I think I might be in the wrong field

ptrang1987 · Feb 28, 2015

Please what school is that, I would love to apply to their program?.

UT arlington

ptrang1987 · Feb 28, 2015

It is NEVER too late to change. What is your backup plan for your backup plan? Respiratory, Occupational and Physical Therapists take a lot of the classes Nurses do. Have you considered Psychology? Go back to Pharmacy school. If you are still interested in health care there are many avenues you can take.

I was in Respiratory School before I got accepted into Nursing (the nursing decision takes forever to get a response so I applied for both). I had fun in there, but I left for nursing because everyone said its better pay, better opportunities and a broad field. Nobody ever mention about how stressful the career will be.

la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN · Feb 28, 2015

You're only at the beginning -- it gets so much easier going forward. I was afraid I would feel the same, too. And, like with all jobs, there will always be workplace politics and cliques and nonsense to deal with. I started when I was 27 as well and had similar feelings. Then, I found what I really wanted to do and found a place I could actually see myself working in. The more you get into it, the more you see how nursing really is. It's not care plans. Care plans are a drag but you will find those getting easier and you will find them actually a fantastic learning tool for understanding prioritizing care.

Anyhow, I just wouldn't quit so soon. You haven't even begun to see what it's really about yet.

la_chica_suerte85, BSN, RN · Feb 28, 2015

I was in Respiratory School before I got accepted into Nursing (the nursing decision takes forever to get a response so I applied for both). I had fun in there, but I left for nursing because everyone said its better pay, better opportunities and a broad field. Nobody ever mention about how stressful the career will be.

I wonder about this comment that no one mentioned how stressful nursing is. It is kind of inherent in the nature of the job -- you're taking care of sick people and have mandated med passes and assessments and follow up and this and that and all the other things. Nothing worth doing is easy, though.

daraeb · Mar 17, 2015

Evaluate what drew you to nursing in the first place. How does that align with your value system? If you find it does not align with the big picture, ie what you feel you are here on this earth to do, then drop it- you will never find happiness if you can't find alignment. However, if you can find a way in which the profession aligns with your purpose, stick it out- nursing school is tough for everyone, it's about using what you learn to connect to your career and to actualize your purpose in life. Good luck!

ComeTogether, LPN · Mar 25, 2015

It's not too late. A lot of your pre-reqs can be applied to a different degree.

If you don't see yourself doing this day in and day out, if you don't think you will like it, if you don't enjoy patient care (or at least several aspects of it) ABSOLUTELY choose another path.

There is NOTHING wrong with changing your mind and going another route. There are many avenues to explore. You could be a PTA, a surgical tech, an administrator, etc. etc.

27 is not old, at all. I'm about to be 33 and have a loooong way to go. Tomorrow is promised to no one.

George O'Malley · Mar 26, 2015

27 is not too late to change career paths completely. UNLESS you want to become a Doctor/Surgeon....11-18 years between the school/med-school/internship/residency/fellowship....and the HUGE debt...that might be not an option unless you got the $.

Do you know what you want to do? What really makes your heart pump? What will get you out of bed in the morning? If you had all the money in the world, what would you do with your life?

Make some careful choices, volunteer/shadow in the Industry you think you want to be in and see what it looks like. You'll figure it out, just do a lot of research and get your facts straight.

Best of luck on your journey, have faith! :)

Summers3 · Mar 26, 2015

I'm very sorry that you are feeling anxious and scared. Perhaps you are feeling like that because of being overwhelmed in your first semester? Your program is 15 months so is that 3 or 4 semesters ?

If you truly enjoy nursing (and you can absolutely see yourself doing nursing) but are still doubtful, then I would suggest trying to complete your first semester and reflect back on your experience. In my experience, the times I thought I couldn't make it was the times I was overwhelmed the most and I lost sight of myself. So perhaps if during break and you are free and more calm, you can truly tell yourself if this is the path for you. you won't be able to do that now since you are too anxious and overwhelmed!

This is what happened very similarly to me. I have always wanted to do nursing but the few first weeks of the program blew me away. I cried each week and could not bear the fear of the "what ifs" and was being bombarded with thoughts that I was going to be a horrible nurse, or I wasted my time/effort/money for nothing or I thought I was the most stupid person in the entire class etc etc. But after almost completing my first semester, I am reminded that I love nursing, just not the schoolwork. But that is something each and every single nurse has to go through and it will make you even better nurse in the future to care for others (not to mention it will teach you how to function under insane amounts of stress when you're acutally on the job).

BUT! If you do not see yourself doing nursing, then focus on pursuing what you truly love in life (pharmacy) after you tell yourself that nursing is not for you

Again, I'm very sorry you are feeling anxious and I certainly do hope you feel better soon. I was in your shoes when I started and will probably be in your shoes till I finish as well.

Best of wishes to you and I hope you update us on your progress! :)

I wish you the best of luck wherever you may go and whichever career you wish to pursue.

George O'Malley · Mar 26, 2015

In my experience, the times I thought I couldn't make it was the times I was overwhelmed the most and I lost sight of myself. you won't be able to do that now since you are too anxious and overwhelmed!
But that is something each and every single nurse has to go through and it will make you even better nurse in the future to care for others (not to mention it will teach you how to function under insane amounts of stress when you're acutally on the job).
BUT! If you do not see yourself doing nursing, then focus on pursuing what you truly love in life (pharmacy) after you tell yourself that nursing is not for you

Also, make sure you are doing a few of the following:

1. Getting the best sleep you can (if possible)

2. Exercise - 45 minutes/1 hour+ of cardiovascular exercise, a few times a week REALLY helps the mind in times of stress (I'm in the computer programming world now and sometimes it gets nuts trying to solve a complex issue; exercise for the win!)

3. Water - the brain is a big sponge, if you are even slightly dehydrated, you're not performing your best; it will mess with you.

4. Sodium Intake - I never thought this was a big deal but recently I had A LOT of anxiety and added stress, when I exhausted every possibility, I realized I wasn't eating healthy enough (most bad foods contain LOADS of Sodium which lead to hypertension rather quickly; so try and pay attention to this.

5. As well, any Drugs/Alcohol you may be 'partaking' in, mess with your brain/body balance as well.

6. Finally, as the Martial Arts/Buddhist Monks would preach - Harmony and Balance. Is there a part of your life you can try and balance? A stress that you haven't faced yet; perhaps something subconsciously affecting you? Sometimes sitting back (maybe on that break) and reflecting deeply can reveal some things that are turbulent to the Spirit side of you. Be at peace with things.

Not trying to be a know it all or what not but this list here really helped me to get a better look at life over the past few years and to calm myself. Alprazolam/Xanax, no matter how great for helping with this, does have long term effects of ruining your body's natural ability to calm (mind over matter) and as well, is one of the easiest drugs to get hooked on, so be careful if you are using any[COLOR=#252525]Rx to "help" you.

Last thing: don't overlook the power of the "in the moment" style thinking. In Alcoholics Anonymous and even non-substance related groups, there is great teaching in this way of thinking. To really, really become powerful over your thoughts and think "one hour at a time", "one foot in front of the other", "It's going to be OKAY, you can get by, you will succeed :) Have faith! You are finding your way, no matter what it ends up being.

[/COLOR]Blessings :)