I don't enjoy nursing school...

VolunteerCPR · Oct 8, 2011

Doctor's offices hire a lot of Medical Assistants... have you considered a medical assisting program? It's much shorter, about 8 months at some schools.

milzer2012 · Oct 8, 2011

JX,

Nursing School is one tough road - from the Prereqs on, you have already learned so much, and traveled so far. I am a little bit behind you, there are many days when I wonder "what did I sign myself (and my family) up for.

Then there are other days when I think Yup, I CAN do this.

Keep my eye on the prize, suck it up and just get thru it.

Open another book and try to remember how glad I was for the

acceptance letter,

What i'm trying to get at is once you are finished, you get to decide what kind of job you have, it is only Hospital work if you want it to be.

roser13, ASN, RN · Oct 8, 2011

I hope you realize that the things that drew you to nursing (nursing shortage and job security) are no longer viable reasons to become a nurse. There is no nursing shortage (despite media claims) except perhaps in remote, underserved areas of the country. Job security is extremely variable as well.

The 2 positions that you have envisioned for yourself may or may not be reasonable options. Doctors' offices primarily hire Medical Assistants now in order to save on salaries. Patient Educator for the most part is the bedside RN. It's not usually a specific position but rather a part of the RN's job description.

I say listen to your gut. If you truly dislike everything that you're observing and learning, you may need to re-evaluate your options. Stick it out this semester since it's already paid for and so that you will know that you gave serious consideration to your decision.

Gratefulprn · Oct 8, 2011

Doctors offices by and large hire MA's..as far as education..usually you have to have a BSN and/or certifications for whatever you would like to teach..some smaller hospitals will hire nurses into the education dept. without these credentials as will some LTC facilites..but if you are seeking a M-F 8-5 kind of job..at this point, with your limited experience and no nursing license it would be hard to find.

If you truly don't feel nursing is for you then do not force yourself to continue. You can't know 100% what something is like for yourself until you experience for yourself. There is nothing wrong with admitting this isn't for you..in fact, you will save yourself, your family and many,many others problems if this is the case (you don't want to continue) and change paths. Good luck.

tvccrn, ASN, RN · Oct 8, 2011

This is why people should not go into nursing for the money. If you don't like it, get out. Don't waste your time or the time of anyone else.

OCNRN63, RN · Oct 8, 2011

Hello,
I don't enjoy nursing school, and I've only been in for two months. Its gotten to the point that I have no motivation to study. Prior to school, I didn't stop to consider the tough job that nurses have, and the extent of the responsibility. I've only had one clinical day and it was, in my mind, a disaster. The attraction to the field was the nursing shortage and the security of a job (I've been in the corporate world which is unstable).
When I started, I envisioned an doctor's office job or an patient education job. Are they hard to find? And at my age (almost 40).
I just don't think that hospital nursing is my thing. And I think that a person should be really committed in order to be successful at nursing school.
JX

There is no stability in nursing and there is no shortage. Whoever sold you that bill of goods should be horsewhipped.

It's possible you could get a job in a doctor's office, but most of them hire MAs to be their "nurses." Patient education might be a hard sell without any experience to back it up.

JDougRN, BSN, RN · Oct 8, 2011

OK- Sorry, but you posted that you entered nursing school because of the job security and the nursing shortage, and now that you are ctually getting an inkeling of what it is we have to do, you don't like it? REALLY!!!!! Not being mean to you, not bashing you, but REALLY????? Get out of nursing now. Under NO circumstances should you stay. Your presence is keeping out of a nursing program someone who actually SHOULD be there. If your first 2 months of nursing school has convinced you it isn't for you, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE leave now. Go to school to be a secretary, or study accounting. This is NOT an attack on you, but as much as you don't want to be where you are- we don't want you there 10X more. Some people just don't have what it takes to be a nurse. I don't have the tolerance to be an accountant, but I'm a VERY good nurse. Go on now...shoooo! :banghead:

newRN_NY · Oct 8, 2011

i have to agree with everyone here and say..there is no nursing shortage. it is extremely hard for new grads to get jobs (i know b/c i am one!). i remember my first semester of nursing school and being terrified as well. stick it out for one semester; you don't want to leave now and then regret it later. study hard and keep up with the material. you will feel more confident at clinicals and you may be able to enjoy them more. i say give it a real effort this semester and see if your feelings change at all. best of luck .

elkpark · Oct 8, 2011

If those were truly your main reasons for wanting to go into nursing and you're not enjoying your exposure to nursing so far, I encourage you to go ahead and get out now, before you get any further invested in it, and look for something that you will enjoy. There's nothing wrong with feeling the way you do, and nursing is certainly not for everyone. Best wishes for your journey. :balloons:

Zaphod, BSN, RN · Oct 8, 2011

@JDoug, I think you need to chill and speak more respectfully to OP.

OP, there were some semesters I didnt like and didnt do well-ex.OB, but did great in ICU. If you feel bedside is not for you then you are out of luck because anything in nursing requires few years of bedside experience which nowadays is pretty hard to get. If you like a stable carrier with decent salary in healthcare you might have to invest yorself in either a masters in Speech, OT or you can get an associate degree in physical therapy assisting which has decent hours. I wish people would explore different healthcare carreer before they jump to nursig. It creates a glut in nursing where as other viable and great options are overlooked. I was the same way and sometimes I wish I looked harder, I think optometry school woul have been my first choice..

llg, PhD, RN · Oct 8, 2011

Prior to school, I didn't stop to consider the tough job that nurses have, and the extent of the responsibility.

I find it remarkable that a mature adult would choose a career and invest in a college education without giving serious consideration to the type of work required by that career.

Yes, nursing is hard work and involves being responsible for the well-being of others. Surprise!

If that's not the type of work you want to do, please save yourself (and everyone else involved) the trouble and quit as soon as this semester is over. I'd finish the semester since you already paid for it ... and those credits might come in handy for something some day. Do your best, get the best grades possible, etc. so that you can show your transcripts as evidence that you are a capable, hard worker and good student. You might even be able to get a faculty member to write you a recomendation that will help you move on to wherever you choose to go next.

Before you invest in more costly education, I suggest you do some self-assessment -- your likes, dislikes, talents, etc. -- do some organzied, thorough exploration of possible careers that will suit your personal preferences and needs. If you had taken the time to do that prior to entering nursing school, you would have saved yourself the time, effort, and money that you have spent this semester.

Finally ... a lot of us hate nursing school, but have liked being an actual nurse. The two are not the same thing. Before you quit, be sure it is really NURSING that you don't want. It could just be that you hate school -- and will hate any school for any type of career. Think that possibility through before you quit.

Good luck to you.