Help Me Please.

NurseyBaby'05, BSN, RN · Apr 26, 2005

Welsome to the board! I think the CNA course is a good idea. You'll get hands o experience with patient care. I am assuming you are taking pre-requisites right now. That will be good for two reasons. It will give you some time to sort out whether or not you really want to be a nurse before time and money are invested in your actual nursing classes. Number two: it you do decide that nursing is not for you, you will still have a good academic foundation for a health career that you may be better suited to. There are a lot of people who finished and have degrees in Psych, History, Math or IT that will have fewer job prospects than you will. There are a lot of people that have jobs in areas that don't require more than a high school education with advanced degrees. Unfortunately, that is how the job market is right now. You also need to ask yourself (and answer honestly) whether you are ready for college right now. A lot of people aren't. There are a lot of nursing students who are there for their second go-around that didn't get good grades the first time in whatever major they were studying. They weren't ready to buckle-down and do what it takes. I certainly wasn't and it makes it hard to focus on school when you don't know if it's what you want to do. That's in any major. It's doubly hard in nursing.

As far as your parents are concerned, it's probably better to be honest with them now rather than after they pay for the whole degree. Let them know that you're having doubts and want to make sure this is what you really want before they pay for four years that you won't use. I'm sure they will be concerned that once you stop, you won't go back. Tell them you want to keep up with your core classes that you can use in any major while you decide what to do.

With nursing, you have to want to do it. It's not a job where you can be in it for the money or stability. It's not a job you can do half-assed. You have to find it rewarding. If not, you will be burnt out from the get go and that makes it hard to provide good patient care.

Keep posting here, whatever you decide. It's a good group and we're glad to have you.

annlee1318 · Apr 27, 2005

Hi, honestly what you are feeling is normal. I remember being there about two years ago. Before I took a&p I had a 3.8 cumulative GPA. The prereq science classes took a beating on ego. I barely received a C in a&p and micro (took both at the same time). I had horrible teachers with thick accents who I barely understood. I spent A LOT of time crying, because I felt like I was being self taught and the stress began to pile up. I was twenty years old, in a community college pursuing a second associate degree and it was taking forever. Granted, it wasn't for a lack of trying but rather the way the school system is. There is a long waiting list, and I'm not naturally gifted at the sciences. I began to wonder whether I should just switch back to my old major since I was having such trouble with the sciences. My parents were furious at the time it took. Somehow, I got through that semester with a 2.5 bruised, battered, but determined that I'd be a good nurse.

Fast forward to present day. I'm now in the nursing program, getting straight A's and am president of my class. I don't say this to tout my horn, but rather to give you some encouragement. Think about why you want to become a nurse in the first place. Know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The most important thing right now for you to remember is that while these classes are the foundation of what you will learn, it is not the HEART. The most important thing is to have a heart that cares, and is dedicated to the patient. Anyone can learn about action potentials, and osmosis. It just takes time and repetition. You can learn it. It will eventually sink in. Trust me on this. If you are willing to persevere, you will get there. You just have to look inside yourself if this is what you want.