I have decided that nursing is not for me

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After much schooling and anticipation getting into two programs, I have decided that nursing is not for me. The stress of spending alot of money on uniforms, vaccinations, CPR classes, new books every semester, ATI/Teas testing, etc., has put forty pounds on my once petite body and at this point, I am really burnt-out and depressed.

Nursing was NOT what I expected. Everyone tried so hard to glamorize this occupation, insuring that I would make millions and be able to travel too! When the actual truth is . . .this occupation is messy, scary and cruel, with alot of "fellow co-workers" ready to slit your throat at any minute. No one is happy doing this job, no matter what they tell you. Everyone ends up overweight and depressed, because they never get to stay home on holidays with their families . . .you NEVER get a holiday off working in a hospital!

This was an extreme move on my part considering I have been a legal assistant most of my life. Nursing/Medical work seemed to have no regard for ethics and no respect for anyone. People cheated on exams in school and were lazy during clinicals - like my nurse-aunt told me . . ."you are on your own"!

Good Luck!

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Specializes in Mother-Baby, Rehab, Hospice, Memory Care.

I suppose if I went in thinking I would be making millions with a glamorous job, I'd be just as disappointed. I guess it's best you got out sooner than later. :uhoh3:

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I am sorry to hear that you were disillusioned with nursing, but as mentioned by the previous poster, I am glad that you discovered your feelings sooner than later. How long have you been a nurse? I can also attest that nursing (especially practical nursing) is not really a money making career, nor is it really as recession proof as people assume.

What are your plans now that you have made this decision? Have you left nursing already, or exiting out?

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Nursing is the hardest job I've ever had. Better you know now.

Good luck with what you decide.

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Specializes in Cardiac Care.

I don't get it did you graduate and work or leave the program during school?

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I have been a Nurse for 30 years in the ER I am just as passionate today as the day I started my first job....I make a decent salary....I knew going into Nursing the Hospitals are 24/7 so we have learned to adjust the Holidays as needed.... sorry I hope you find your perfect job....

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It's your call, if you know that it's not for you then no one can tell you otherwise.

The thing is that you are still a student and nursing school sucks and most of what you are taught doesn't apply to the real world anyway. So how can you judge when you haven't worked a single day as a nurse?

Also, every nurse doesn't work at a hospital and there is nothing written that says you have to even as a new grad.

I worked for nearly two years at a LTC/SNF as an LPN and now that I've got my RN I'm not going to work at the bedside.

My new gig is at a satellite clinic of a large hosptial system working with the chemically dependent population.

No weekends, no holidays, no direct patient care. I work for a hospital but not in the hospital and if I don't want to I will never have to work as a bedside nurse.

Yes, some nurses are miserable...I know I was...but it's up to them to get out there and find an area of nursing that doesn't make them unhappy.

If you feel that hospital nursing isn't for you then don't do it but don't base everything you think you know about nursing on a few clnical rotations in the hospital.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

What did you expect nursing would be?

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Specializes in LTC.

Sorry to hear about your disillusionment. Nursing is definitely not something you get into for the money and perks, although they are sometimes nice. I'm sorry that so many people glamorized it to that extent for you; however, as an RN, a previous poster mentioned that not all of nursing is nasty hospitals with understaffing and backstabbing prima donnas. There is community health, clinics, school nursing, foot care, and precepting/teaching CNA classes just to name a few fields. Perhaps you could research some of the other fields where nurses work and arrange to shadow a working RN in one of those areas.

If you really did primarily decide to go into nursing because of the money and travel, then I guess it is better you found out now, like other posters said. If, however, you feel like you have a heart for helping and truly making a difference in lives, then I strongly encourage you to at least try different avenues of the profession before giving it up completely.

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Specializes in Wound Care, LTC, Sub-Acute, Vents.
after much schooling and anticipation getting into two programs, i have decided that nursing is not for me. the stress of spending alot of money on uniforms, vaccinations, cpr classes, new books every semester, ati/teas testing, etc., has put forty pounds on my once petite body and at this point, i am really burnt-out and depressed.

nursing was not what i expected. everyone tried so hard to glamorize this occupation, insuring that i would make millions and be able to travel too! when the actual truth is . . .this occupation is messy, scary and cruel, with alot of "fellow co-workers" ready to slit your throat at any minute. no one is happy doing this job, no matter what they tell you. everyone ends up overweight and depressed, because they never get to stay home on holidays with their families . . .you never get a holiday off working in a hospital!

this was an extreme move on my part considering i have been a legal assistant most of my life. nursing/medical work seemed to have no regard for ethics and no respect for anyone. people cheated on exams in school and were lazy during clinicals - like my nurse-aunt told me . . ."you are on your own"!

good luck!

did you fail a class? if you did, hang in there and try to comeback and retake. real world nursing is very different when you are a student. if not, good luck with your decision about leaving nursing all together. i hope you don't ask yourself later the "what if" question.

angel

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I say Congratulations to the OP for realizing nursing isn't her forte.

Too many people struggle through school with the "I don't have to work at the bedside" notion. The truth is the bulk of nurses wind up at the bedside for some period of time while searching for the "ideal job". That perfect job can change overnight with management, staff, or even budget changes.

Better to kick nursing to the curb before learning to hate the job, the patients, and possibly getting a lifelong injury.

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Gosh, thank you! I am getting ALOT of slack right now from everyone regarding my decision not to continue with nursing. I know that I put alot into it already, but that's just it . . ."I" have got this far, "I" struggled . . .not "the ones" that are on my case right now.

I worked for a few years as a Unit Secretary while in school, and I swear I've seen everything! The good, the bad and the ugly!

I feel that if they really want me to be a nurse, then they should go back to school and be a nurse themselves . . .they just don't understand what is involved. I will NOT be one of the ones who tries to make everyone else happy, while in the meantime is actually miserable! Anyway, thanks again!

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