nursing school but I just blew that off as nerves and decided to give it a try. In the beginning I was excited about starting something new, but as time went on it seemed like I was just going with the flow and now I can't seem to get away from there fast enough. I hate feeling this way because I know how hard people work to get into nursing school and I've never been the type to just quit when the going gets rough.

I love working in the medical field (I have some previous experience) and working with patients but I don't thinking nursing is right for me. I researched other medical careers to go into and I've found a few that really appeal to me. They offer a program at a local college that I'm interested in but the only down fall is that I'll be pushing my graduation back another 2 years. I hate the thought of quiting because I feel like I'll be such a failure and let everyone down. I'm so confused on what I should do. :oShould I continue to stick this out or should I just leave and go on to something else? Any advice would be great. Thanks in advance.

:monkeydance: I am so sorry that you are having such horrible health problems.

I feel really bad for you.. Instead of your intructor telling you that you may fail, she should be telling you what you can do to pass. Unfortunately there are teacher that are just like this.. They don't care. They have their pets.. The pets will pass no matter what. But the other students will fail.. I have heard this over and over.. It is really sad. If this is what you really want to do, then don't let it stop you. Get a tutor or help from your peers. Show her, you can and will pass. If this isn't what you really want, then get out now.. Cut your losses and pursue something else in the medical field that you will like.

Maybe for now you might need some medication to take the edge off??

I'm not a big fan of this, but sometimes needed.. Maybe you just need a breather.. But whatever you decide you are not a quitter or failure.. Don't believe it or let ANYONE tell you that you are... You tried, and you tried hard... Good luck to you.. I hope that you feel better. And I hope that you get this all figured out. I know nurses that were told by their instuctors that they would never make it as a nurse.. Well guess what they did and they did well... Don't let that stop you... Take care, and keep us posted on your decision..:monkeydance::monkeydance::monkeydance:

kendel · Oct 8, 2007

The Race Is Not For The Swift But For Those Who Can Endure.

Nursing Is Not Easy

Any Career Thats Going To Benefit You Is Not Easy

But You Have To Pay Your Dues- With The Hard Work They Throw At You.

nursemike, ASN, RN · Oct 8, 2007

Most of the nurses I know felt like quitting at some point in school. I know I sure did. If stress and anxiety are your biggest problems, there are remedies. First, find an instructor you can talk to about it, then see the school counsellor. Sometimes a few deep breaths can do wonders. One of my classmates had a mantra:"Make B's, have a life." I didn't totally buy into it, but it did take a little of the pressure off.

On the other hand, if the major motivation to continue is not wanting to look like a quitter, it may well be time to quit. Some might say I lack discipline, but to me, failing at something I didn't want to do is not failing, it's changing my mind. Nursing school is hard. Nursing is hard. For some, it's hard and rewarding. Other, perfectly decent and honorable people find that nursing is hard, and it sucks.

Overcoming challenges makes you a better person. Just look at me. The first time I tried smoking, it made me sick. The second time, I coughed my lungs up. But I kept at it, and eventually I was a true nicotine addict...

Er, hang on a second.

Sometimes, overcoming challenges can make you a better person, but sometimes, it's just stupid.

Best of luck with your decision.

EmmaG, RN · Oct 8, 2007

Overcoming challenges makes you a better person. Just look at me. The first time I tried smoking, it made me sick. The second time, I coughed my lungs up. But I kept at it, and eventually I was a true nicotine addict...

:lol2:

You're on a roll today LOL

Curious1alwys, BSN, RN · Oct 8, 2007

I doubted nursing was for me before, during, and after school. My situation was different though, I could not identify what else I was interested in, so here I sit. I am in therapy now to sort out WHY I don't have any other interests, lol. But, I felt like you do all through school but forged forward because I did not want to dissapoint anyone-or myself really. But after graduation, working...then you don't want to quit because you don't want to dissapoint anyone. And then it is harder cuz you are making bucko $$. If you don't figure this out and nip it in the bud, you will stay miserable if you stay in the wrong career choice.

I think it is about working against what feels natural to you. I know that is how it feels for me. I don't feel 'right' in the hospital setting, running around like a chicken with my head cut off. Right now I am trying to figure out if that is because the hospital and being a nurse is not for me or because I just don't feel 'right' in general. I suspect it is a little of both at this point.

Just know if you choose to stay in school you can always do something else after you graduate. You'll have the degree, anyway. Just know that the anxiety over this choice will not go away when you get a RN job-it will get worse! So the earlier you can figure it out the better!

GL!

WorkingHard4the$$ · Oct 8, 2007

Follow your gut. I am putting this bluntly because I think you already feel that nursing is not for you: if nursing school is stressful enough to cause you medical problems and anxiety, you will be in for a world of hurt as a practicing nurse. That is simply a fact. It has nothing to do with what kind of person you are. It does not make you a quitter, it does not mean that you couldn't do it if you wanted it bad

enough :nurse: .

I have only been a nurse for 1.5 years, and it has been very difficult. Do I love it? Yes. Do I hate it? Yes. I do not regret becoming a nurse, but I wish I had really understood what it would be like and how difficult it can be mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually :smiley_ab

.. I do feel that it is a calling and you really have to love it to endure.

My advice to you would be to shadow a few different nurses throughout their entire shifts to get a better idea of what's ahead. They will answer questions that may be very helpful in making your decision. If there is something else that you have a strong desire to do, I would cut your losses and start that now before wasting too much time in nursing school if you don't really see yourself being a nurse.

You are in my thoughts and I wish you luck with whatever you decide to do.:redpinkhe

ALMH85 · Oct 9, 2007

Thanks to everyone for their advice and concern. It really did make me feel better. After a lot of thought and talking it over with a few people, I've decided to just take things one day at a time and try my best. If things don't work out for me in nursing it's not the end of the world. (I have to learn to stop beating my self up over things) I tried my best and worked as hard as I could and that's all I can do. I'm still undecided as to whether or not I'm going to stick with nursing but, I'm going to try and finish this semester out with a positive attitude. But whatever happens, I'll always see it as a learning experience because it's help me realize a lot of things about myself.

greatshakes · Oct 10, 2007

Hi

Now I know I have already replied but here I go again.

Don't know if this will help. I'm late fifties and I figure if I were your age, I would have loved to go into nursing in the services, even if you only start as a medic aid. I think they pay part of your tuition. Maybe you like the nursing but the anxiety is where you are nursing and the people concerned with it. A change of venue might make a great difference. Ambulance training?..I just don't want you to waste the knowledge and experience you already have. Can you get a transfer to Uni in another state offering a similar nursing program?. It's just that one of my facilitators told me I should trry a placement out of town because she knew I had had a bad experience locally, so I went to other parts in my state. I also put in for Theatre and A & E, things I thought I would never be any good at, I loved theatre and I shone at prac for once because I really wanted to be there. Pracs in other towns went really well as the pressure was removed a bit. I was dreading Mental Health but my preceptor thought Mental Health in the community was just made for me. I hope you find what you want and all the best to you. :idea:

LPN9816aj · May 20, 2011

I am in the same spot....38 yr old and been a LPN for 10 yrs+, went back to school for my RN by the urging of my husband and now after my first semester and doing terrible, I mean badly. I really feel RN school may not be for me and that if i quit or change my major now I will be seen as a quitter. I have never cried so much. :crying2:

greatshakes · May 21, 2011

The main thing for you to be is happy. I wouldn't leave straight away, one of those days when everything seems to be hard, unforgiving and the whole effort pointless, :crying2: you are going to have a fantastic shift and feel that you are where you are meant to be. When that happens it is awesome. :up:

Sometimes it just happens, but so does the opposite. You might have so many hundrum days that the decision is made for you and you just think "whatever I thought I had...it's over' If that happens, you will feel the load lift off your shoulders almost immediately. :yeah: :yeah: I am perservering at over 60 and now have to pay to do a competency because I believe some-one out there will actually give me a fair go for once. The one thing I know is working any ward make me feel I am in heaven. I feel valued and fulfilled. Your husband wants you to feel satisfied and happy for your sake and it's good he is supportive but ultimately it is up to you. Good luck and believe in yourself and the validity of any choice you make.