I hate nursing school....really thinking about leaving?

Nursing Students General Students

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Okay so I just am not sure whether nursing is right for me anymore. Honestly, I don't really like the subjects that I'm learning (health assessment, adult care, pharm, patho)....they're just too INTENSE. I haven't been doing well on the tests at all even though I study all the time. I used to get all A's in college and nursing school makes me so feel so dumb and I'm constantly stressed out nowadays. I just feel like I am not getting it at all. The critical thinking and what to do if this happens, etc.....I am just not able to grasp. I dread going to school and I dread going to clinicals. I don't even like hospitals -- being in them just makes me feel grossed out. I have been thinking about switching to a different major like psychology. It has always been something that has interested me and I have taken a couple of the classes in college. I have the feeling that I would do better in a field where I can talk and counsel, instead of perform skills and give care. The only thing is that nursing is more stable and lucrative than psychology where I might need to go to graduate school......What do you all think?? Should I stick with it or switch........

Specializes in E.R draws.

You definately need to run now if your already feeling like that...what kind of patient care will you be able to give if you cant stand being in a hospital (hospital setting)....you have to be comfortable with your patients for your patients to be comfortable with you! Good Luck

I dont think nursing is stable now. At least not compared to how it was years ago. If you already know you would prefer to talk and counsel in the field of psychology vs. bedside nursing tasks then why waste the next few years of your life preparing to do something that you really don't want to do?

Good luck with whatever you decide but I think you may already know the answer to your question :)

Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Unless you are at the very end of your program ... then finish the semester you paid for and then quit. There is no sense spending more money on something you don't (and won't enjoy).

If you are almost at the end of your program, you might want to finish so that you will keep the nursing option open. It might help you earn a few bucks as you establish an alternative career.

If you can make it through nursing school, you can go into psychiatric nursing. A degree in psychology itself most likely will not lead to a job related to psychology, even if you go to graduate school. Unless you're independently wealthy or have a generous family who is paying your tuition, an undergraduate and graduate degree in psychology will likely only lead to $100K+ in debt and a job waiting tables, making coffee, or answering phones. If you truly hate nursing and want the psychology degree, just be aware of the poor employment prospects and find the cheapest way to get that degree (city or state university, not a private college).

Specializes in Telemetry, OB, NICU.

Switch your major. This field needs caring, loving nurses.

Specializes in Oncology.

Hi,

Is it because you are uncomfortable with patients? In the beginning I was like that too.. sometimes I still feel like I'm invading people privacy but the more and more I get comfortable I see its really about being there and providing great care.

If you really don't like the hospital, you don't have to work in a hospital once you graduate, you can work at a clinic, nursing home, mental health area - since you like psych.

A degree in psychology is really not going to get you anywhere but debt unless you get at least a masters, preferably a PhD in order to counsel. Like others said, if you are at the end, finish it and get a job to pay the bills. If you like to counsel people, you must be a caring person already so you would make a good nurse once you get more comfortable with providing patient care.

You may need to psycho analyze yourself and see where you are messing up. I have to take every paragraph and write down the importance of it. I am a read/writing learner. Yeah, find out first how you learn, find a test to help you establish that connection. The way to study for nursing is not like the usual classes. What subjects are you on and maybe some people can give you advice of how to follow. Keep on going, you sound like you are not to sure of your self, and find if you are ADD/ADHD.

Specializes in Med surg, Public Health, School Nursing.

I felt this way at different points throughout nursing school. I didn't like the classes. I made A's in almost all of my core classes and I can't seem to make higher than a B in these nursing classes. It's hard, but no one said it would be easy. I didn't go to nursing school thinking that I would like it all. I was realistic. I hated the professors, clinical, the stupid computer formatted exams...but I'm less than a month from graduation and I'm soooo happy I did not quit. Nursing is rewarding and I'm glad I chose to stay.

Don't make a huge decision about quitting because of one course or one semester of nursing school. Pharm IS hard. It was my worst class. Health Assessment was difficult too, but it's doable. The first two semesters of nursing school almost killed me, but it's because they were laying down the fundamentals. You know nothing and your professors have to teach you everything in only a few short months. I thought about quitting more than I thought about attending class. I knew, though, that I hadn't worked that hard to get to the end and quit. I have gone through far too much with cars breaking down and not being able to finish classes, struggles to come up with the money for books, food etc to quit four semesters from the end. No matter how much I disliked nursing school I knew that I wouldn't be in school forever. There is a light at the end of the tunnel and I can see it now. :)

Think before you decide. If it's stress slowing you down take a semester off and go back. Maybe you're not ready quite yet to take on something like nursing school. It's draining. More nursing students have this idea that you start nursing school, you do everything right all of the time, you graduate. The end. It's not smiles and giggles. I cried, I ranted, I tossed my books at the wall. XD Yet, there were moments where I LOVED it. You get those patients that make you laugh, you get to be that ear to a patient who is dying from cancer, you take care of children in pediatrics that are funny and completely adorable. If you count there are more good days than bad. Nursing is worth tossing your book at the wall. It really is!

I don't know if you've taken psychology in school, but that's not elementary school information either. You'll have to study and guess what, you may not make all A's in those courses either. Just so you know.

I'm going to climb off my soap box now. :p

I second whoever said go into psych nursing. It's a bit different of a clinical field, and you might like it. How far along are you? If you've got less than a year to go I say finish. Sometimes life just sucks for a while.

You need to get out now your patients will be the only ones that suffer.:nurse:

Specializes in Acute Care Pediatrics.

If your heart is not in it, definitely don't stick around, you know?

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