I actually suggested to a pre req nursing student to find another profession and fast

SolaireSolstice, BSN, RN · Nov 21, 2009

Isn't that the same as at any program? Nursing school is just all consuming.

caliotter3 · Nov 21, 2009

Supposedly there is a satisfactory outcome to nursing school. Years after starting nursing school I am still looking for that satisfactory outcome. I must have missed the happy times and party people boat when it stopped by on its way to paradise.

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Nov 21, 2009

Despite the fact that nursing school consumed my life for a very long time. I would not say I ever hated it. There were parts I seriously disliked, and many a lunch I spend complaining with classmates/friends; but for the most part I really liked school. I loved what I was learning, and what I was working towards. Now that I am a nurse I have a lot of free time, even though a lot of it is spent napping on my day off. Learning how to ACTUALLY be a nurse is quite a bit harder than what nursing school makes it out to be and there is so much stuff they fail to tell you. I would not tell a future nurse/student to do something else, but I certainly would not sugar coat it in any way. I would tell them how hard it is, an exactly why, but I would also talk about the rewards at the end. Your far from not having to work your butt off after nursing school, but it is totally rewarding.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Nov 21, 2009

I remember how excited I was that I was going to be starting nursing school, especially as long as I waited. I don't think I would kill another person excitement like that. So far I am rounding the end of my first semester (just took Fundamentals final today) and I am still excited and look forward to next semester and am excited about clinicals next semester. I get stopped all the time when I am at school and in my scrubs by people thinking about getting into the program or are about to start and I can't help but share in their excitement. I am realistic with them and just as excited for them as I remember feeling when I got my acceptance. I do make sure though that my life isn't only school.

Don't get me wrong, I will be happy when it's all over, but thus far I am enjoying it for the most part.

summersent · Nov 21, 2009

Today while at clinical.......a CNA comes up to me and is smiling and telling me how excited she is to start nursing school in the fall....ect....and she starts to ask me what do you recommend I do to get ready for the fall....
and out of nowhere I respond...
Go into any other program:eek:
I don't even know where this came from. But I have to say that being in nursing school has sucked. I mean it really really has sucked. I hate missing out on my kids dance classes because I am in clincial. I hate not seeing my husband because I have to study, write care plans, drive to and from school, ect... I hate not being able to find the time to walk on the beach like I used to. Or nap. Or even pee without feeling like I could be doing something more productive.
Thanks for listening to me vent.....I am so glad I only have 5 more months.....*wine

I do the same thing now. I just can't see those poor women get used,abused and then thrown out. Its just women deserve better.

muscadinewine · Nov 21, 2009

I can't say I blame you. Recruiters spread enough misinformation - why should we?

I hear people talking about and I just tell them what I know- all about healthy, normal babies and nice, undemented, eldery people with bowel and bladder control? Occassionally, but you'll also see a lot of people in states you'll never forget- in a bad way. Helping people to help themselves? Yeah and the people who seem to think getting well is a magical process they don't have to participate in. Did I mention some of them spit at and/or curse you? And they're not mental patients? Easy money? If you consider physical pain and raw nerves a good tradeoff for only money. Like I said, I just tell them what I know- many discourage themselves.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Nov 21, 2009

I do the same thing now. I just can't see those poor women get used,abused and then thrown out. Its just women deserve better.

I must have missed something, where is anyone talking about woman getting used and abused and thrown out :stone

summersent · Nov 21, 2009

I must have missed something, where is anyone talking about woman getting used and abused and thrown out :stone

Your still in your first semester. You'll see what I mean with your very own eyes soon....

CuriousMe · Nov 21, 2009

I do the same thing now. I just can't see those poor women get used,abused and then thrown out. Its just women deserve better.

Wow, if that's what is happening in your program....y'all need to find another program. There's nothing like that happening in my program.

Oh and I'm finishing the first term of my second year.....haven't seen anything like what you describe.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · Nov 21, 2009

Your still in your first semester. You'll see what I mean with your very own eyes soon....

I may be only in my first semester in nursing school but I am not new to life and not new to woman getting used and abused (self included) I just have no idea what the comment pertained to in this thread.

On a side note and to something that does pertain to the subject at hand, not ALL nursing schools are the same and not ALL people are the same. For every person that would never pursue nursing school again, their is someone that is glad they did it. I don't think it's right to try and talk people eager and excited about something out of it because of ones own hangups with it.

Sometimes I feel marriage is not all it's cracked up to be and am not sure if I would do it again if I could go back. I also realize not all marriages are the same nor are the people involved. With that said if someone came to me happily engaged and so excited to get married I would not go to them and kill their joy by telling them marriage sucks not to do it and run why you can.

Their are kids in my class that absolutely loathe coming to school, they dislike everything involved, they came in with the whole attitude it was going to suck and it is for them. Me I came in THRILLED, I worked SO HARD for this, I waited SO LONG for my number to come up, I was so excited, it was such a great feeling, although some of that has worn off since reality kicked in, I am still excited and eager to learn.

I was told by other students when I was that eager pre req student how much it sucked, how my life would be over and I would have no social life and my kids wouldn't know who I was or my husband, how the next 2 years of my life would be over and to just except it. That I would be studying 5-6 hours a day and would get maybe 4-5 hours of sleep if I was lucky.

That may be how it is for some people but that has been NO WHERE NEAR how it is for me. Not even a little bit. Thankfully when these people told me this (they were also same people that trashed the whole program and the teachers and had the whole "they just want to see you fail blah blah blah" kind of attitude) I looked at the source and I didn't let that get me down or change my attitude.

I firmly believe that 97% of the time you get out of something what you put in and that includes attitude and positive or negative energy. The other 3% of the time are truly just sucky situations by no fault of your own.

I chose to come into nursing school with a positive attitude, a good outlook, eagerness to learn, I don't dwell on the things that are out of my control and I focus on the things that are in my control. I allow myself to get upset or frustrated about something and then let it go and tell myself it is what it is and move on.

It's working well for me in school and in life in general.

Anyway, sorry for going on and on and off in a rant. Touchy subject I suppose.

Also wanted to add, I have no problem with the OP wanting to vent. I get the need to vent and I am sorry school has had such a negative impact on your life.

allnurses Guide · Nov 21, 2009

I am going to go with the "don't rain on her parade" side with this one. Yes, nursing school bites in a lot of ways, but eventually you graduate and accomplish that, and you are a nurse. If you tell someone not to go to nursing school, you are also telling them not to be a nurse. Since you are not a nurse yet, you cannot evaluate for another person whether the hell of nursing school is enough to change the actual career goal.

You can certainly tell it like it is-- that is helpful, but as far as advising to change programs all together, there are too many variables in the equation. :twocents: