I'm choosing to withdraw from NS. And that's okay.

[Liz9]

Hi all!

I am a newbie nursing student, from a family of medical professionals. Although nursing was never my "passion" or "calling" I felt it I could both enjoy and do well in the field. After finishing my first semester with glowing recommendations and a 4.0, I am withdrawing. Nursing is a wonderful profession, and I highly respect those who enter it. It is a field that can be both overlooked and undervalued, but its importance cannot be denied.

This is just a shout out to any nursing school students that have that sinking, awful feeling that maybe nursing is not the career for them. If this career is not one you want, it is okay to leave. It is not shameful, nor cowardly. It is wisdom. That being said, from talking to other nurses, I believe most nursing students do experience discouragement/doubt/"I JUST CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE!" in some way or form, but they power through and graduate into a profession they excel at. For some, like myself, nursing is not what makes you happy. The thought of becoming a nurse brings no joy or anticipation to me. I'm leaving for a degree in humanities (yes, I know. I'm under no delusions about those job prospects:)

It's scary. What will people think? What should I major in now? And there goes the optimistic salary ranges that have been spouted off to me. Hehe.

Ah, well. I feel at peace. I have gained invaluable health knowledge even in one semester. Hospitals are no longer strange, unfathomable things to me.

So, good luck to all you students! Nursing is a hard and rewarding field, and if it is what you want, persevere! I'm cheering you on. :)

[mcgovernpirate]

Proud of you, OP!! A degree in computer science will no doubt give you job opportunities once you're out by 23 (especially if you learn some programming in your free time...often you don't even need a degree). I was a lit double major and loved it more than anything, but outside academia a humanities degree is largely worthless. Points indeed for practicality, but enjoy your Woolf and Joyce meantime! You're young...and confident, and you know yourself. Invaluable. Thank you for your post and enjoy your next four years! :)

[jaycam, RN]

When I went to NS-many,many years ago, the problem with changing majors after Nursing credits, was that most or the science content in the pre-reqs weren't hard science courses, rather they were "Science Light". The only alternative degrees that accepted the science classes from the Nursing program were AD medical adjunct programs. No BS program accepted the BS Nursing science credits. I would advise anyone who has any question about whether Nursing is the final goal- take the "hard science" options. If you later find you want a MS in biomedical engineering you won't have wasted your hard earned $$$ on half strength course offerings.

That's one of the advantages of ADN for me, I finished my prerequisites with enough hard science credits for my Associate of Arts and Science in general studies. I could finish an AS in biology in less than a year while I wait to get into a RN-BSN program. My school has transfer agreements with local universities, plus several BS degrees including a BSN. It really depends on the school and the program.