I quit nursing school

[curiousrainbowfan]

I just quit nursing school. My main fear was of making a mistake in the real world. I feel incompetent because after one year of the nursing program, I can't even give a satisfactory bed bath; in fact, I couldn't even button one of my patient's gowns because I couldn't find the snap to match. I feel stupid; maybe I am too stupid for this. I am afraid of needle sticks, open cuts on my hands, holes in my gloves, accidentally not using sterile technique, relentlessly poking a patient's arm to find a site for an IV and having him become exhausted and angry, forgetting to do an important task and putting my patient in jeopardy, etc. I used to be a waitress for about 7 months. I compare it to nursing, but instead, in nursing, we are dealing with lives, not food. I felt bad enough spilling drinks on customers' laps.

I am now in a completely different major, something completely unrelated to health care, but I am still wondering if I could possibly go back... I was in agony over my decision because I did not know what to do. I only chose nursing because I had two friends who were interested in it, and because I needed to choose a major, I was determined to prove to myself that I could get into the program. I did not hate the nursing program, and I was hoping that I would love it intensely, but I guess I was scared. Should I attempt to go back? Or is it too late... Has anyone ever dealt with this kind of problem? Or is there a specialty in nursing where I don't even have a chance of accidentally hurting the patient?

Thanks for reading.

[Calibean]

If you feel your heart is with the patients, then go back. If it was just a good major and you did it because your friends did, don't. All the things that you mention are things that someone with no nursing or health care experience has to learn, it takes time to become comfortable with new skills, but in time you will master all those basic skills (or most anyway) and find other challenges. Compare it to anything that yo have had to learn, when you first learned to drive, it was hard to remember all the parts and coordinate everything to be a good, safe driver. It is definately not for everyone. I wish you luck with your decision. Perhaps you are too hard on yourself?

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

Why would you want to go back? It sounds as if it was nothing but stress for you.

You proved that you could get in, AND that you could do it. And now you know that it isn't for you. And that's fine.

:)

[Dolce, RN]

First of all, nursing is not for everyone. I know many caring compassionate people who just are not a good fit for nursing. You are right, I was a waitress too and spilling a drink or dropping a tray is just not the same as giving the wrong drug or having a dirty needle stick. Nursing is a high-stress job. I think that you found you didn't enjoy the negative aspects of nursing and that is okay. There are plenty of other jobs out there in the "helping" profession that may be a good fit for you.

[amjowens]

I think pre-nursing students should work a month or so as a nurse aide before NS, as a requirement. Though nursing duties can be very different from aide duties, the one common denominator is the care of the patient.

Caring for the patient isn't the all-clean, nice, and beautiful act that is often portrayed. There has to be some pull, something bigger, to keep nurses coming back to do this type of work. And, if just to have a career/earn money is the calling, there's NOTHING wrong with that, but nursing will be a real drag.

Just be honest with yourself-this is your life-you're the one waking up every morning living YOUR life. And, don't feel guilty/overly judgemental of yourself when making a decision like this. If a career is right for you, you'll be motivated to learn the things you don't know, and you'll eventually "get it".

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

Everyone deals with this, especially ones that had no previous experience caring for patients. I was a CNA, and even though I was used to dealing with patients, I had to get seriously adjusted to learning that administering certain medications can cause serious side effects. That ruffled my feathers. Was afraid to give the wrong advice, etc...but I got around it because I wanted to be a nurse. As an aide, I was not as afraid, but, the same issues loomed over me...can I bathe a patient, move them, am I making them uncomfortable?

Maybe for now, you need a break. DId you drop out recently? Maybe from the outside looking in, you may find that nursing was not for you, or you may assess yourself and realize that at the moment, you were deathly afraid. Either way, the only person that can make that decision is you. Best of luck!

[BinkieRN, BSN, RN]

Look inside of yourself and decide if nursing is important to you. If it's not move along. If nursing is important to you, don't quit, for all the reasons that you have listed.

I couldn't even do a corner on a hospital bed and I was a total klutz in other areas too but I was determined to become a good nurse. Sure I was afraid of making mistakes that could hurt someone but actually that is a good thing. It keeps me on my toes. If I were laxsidaisical about medications I probably would make a critical error. While I won't say I'll never make a med error, dispite the fact that we scan medications, I still use the 5 R's with each med I give and I never want to get too lax or comfortable to give up doing that. Things such as giving a bath will eventually come to you with practice.

If it's in you to become a nurse, to help people, to comfort people, to make a difference in people's lives then please don't give up on nursing for all the wrong reasons. Best of Luck

Binks

[Lori75]

I think pre-nursing students should work a month or so as a nurse aide before NS, as a requirement. Though nursing duties can be very different from aide duties, the one common denominator is the care of the patient.

I agree that being a care aide (what we call them in Canada) was a FANTASTIC way to decide if nursing was for me. In Canada, one must do a 6 month full time course to be able to work as a nurse aide / care aide. So one can't just casually try it out for a month, but the best nursing students, and nurses, are very often nurses who started out this way.

Also, I was a waitress for 15 years, and grew up with my parents owning restaurants, I was a good, cheerful, efficient waitress and only ever worked very high volume establishments. I have said quite a few times that the similarities between waitressing and nursing are startling (and sometimes depressing). I think if someone could not handle waitressing they would be overwhelmed in the nursing field, because you need the organization skills, the ability to put on a brave and kind face when you want to cry or throttle someone - coupled with the heavy weight of knowledge and education and experience that must be mastered so you don't kill someone.

I applaud you for realizing you were not cut out for this..and stick to your intuition. So many people stick it out because the money ain't bad, or they could never disappoint their parents, etc. You should be proud you are getting a post secondary education, that in itself is a major achievement! Good Luck!

[smyle2156]

Hi, have you thought about lpn? Most programs are around 1 year and LPNs have to work under a RN. This might help you to build up your confidence and If you want to continue then you can take a bridge program to become a RN. Just my 2 cents.

School is hard, but that is what makes it feel so good when you finish!!

I just graduated and I still feel like this sometime. I am also a LPN. Good luck with everything!!

[nurse15dc]

I only chose nursing because I had two friends who were interested in it, and because I needed to choose a major, I was determined to prove to myself that I could get into the program.

Perhaps you've answered your own question. Nursing is very hard work and the level of responsibility is unlike other fields. Most who pursue nursing are less ambivalent.

As for smyle2156"s comment that LPN's "have to work under RN's". Many LPN's would beg to differ. Your practice as well as YOUR LICENSE is independent of any RN you may happen to work with. Even if said RN signs off on something you did...if YOU, as a "licensed LPN" make a mistake YOU are SOLEY responsible for your error.

Sorry for the emphasis, but I once worked ltc noc shift with a new lpn. We were both classified as "staff" and we each had our own huge hall of pts. I was NOT employed or paid as a "SHIFT SUPERVISOR."

If this lpn wanted my help or my "take" on a problem I'd help him out, as I would with any other "staff nurse peer". One night this lpn let it slip that everytime I'd check on a problem with his pt he'd document, "RN made aware". He said he did that because it would "cover him" legally if there was a problem later down the line....Since I had the "higher level" license.

Lesson learned. I now clarify this with any LPN I work along side. Even if the RN has the title "charge" or "supervisor", the LPN is STILL responsible for her/his own practice.

[RNfaster]

I am working as a CNA. It is helping me adjust to the realities of patient care. CNA work is the hardest work I have ever done in my life. It is physically demanding. I am learning to deal with seeing badly broken bodies (e.g., criminal decubitus ulcers, etc.), altered mental states, odors and sights of all kinds, etc. Even as a CNA, I realize that I must guard the patient (while I don't administer pharmaceuticals, I must safeguard them from falling, and ensure they are clean and turned). ---I quit working as a CNA due to some poor working conditions and shock/disgust from the conditions. I am back at it...and so far, I am beginning to like it --and look forward to going to work to learn. I see that my previous experiences as a CNA are helping me now.

I think that being a CNA will help me through nursing school and help me be a better nurse. I sometimes think that it would be unlikely for me to make it through without the CNA experience.

You might try it again. Healthcare work is very different from other work. I do think it takes time to adjust for some folks.

[lpnflorida]

Hi, have you thought about lpn? Most programs are around 1 year and LPNs have to work under a RN. This might help you to build up your confidence and If you want to continue then you can take a bridge program to become a RN. Just my 2 cents.

School is hard, but that is what makes it feel so good when you finish!!

I just graduated and I still feel like this sometime. I am also a LPN. Good luck with everything!!

First off, becoming an LPN is not necessarily the answer it is also stressful and still requires skills.

I would suggest if you had a rapport with one of your clinical instructors. Talk with them. They at least would have some idea of the difficulty as you described it. They might have some suggestions or observation that would help you in your decision as to whether to return or not.

Nursing is not for everyone no shame there. I worked with a BSN for a year many years ago. She totally quit nursing after one year of working. She hated every aspect of it. We were all amazed she became a baker. We found it sad that 4 years of school had not given her the career of her dreams. Wish she had discovered sooner while in school rather than all the time, effort and not to mention all of the money invested in her schooling.