Hi all - Ive been here for a while but havent posted and couldnt remember my log in name,etc so I had to create a new one. Anyways, I'd like to vent or maybe looking for a few words of support...
I'm finishing up my pre-reqs and will be transferring to a 4 year this fall to take a few more classes then start nursing school. I'm very excited and very proud of how far I've come.
Well last night, I was sitting at my daughter's practice talking to some of the other moms. Come to find out - one was a nurse so we were talking and I was telling her about me and how hard it was, etc. Well, she asked me what area I wanted to go into. I told her I wasnt sure yet, I have a few areas of interest but the way I figure it - I wont be positive until I start clinicals and actually see what each position entails..Well she says something to me that really bugged me - I may be being oversensitive and if thats the case, by all means, let me know. She said "Every single person I went to school with that wasnt sure where they wanted to end up dropped out of nursing school. If you arent sure, nursings not for you so just prepare yourself with a back up plan." ***!? I was dumbfounded and really didnt know what to say so I just sat there uncomfortable for the rest of practice.
Am I being oversensitive? I dont feel like I am. I mean, its not going to discourage me but is there any truth to this? I know what I want to do - I want to be a nurse - just dont know where I'll end up... I'm not sure what kind of replies I expect from this but it bothered me and I just wanted to see if this was the opinion of the majority as well... Thank you for reading!
I had plenty of people in my class who didn't know where they wanted to work when they started, or even when we graduated! I had several classmates who knew "I want to work ob/peds/insert specialty here" and got there and HATED it during clinicals. Some said "There is no way I could ever do psych/er/or/etc" and loved it.
Personally, I think that an open mind as to the future might actually be preferable in nursing school. If you have tunnel vision regarding what type of nursing you plan to do, you might unconsciously ignore areas that aren't in your game plan. I still laugh when I think of my "plan" for my career and how far astray I am, yet how happy I've been with what evolved naturally.
Specializes in med/surg, TELE,CM, clinica[ documentation.
Ignore her and keep on going through school. I didn't know what I wanted to do when I was in school. It is 4 years later and I still don't know for sure. I just know one thing: I love being a nurse and do not ever regret going to school to be one at the ripe age of 43. You go and become the best nurse ever----the great thing about nursing is "the diversity" ---there are so many choices and areas to work-- if you don't like one .....try another. Best of luck to you!:)
I agree with previous posters, this is ridiculous. Many of my classmates had no idea where they wanted to end up. In fact, we graduate in a week, and many still don't know what they want to do! But they are there graduting!
Nursing school is hard. We did lose just over 1/3 of our class. But it wasn't because people were dropping out, it was because they failed out. Did the fact that they failed have anything to do with not knowing what kind of nurse they wanted to be? Some of them who failed knew exactly what kind of nurse they wanted to be and others didn't. I doubt there is any correlation at all.
"Every single person I went to school with that wasnt sure where they wanted to end up dropped out of nursing school. If you arent sure, nursings not for you so just prepare yourself with a back up plan." ***!?
UUUGHHH! That is some wack advice. I would keep all conversations and contact with her to the barest minimum. You definitely don't need that type of negative energy around you---ever.
Usually, a person's advice is most likely coming either from a place of wanting to help you, or of needing to feel important. In her case, I think it's the latter.
Thank you guys so much - I really do appreciate it. Like I said, it wasnt going to discourage me but at the same time - I was pretty put off and honestly didnt know what to say... and I am never at a lack of words.
I really thank you for responding - I feel better knowing that I dont have to have ONE SPECIFIC AREA that I am solely dedicated to. Like you said, something may work for me for the first two years but later may not and I really am grateful for all your replies! I cant believe how supportive this site is! :redbeathe:redbeathe:redbeathe
I entered nsg school wanted L&D. My mind was set & thats what I was doing period. The only other thing I was certain about was that NO WAY was I doing geriatrics.
Jump ahead now 11+yrs.... I am a geriatric hospice nurse! I found my niche & LOVE IT.
so don't listen to this nurse. It sounds like she's not happy with the area she decided to work in. You know the old saying, "Misery loves company"
When I graduated, I had no idea what area of nursing I wanted to do. I just figured that med-surg was the way to go to get started. In nursing school, L&D wasn't my cup of tea. Jobs were hard to find at the time and the only position I could find was in L&D. I've been doing maternal-child nursing for 13 years now and would never think of doing anything else! I love what I do! Don't pay any attention to the negative people that cross your path. Most of my classmates did NOT know what area of nursing they were interested in and NO, they didn't flunk out of nursing school because of it! Hang in there!
It is better to be flexible. If you are only focused on one area in nursing school you are likely to become discouraged. For example if you are sure you want to do peds if is gonna be that much harder to motivate yourself to study other areas. Also there is no way to know where there will be job openings. On a personal note two areas I thought I would hate were oncology and NICU. Guess where I've worked so far? Lol.
woow what a hater(lol). When i got into nsg sch, i wasnt sure which setting i wanted to be in(heck i wanna try 'em all). But i find myself in LTC b/c thats where i been as a CNA. DO YOU and 4get her.
You know some ppl hate to see other ppl come up...maybe thats her problem.
I am a prospective nursing student and what I have been told by mentors is that your specialty picks you... you don't pick it... Most of the nurses that I have talked to say that the specialty that they thought they wanted isn't the one that they end up in... Don't let her discourage her... and I don't think that I would want her to be my nurse she seems rude... and that was very insensitive... In fact it was down right RUDE!... You will be fine!...
Wow! You know, it seems like some nurses forget what life was like while they were in nursing school and even more so what it was like when they were eagerly working toward getting accepted to a program. I think that a person has some thought as to what they are looking to do with their nursing degree but until you are exposed to the many areas of nursing (during clinical hours, volunteer hours etc) how on earth could you know without a doubt what area is the right fit for you? When I went in to nursing school I thought I wanted to do one thing, but then realized it wasn't what I thought and went with something completely different. Don't let the statement your friend made bother you any longer. I don't know her and can't say what was going through her mind, but I don't see any truth to the statement.
I would keep all conversations and contact with her to the barest minimum. You definitely don't need that type of negative energy around you---ever.
Aneroo, LPN
1,518 Posts
I agree. Ignore what she said!
I had plenty of people in my class who didn't know where they wanted to work when they started, or even when we graduated! I had several classmates who knew "I want to work ob/peds/insert specialty here" and got there and HATED it during clinicals. Some said "There is no way I could ever do psych/er/or/etc" and loved it.