I think I might be in the wrong field

kbrn2002, ADN, RN · 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.

This! You are only in your first semester. If you are already having serious doubts about your choice it may be time to figure out that Plan C before you invest a bunch more time and money.

ptrang1987 · 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.

I've taken a career guidance test six years ago, but I don't remember much of it so I think I should take it again.

HealthKibitz · Feb 25, 2015

I would suggest continuing and completing the program. I had a similar situation when I was pursuing a PhD in Health Psychology many years ago....I actually got through the ABD status.....then realized the PhD was not for me - that I would have probably liked the PsyD program much better! I made an unwise move and withdrew from the program, thus I never really completed my PhD and it was "too late" to return and complete it.....I regret it. This is not to say you will experience the same but I agree with the person that suggested completing the program, even giving nursing a shot after you are licensed and then make a decision. I think you should just take a deep breath and do some research on areas you are interested in. What is it about "nursing" or the thought of being a nurse that drew you to school in the first place? For me, I had considered NP because I love assessing patients and educating....which could also be done with a MS or MSN degree of course. However, I am a much older student and I am realizing (now that I am much older) that the mere physical component of nursing is going to be too demanding for me before too long. Also, I am interested in education, so I am going to look at public health and maybe get a masters in that program instead. Once I complete the RN program (already LPN and working), the fact that I have crossed that bridge will only increase my chances of doing well at some other capacity in public health. So, the education you receive (even if you don't become a hands on nurse in the long term) and the experience you gain as well, will be priceless. That's my 2 cents worth! :-)

ptrang1987 · Feb 25, 2015

I would suggest continuing and completing the program. I had a similar situation when I was pursuing a PhD in Health Psychology many years ago....I actually got through the ABD status.....then realized the PhD was not for me - that I would have probably liked the PsyD program much better! I made an unwise move and withdrew from the program, thus I never really completed my PhD and it was "too late" to return and complete it.....I regret it. This is not to say you will experience the same but I agree with the person that suggested completing the program, even giving nursing a shot after you are licensed and then make a decision. I think you should just take a deep breath and do some research on areas you are interested in. What is it about "nursing" or the thought of being a nurse that drew you to school in the first place? For me, I had considered NP because I love assessing patients and educating....which could also be done with a MS or MSN degree of course. However, I am a much older student and I am realizing (now that I am much older) that the mere physical component of nursing is going to be too demanding for me before too long. Also, I am interested in education, so I am going to look at public health and maybe get a masters in that program instead. Once I complete the RN program (already LPN and working), the fact that I have crossed that bridge will only increase my chances of doing well at some other capacity in public health. So, the education you receive (even if you don't become a hands on nurse in the long term) and the experience you gain as well, will be priceless. That's my 2 cents worth! :-)

It's the emotional stress that scares me. I should mention that I have anxiety problems and been through depression before. I'm afraid of being emotionally attached to my patients that one day I might go back to those dark times (depression). Also I hate care plans haha. I think it's also that right now my clinical site is at a long term care. It's so depressing there and these nurses are doing the best they can for these patients, but they have so little resources. I honestly do not know how they get through their day. I give props to those nurses and all you nurses out there.

QuietRiot · Feb 26, 2015

Anything I've ever just gave up on, it was because I wasn't really that interested to begin with. That goes for school, jobs and boyfriends (lol). If you find yourself switching career paths just because you failed one class, then you need to re-evaluate that career choice.

So with that being said: You're not that interested in Pharmacy (well I don't think you are) and you ran to nursing as a back up and found out that you're not to fond of the backup plan either. Wow-poor you (please smile as that was sarcasm :) )

You need to think long and hard about what you actually want to do with your life. You deserve a career that you are going to be passionate about. But, its up to you to figure out exactly what that is. And on the flip side patients deserve a passionate and competent nurse, not one that is so removed from the profession that they may 'hurt their patient.'

I hate to tell you to leave. school, but you've already stated your lack of interest is a risk to patient safety. So you need to take a Leave (a semester off) and think about exactly what it is you want to do.

Good Luck.

strawberryluv, BSN, RN · Feb 26, 2015

Since you're so early in the game, I say drop it. I honestly think that if people have the choice and they are in the beginning...they should get out. Nursing IS stressful and scary. These are people's lives and your LICENSE on the line.

Notice, if you were in like your second to last semester...I would tell you to go for it. But since you are so early in, get out now

while you can before you're sucked in too deep.

There are plenty of other careers with comparable pay.

BrandonLPN, LPN · Feb 26, 2015

I'm not sure "go with your gut" is good advice in this case....

Any nurse will tell you that nursing school and its clininicals are in no way good representations of what it is like to be a nurse. As in not at all. As in being a nurse will be nothing like your clinical experience.

Schools use care plans as tools to organize your thoughts and make you see the bigger picture. They will not be a big part of your working life as an actual nurse. Not liking care plans is a horrible basis on which to decide nursing isn't for you.

And you've only seen one or two environments nurses work in. There are so many other places to work besides the hospital or the nursing home. And hospitals vary significantly from facility to facility, and even from floor to floor.

Maybe you want to work in a clinic or a doctor's office. Maybe you want to do home care. Maybe you will find a nice nursing home (yes, they do exist). Maybe you could get a job as a school nurse. Maybe bedside nursing will only be a stepping stone to some sort of advanced practice career.

But deciding you don't like nursing because you don't like nursing school is premature.

ready2baRN · Feb 26, 2015

If you intend on working with the public there will always be really nice people and really mean people. That's just human nature. Not every patient you have will be grateful what you do for them. Some of them will make your life a living nightmare for the 12 hours you have to care for them.

Politics plays a part in all of corporate America. There will never been a company you work for where "politics" don't play a role in the operation of the company. There is no escaping it.

Nursing is stressful, you will encounter people that you don't like, people that don't like you, doctors who have a God complex, nurses who feel the need to tell every little thing you do wrong, and support staff who will loathe your very existence just because you have that RN after your name.

You need to be strong, confident, and compassionate about your career choice if you want to ever survive as a "real world nurse". School gives you a foundation of what you need to know as a new nurse but doesn't really prepare you for all the bull crap you have to deal with once you land a job and on the floor.

deedeeRN8 · Feb 26, 2015

I would make sure you know what you're leaving before you make that decision to switch. I actually worked in a pharmacy for many years with the notion of pursuing pharmacy until I couldn't take it anymore. I felt like the work was too monotonous and I longed to be involved in much more. To me, I dread getting yelled at by patients and customers who have no idea what you do for them and most of the time, I didn't know what they went through before they came down to the pharmacy and got angry at wait times. I guess I chose nursing to be more part of that picture and expand my role later on. Sometimes the grass is just greener, sometimes its where you water it. I would say I had a few times where I thought "why did I get into nursing" and I share your hatred with careplans, but I see all the bumps in the road as a means to get where I want to be in the long run. My advice is to stick it through and see what nursing really has to offer. As far as being too late? No way, people go back to school at all ages. Goodluck with your decision.

RNLakhlani · Feb 26, 2015

I would definitely recommend changing careers. I believe you have to have a real passion for nursing because it can be so testing at times. Don't be upset about changing, it's better that you find your nitch now then go all the way through nursing school to become an RN and absolutely hate your life. Also, I don't know how far you want to go in schooling, but there are always other avenues you can pursue through nursing. You can specialize or seek employment in other areas other than the floor. Goodluck to you!

PG2018 · Feb 26, 2015

It doesn't really get any better. It's not too late to change. In fact, I think you're in an excellent position to do so.

LindaGarcia · Feb 26, 2015

I kind of hated school too, but I knew that I wanted the hours that nursing provides and the income stability. Once you are actually a nurse and you are comfortable with all of the details of the job, not only is it less stressful, but it isn't nearly as exhausting as it is the first few clinicals. That being said though, why not take your Gen Chem 2 class again and go after the career you really wanted? It's never to late to change what you want to be when you "grow up" and it seems better to pursue the dream that is really yours instead of wasting time getting an education in a career you are far less certain you will actually like. If you have the option to switch into the chem class and get into pharmacy school, why not go for it?