I'm a third year nursing student and I don't think I want to be a nurse anymore.

ginger58, ASN, RN · Oct 20, 2007

Rainbowbright. Even though I recently retired I really liked nursing but a lot of my dissatisfaction was with lack of management, all the paperwork that doesn't go away. And let's face it...nursing is just plain hard work. I have to say that nursing has changed since the 70s. Sicker folks, a lot more meds, more demands from everyone. I think a lot of dissatisfaction being voiced on this website is real and I'm sorry that it is discouraging you and others.

On the whole, I think nursing is a great profession. But what is happening is increased acuity, longer lifespans with more meds, more and more work demanded from administration but demanding there be no overtime, people aren't getting their breaks, meals breaks, and unless you live in CA nurses have an unsafe number of patients. I really don't know how med-surg folks have up to 10 patients. More nurses are being physically abused by patients and have little backing from management. I think nurses are venting here because they really do love nursing but the conditions under which they work are wearing them down.

Any new area is stressful and I always feel stupid until I feel I know what I'm doing. I really understand how you are feeling. I would go home and worry myself sick about it. It can takes months to a year before you feel settled in. There's a lot to remember, think about and act on.

Maybe take a semester off or stay in school and take some courses that interest you, or if you decide to go back to your other career that's fine too. But don't beat yourself up for your choice. Life is short. I hope it becomes clear to you soon what you need to do.

kmn360 · Oct 20, 2007

I have a saying:

I love the knowing, hate the learning!

There is such a learning curve to nursing and it takes time to adjust. You left your other career for a reason, do you really want to go back?

Is it that it's too hard or that you really hate nursing. You can't go by these forums not all of nursing is negative. Just like any other forums for any other careers, they vent. You have to decide if what you read is true for you or not.

Why did you want to be a nurse in the 1st place? Revisit the why's and see if you can find a niche. It might not be for you, I just hate to see anyone give up hope when they are so close.

Good luck for whatever you decide.

SarasotaRN2b · Oct 20, 2007

[quote=GratefulHeart;2455673

Also regarding what you read on these boards, something to keep in mind: Students/nurses turn to these boards most often when they're feeling down or in need of moral support. When things are going well, relatively few take the time to post about it. Guard your emotions by being selective about what you read.

Blessings.

I totally agree with this! While I do agree that sometimes you feel like all you are seeing are negative posts...if that is the case, get off the boards for a couple of days. If you want to stay on the board, look on the success threads...they always make feel happy about my choice as I proceed.

Hellllllo Nurse, BSN, RN · Oct 20, 2007

The nursing positions that you have mentioned typically require 1 to 2 years of bedside nursing experience. There's plenty of competition involved in obtaining a nursing job away from the bedside, so the OP's chances of landing a non-bedside position as a new grad are slim and unrealistic.
All of us must do our time in the trenches before the light emerges.

I agree.

lizzyberry · Oct 20, 2007

Maybe school is stressing you out. When you do get out into the real world maybe you wont have the added stress of school and it wont be so bad.

ginger58, ASN, RN · Oct 20, 2007

RainbowBright. I posted above but I'd like to say that being a student is not being a nurse. If you can get through school I think a lot of external pressure will lift, but you'll have your own internal pressure on yourself.

You've come this far. Students and new grads do feel dumb, scared, whatever. I truly believe this will pass for you. I hope you will carry on with school, but not if it is is making you ill.

Are you afraid of making mistakes? We all are and we all do. Maybe seeing your doc and getting on an SSRI would help. Confidence will come, believe me. We all wish you well and please let us know what happens.

thekingandhislady · Oct 20, 2007

Here goes, WHAT THE HELL? I find it very hard to understand how anyone could simply quit something that they have put this kind of time into. For me, I've asked my entire family to put their lives on hold, in a manner of speaking, to give me time to get this done. I have been wonderfully blessed with an opportunity to seek out a career at the ripe old age of 30. No matter how old you are when you start this road, the ability to start it is a blessing in itself. To throw it all away would be equivalent to spitting in the face of those who have helped you get this far. Harsh? Probably.

This job is hard. Don't doubt that for a minute. But touching other peoples lives in this most intimate way is an absolute honor. And for me, I will sweat blood before I quit. Take what you want out of this message or throw it away. It's human nature to "put your hand to the plow and look back" but YOU control where your thoughts go and if you entertain the thought of quitting, you surely will quit.

future L&Dnurse · Oct 20, 2007

I am in my senior year, first semester right now. Do I think some areas of nursing just plain suck? Sure. I've had a couple of clinical experiences that made me just want to run screaming out of the hospital and never go back ... so I know that I don't want to work in those places. I don't think that all areas of nursing suck though. I can't wait to work in L&D, because my clinical experiences there were fantastic and exactly what I want to do.

I DO think that nursing school just plain sucks, though. Every nurse I've talked to who has gone through my program says "just get through nursing school." I've been told multiple times that I'll learn what I need to know once I'm actually working, and that I just need to get through school to get that degree. Nursing school definitely sucks.

lisabeth · Oct 20, 2007

I think we all feel that way from time to time. I really do doubt all of this sometimes. I absolutely love the clinicals, and caring for patients, but the classes are about to kill me. I really do wonder sometimes if this is what I should be doing though, but just because of the stress of the classes, and the lack of any kind of life whatsoever, lol.

The two clinical instructors I have had so far have really been great. We will start getting two patients on our next round though,so I am worried about that. Even the nurses have been extremely helpful to us. Maybe I will be ok.

I really dont know what to tell you though. As one other poster said, the possibilities are wide open for nurses. You have come so far, and it sounds like you are doing really great in the area I am struggling with. I hope you make the right decision for you.

rainbowbright2 · Oct 20, 2007

Thank you all so much for your input. I feel better today and I have to remember that even if I work in a job I don't like for the first few years, I can then use that experience to move forward to something I do like. It's so easy to get caught up in the negativity and it scares me at times. I guess the feeling I dislike the most is feeling extremely inadequate which I see is so normal in the beginning(esp. during the time when a patient's life depends on it). The hands-on things kind of terrify me, to be honest. I am going to just make sure I get enough rest, make sure I have an outlet, and then continue to work hard and trudge forward!

Semperdave · Oct 20, 2007

"should i go back to my former career?"

i think you need to remember why you left your former career. was the pay too good, or the job not stressfull enough? did you love it too much? nursing is not for everyone, and it may or may not be for you, only you can decide.

try not to take everything you read on this board to heart, it is just a small segment of the nursing population and most people aren't going ot post

:loveya:"just finished the perfect shift, my job is a dream!!":loveya:

just food for thought.

hope this helps.

david

jonathanknbo · Jul 31, 2008

I have anxiety issues and am extremely hard on myself, so a stressful job like this will only add fuel to the fire. I hate reading all of the negative threads on this forum. It depresses me. I don' t want to go to work with a bundle of nerves everyday feeling incompetent every day. I'm not enjoying clinicals. I hate giving meds, figuring out the doses, and blanking out due to nerves. I'm not dumb and am top of my class, but the stress makes me doubt myself and blank out under pressure. I am stressed about school, so how will I be at work? I feel as though depression is caving in. This is a second career for me and I'm thinking about going back to my old one.
With what all of you said about hating your jobs and feeling completely overwhelmed and sick going to work, I cannot live like that. I am in my 30s and do not need that in my life. Should I go back to my former career? I don't think I'll like nursing, and this board is a big part of it.
Please tell me in reality if you think nursing just plain sucks. Be honest.

Thank you for your post. It address my issue too. :banghead: