I wish I would have never went into nursing... :(

[believeallispossible]

I started out at a University majoring in pre-nursing starting the fall year('06) after high school. Thought everything was fine and dandy, thought I had it all figured out, doing great in my pre-req too! I was an average B student I'd say. I thought nursing was for me...and I had experience working as a CNA, so I thought I knew it was for me. Well anyways, after a year and a half at the University, I decided to go for the LPN program at a nearby community college because I knew it was hard to get into the university's nursing program(they only allowed 25 people in)... So i thought it would be great to go to the community college because I'd get experience as a LPN before going into the RN program, plus it would be faster to get an education. BUT Boyyy my journey since then could be anything BUT faster. . . more like total hell and at a stand-still.

I started out at the community college in the lpn program the spring of 2008. I had trouble already when I passed my basic nursing with only a C. Next semester rolled around and that was even more difficult. I dropped my nursing class (Med-Surg1) because i was struggling with it, I finished pharm and clinicals though. So then I took Med-Surg 1 over right away, and passed it. Then I took the Med-Surg2 class... was almost done with it coming May. That was also around the time graduation was approaching. So basically, I had all my graduation cap and gown, also sent out grad invites...just so i could find out I failed the class because of my final(wasn't so good). Sooooo not only was it depressing to tell every single one of my family & friends i failed and graduation is no longer, BUT i ALSO had to wait a whole freaking year before I could retake Med-Surg 2 over. I didn't give up, and waited that whole year and finally made it the second time around but decided to for-go the graduation. It was stupid because we had graduation even though we still had to finish the summer program(OB and peds). I just decided to not go because WHO KNOWs i figured i may just fail again. Turns out I didn't, and finished the program July 2010. BUT i have to say that was an extremely LONG HAUL for me. And yet I still didn't give up nursing.

Then the nclex-pn rolls around. I take it the first time in november. failed it. Then studied my BUTT off the second time. Studied for 2 or so months. I honestly don't know what more I could fit into my brain. I felt confident in answers. But nope, failed it a second time too. Glad they are getting their money's worth.

Honestly, this is absolutely ridiculous. I have wasted literally 5 years of my life 18 -now- 23 years old, and still don't know what the hell to do with my life! I wasted 5 years on my life for a LPN Diploma(not even a degree) in which i'd probably be only getting $11 dollars an hour anyway. It's soooo dumb. It just kills me because if I would have changed this major a couple years ago, I would have a 4 year degree right now, like all my friends. And I wouldn't have gone through ALL THIS HELL. I worked my butt off these past 5 years trying to make it, failed, then passed, failed then passed, then failed again. . . Not to mention dealing with the crulest/rudest instructors on earth. Think there's alot of them out there especially from reading postings on allnurses.com. Look at all the people on this site wasting away their YEARS trying to make it through either 1. nursing school, or 2. the nclex. and then I read people who 3. absolutely hates their job as a nurse (because it's hectic, tons of responsibility, running around with your head chopped off.) Either people on this site are Extremely Happy or Extremely Desperate/Depressed because of nursing. You know, it's no wonder there's a dang nursing shortage. Nursing has officially ****** me off. It's final. I lost all my confidence and self esteem due to this freaking career. I'd rather do something that's less stressful and makes me happy, then keep getting FAILURES after FAILURES in this nursing life. Soooooooo long nursing! A BIG weight has just be lifted off my shoulders. I'm actually quite excited to start my new life in a different but RIGHT path this time. I'm just in total loss of what to do, or what to go into. So, I guess my question for all of you out there who either wished they had done something else besides nursing, or for those of you who changed their careers and got out of nursing... what did you decide to do/or would have liked to have done with your life?? I need help. I'm going to go talk to an advisor and see what I can get with all of the credits I do have done.

[caliotter3]

When I have looked for work in other fields I didn't get hired, so I went back to using my nursing license to support myself. You would do well to get your nursing license even if you decide to go into something different. You never know what is around the corner. That nursing license may come in very, very handy some day.

[Corwynn]

Not sure where you are from, but take this info and do what you will with it. I am a LPN, have been for 11yrs. I currently make 21.62 an hour and I am moving in 8 weeks to a place where LPN's make 29.72 an hour based on experience. This field is rewarding and I would never have done anything else if I were offered the chance to turn back time. I love my work and if you gave the field a chance after all this hard work and trials.......rather than throwing it all away and making it meaningless, you just might enjoy it too. Good Luck.

[jaznia15]

From what I can tell from your story, you have not actually worked as a nurse as of yet. Why not get the license you've spent money and time to attain and actually trying working. I know school is difficult and of course the nursing field is stressful (people's lives are in our hands) but give it a try before quitting.

[Tony1790, BSN, MSN, NP]

Yeah nursing sucks a bunch, but until you pass your boards you can't know for sure if you like it or not. Take a refresher course and try the Nclex again, you owe it to yourself. You've only wasted all of your time on nursing if you don't pass. Pass the dang boards, try nursing for 6 months while you see if you like it or not. As to the wages, they get better. I'm making $18hr in TN and I've only been a LPN for about a year and a half.

Good luck, study for the boards and then quit if you want to.....but first pass!

Take care, good luck.

Tony in TN

[tlc2u]

From reading your post I understand your journey has been long and frustrating. You're almost at the finish line don't give up now.

Read some of the posts on this site about how to pass the NCLEX. For me it was all about doing practice questions.

Saunders NCLEX book

Read and soak up the short chapter on test taking strategies. Use these strategies each time you do practice questions.

Do all questions at end of chapters marking an "X" or "check for right or wrong.

Go back through questions to determine topics you thouroughly understand and what you need to study more.

This will greatly reduce your study time as well as build your confidence about topics you score well in.

Don't just study by reading a book. Practice questions and then read to understand the questions you answer wrong.

You are lucky your school allowed you to retake more than one class. I know of schools that only allow repeat of one class and if you fail another you cannot continue on. You've come this far I would think it would be worth it to get your license and work some as a nurse before you decide it is not for you.

Best of Luck

[B52-H]

Don't give up! You're so close to being done :)

The Saunder's Book that tlc2u suggested is excellent and the only book I used. It really helped me with NCLEX strategy and identify that I sometimes get hung up on the distractors (random information, useless data) they throw into questions.

For me the NCLEX was more about applying the nursing process than having to recall a fact and then choose a correct answer that was obvious.

All the answers you can choose will be correct. You have to pick the one that is the most correct. The only way to practice this is by doing practice questions. Hundreds of them.

It doesn't really help you learn or retain specific knowledge, but it helps you hone your test taking strategies and learn to apply the nursing process to each scenario if appropriate.

I knew I was ready to take the test when even if I was presented a question that I had no clue about, I could work through the answers and make the best possible choice based on nursing principles. Don't get yourself worried about trying to remember every single fact and random pieces of information. It's almost impossible to do because the test can cover all specialties and scenarios. Instead take NCLEX assessment tests and really focus on the areas that you need review in.

[metalhead1973]

I'm really curious what happened, did you leave nursing or decide to keep going?

[Forest2]

On 4/21/2011 at 1:26 PM, tlc2u said:

From reading your post I understand your journey has been long and frustrating. You're almost at the finish line don't give up now.

Read some of the posts on this site about how to pass the NCLEX. For me it was all about doing practice questions.

Saunders NCLEX book

Read and soak up the short chapter on test taking strategies. Use these strategies each time you do practice questions.

Do all questions at end of chapters marking an "X" or "check for right or wrong.

Go back through questions to determine topics you thouroughly understand and what you need to study more.

This will greatly reduce your study time as well as build your confidence about topics you score well in.

Don't just study by reading a book. Practice questions and then read to understand the questions you answer wrong.

You are lucky your school allowed you to retake more than one class. I know of schools that only allow repeat of one class and if you fail another you cannot continue on. You've come this far I would think it would be worth it to get your license and work some as a nurse before you decide it is not for you.

Best of Luck

I agree this is good advice.