I think I might be in the wrong field

vanilla bean · Feb 25, 2015

Nope. Not too late to change. Time for Plan C.

notnursezelda · Feb 25, 2015

There is more to nursing than care plans. Plus a lot of different specialties and niches. .. Explore your options before you make a final decision

BreBeeNeuroNurse · Feb 25, 2015

If you don't like it go with plan C! It's better to drop out now than later.

ptrang1987 · Feb 25, 2015

If you don't like it go with plan C! It's better to drop out now than later.

But I do not have a plan C yet.

caliotter3 · Feb 25, 2015

Care plans are for school. At most workplaces, preprinted plans are in the patient chart and you will not have the involvement with them that you have in school, so don't base your opinions on a skewed view that should only be applied to school. Give yourself some time on the job before you throw in the towel. If you find yourself unable to set well with a nursing job, at least finish school and get the license. Then put the license in an inactive status while you change gears. A nursing license could come in very, very handy in the future. So don't be so quick to throw it away.

nursemaple2 · Feb 25, 2015

Keep plugging in nursing until plan C materializes. If it never materializes, well, try to find a place in nursing. I love being a nurse but haven't loved all my nursing jobs. I had to find my place

Coriander, BSN, RN · Feb 25, 2015

The first semester of nursing school is brutal, but it's meant to be. Our "care plans" are electronic, embedded in the patient charts, and require a few brief sentences for each nursing diagnosis. While charting does take a frustrating amount of time, nursing is and will always be why you go to work each day.

Clinicals are scary, because you don't know the people, don't know how to talk yet with physicians, are scrutinized for everything, etc. There are exams, papers, and a lot of really good people in your class who are going through the exact same thing. Does your campus have a nursing student organization where more advanced students mentor the first semester students?

Nursing is not for everyone. I would, however, encourage you to consider continuing a bit and giving yourself a chance. Perhaps you haven't had that wake up moment when a patient reaches into your heart and resets your drive. :)

ptrang1987 · Feb 25, 2015

The first semester of nursing school is brutal, but it's meant to be. Our "care plans" are electronic, embedded in the patient charts, and require a few brief sentences for each nursing diagnosis. While charting does take a frustrating amount of time, nursing is and will always be why you go to work each day.
Clinicals are scary, because you don't know the people, don't know how to talk yet with physicians, are scrutinized for everything, etc. There are exams, papers, and a lot of really good people in your class who are going through the exact same thing. Does your campus have a nursing student organization where more advanced students mentor the first semester students?
Nursing is not for everyone. I would, however, encourage you to consider continuing a bit and giving yourself a chance. Perhaps you haven't had that wake up moment when a patient reaches into your heart and resets your drive. :)

We have student organization, but I wouldn't say they're mentors. I use to be a pharmacy tech for a children's hospital, but my supervisor would not work with my school schedule so I actually quit my job to pursue this. I am just worried that I will owe $30K in student loan and I might not like the career and be miserable later on.

BirkieGirl · Feb 25, 2015

it's never too late to try something new or different. I would just like to tell you, though, that REAL-LIFE nursing is nothing like school. School is there to prepare you, to teach you the skills, the thinking, etc.

I left bedside nursing almost 20 years ago for a private industry practice. i still see patients every day but not in a traditional sense at all. There are LITERALLY thousands of non-bedside nursing roles out there. Even non-hospital roles. Please know that many of us were not called to bedside nursing, but we are still awesome nurses...

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Feb 25, 2015

Go with your gut. There are so many other careers out there. In order to be qualified for one of those fancy schmancy non-patient care roles, you'll have to acquire significant levels of relevant experience... with no guarantee that you will actually be able to make the switch. Don't subject yourself to the misery of doing something you hate.

Have you sought any assistance from a career guidance professional? There are batteries of assessment instruments that can help you determine where your talents and interests lie.

Earlene Angell · Feb 25, 2015

Nursing is a hard stressful job. It is also full of politics and horizontal violence, but you will find something in nursing that will give you what you need. I went back to school at 42 so no it is not too late to get out if you truly want too. School is hard and there are a lot of hoops to get through but once you get out..get some experience and you may love what you went to school for. Stay away from the politics, and never be cruel to another nurse! I finally chose psych, I get time to spend with my patients and I love that!