I thought it was what I wanted...

[SoBeyondLost]

So I'm in the middle of my first semester in nursing school. I have loved the idea and everything about nursing since I was in 9th grade! I'm struggling in class, I'm not in love with the subjects, and I do not get along with my teacher. I don't want these things to decide my life, but I'm running out of energy to convince myself it will get better. Practically everyday, I just want to pack up and travel somewhere and just start a completely new education path. The only problem is I don't know what I want to do. I also am not ready to quit school either, but I don't know what I want and I don't exactly want to waste money figuring it out.

Any advice? :/

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

Go to your college academic counseling office or dean of students. They have heard this story many times before and will have ideas for how to evaluate your aptitudes, choose alternatives, perhaps to let you use the credits you've already amassed, if any, perhaps transfer, whatever, and get on with your life.

Don't worry about not going into nursing; a certain number of students are in exactly your shoes every year, and everyone's happier if they do something else. Good luck to you.

[NRKB, MSN, RN]

I didn't know what I wanted to do either when I got out of high school. I went back to school 3 times and quit 3 times. Yes, expensive and stupid but I had a lot of pressure on me from my parents to go to college and graduate. (Now that I am a parent I understand where they were coming from) It took me 10 years to find myself. I learned a lot in those 10 years from the odd jobs I had working at mostly minimum wage. I worked as a pharm tech, animal tech, a barista, a waitress, an animal groomer, dog walker, cashier etc. Some of these jobs were awful and quite dangerous and then some were great! Some advice I can give is if you do take some time off school continue to educate yourself. You don't need to spend money doing so. Just read as much as you can about things that you love or that interest you. All the odd jobs that I had taught me a lot about myself and where my interests lie. They have helped me tremendously with my nursing classes that I have no regrets for taking a significant amount of time out to find myself and where I belong. So don't be discouraged. Enjoy your life, stay true to yourself and take the time to find what it is that will make you happy.

[RunBabyRN]

Why do you want to be a nurse?

How does school vary from what you'd imagined? What did you think it was going to be?

How are you contributing to your situation? How can you change that?

If you look at the dream vs reality and at why you really want to he a nurse, those alone may be enough to help guide you to the right answer for YOU. It may be that nursing isn't at all what you'd expected, and perhaps another path would be a better match. Or it could he that this is tougher than you'd even imagined and you're slugging through fundamentals, and you just need to regroup. Only you can determine your reality with this.

I hope you find your way, whatever that is!

[Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN]

((HUGS)) Take a deep breath. Are you just out of high school?

It really doesn't matter because when you start nursing it is unlike anything you have ever done. I spent my first semester wanting to quit. I HATED IT!!!!!!!!!!!! My program...and my parents wouldn't let me. I even had one of my first year instructors tell me I was too much of a loner and didn't delegate well to others....that was 35 years ago. Bless you Ms.******, I "pacifically" remember you telling me that . It made me stronger. I "specifically" don't like being told what to do. She must be in her 80's now.

Now I can't imagine what else I would do.

Hang in there.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

If you the science aspect, consider lab technologist (baccalaureate degree). Very interesting work. If you like the patient contact aspect best, consider social work. I agree with the idea of consulting with an advisor. They may have ideas you have not yet considered!