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Discussion

Is the nursing profession really for me???

All my life I just knew I wanted to be a nurse. I graduated high school in 2005 and right away I chose Pre-Nursing as my college major. After fooling around and flunking a few classes my freshman year, I finally decided to get serious and buckle down. By then my GPA was in the dumbs (1.48) so I decided to finish all my nursing pre-reqs in hopes to raise my GPA into an acceptable range to start applying to nursing school. After my fair share of "denial" letters I finally got accepted into a 2yr Associates program (it was better than nothing). First semester went better than expected, I finished with a 3.57GPA overall and I was chosen as the VP of my graduating class!! Now I'm in my second semester doing Med/Surg+Psych combined and I don't know what the heck happened to me. I have NO motivation whatsoever. I barely study, I drag myself to school everyday just to sign the attendance sheet, I hate clinicals and I'm doing more memorizing than reading for understand, which we all know is pointless when it comes to nursing school. And when I actually did put forth effort to study for my 1st exam, I got a 76% (failed by 1 question). I keep telling myself it was the long 6wk winter break that has me in this rut but I just don't know. I cant really talk to anyone about how I'm feeling because all my family and friends have been rooting for me all these years and would be sooo disappointed if I shared this with them. Especially my mother who thinks I have a serious problem following things through till the very end. I just don't know....I want a good job, I want to make decent money, have a sense of security and live a happy/fullfilling life but, Do I have to be a nurse to achieve that? I've worked in the medical field pretty much ever since I was able to work. I've been a unit secretary at a local hospital for the past 5years. I love my job but it cant pay the bills (especially when I move out and start a family). Now, approaching age 27, I'm wondering who I really am and most importantly who I want to be. Where do I envision myself in the future? I know nursing opens up a lot of different pathways that go way beyond the clinical setting, but you still have to go through all that grueling schoolwork and state boards. And then a BSN program :-(. In terms of longevity I just don't see myself happy in this career path at all. Thing is, it has always been nursing for me, so I never seriously considered other possible career paths. I also don't feel like being in school for the rest of my life, I already wasted so much time. I love to lend a helping hand, put a smile on people's face, organize, plan and be creative but there's no job title for that. I don't know I just need help, advice, words of encouragement before I make a decision that can alter the rest of my life. HELP ME PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!

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    "Is the nursing profession really for me???"

    No, it's not, IMO. How do I know? I read your OP. Only you can help you and the only way you can do that is knowing yourself. Do strangers on a nursing forum know you better than you? No, they don't. You've already answered your question IMO, you just don't know it yet and you're looking for validation (from strangers!). You'll get there, and when you do, it will be wonderful!

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    Nursing is labor intensive, period. From the time you decide to embark on your pre-reqs, to the time you graduate, and into your career, nursing will *always* be intense and require your blood, sweat, and tears.

    If you're having difficulty finding the motivation to even maintain your GPA, you may want to consider how badly you truly want this. Talk to an academic advisor, or some you trust. But figure it out soon or you'll waste years of your life chasing after something you don't want half as bad as other hopeful RNs out there.

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    "I hate clinicals and I'm doing more memorizing than reading for understand"

    That is the crux of your issue. Nursing school is indeed memorization for testing. The understanding will come later.

    Clinicals are indeed hateful. We feel like a fish out of water. My first few clinical rotations , I compared it to "dress-up " nursing.

    I got through it. You can too.

    Deep breaths, consult an academic advisor. I have a feeling you can do this.

    Good luck, keep us posted.

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    Sometimes we misinterpret the signals life sends us. Maybe life was sending you a signal to help people, and the nursing profession is what you mistranslated that signal to be. Many people are unhappy with their jobs (including nurses) and they got into them sincerely believing that it was their dream. Some people get into certain lines of work because they like the money and opportunities for advancement, but are still unhappy nonetheless. Don't go into anything thinking it's going to some dream come true.

    "Oft expectation fails, and most oft there where most it promises."

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    I would seek some counseling at your school or elsewhere. They could evaluate you for depression and also offer some career guidance. To me, just based on your post, it could be either depression or you have figured out that nursing is not really for you.

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    @MoopleRN I'm looking for ADVICE moreso than validation. I'm wondering if this is this is a normal feeling for some students during the course of nursing school. I heard that 2nd semester would be the hardest, I guess im just feeling the pressure and allowing it to get to me.

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    Are you depressed by any chance? Sometimes depression can translate into loss of interest and low motivation.

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    thank you @nynursey_ I am planning to see a counselor tomorrow!!

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    • Author

    Thanks a lot!!! I needed to hear that. I've been waiting what seems like all my life to get into nursing school. Now I'm finally here and this is happening. I guess I didn't anticipate how different AND difficult this semester would be so I do what I do best, second guess myself and my abilities. I guess if I made it this far I can make it the rest of the way!!!! Just gotta push way harder.

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    I was going to suggest EAP counseling, but I see several others expressing concern over depression and your need to speak to others who can do far more for you compared to anonymous people on the internet.

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    @hey_suz @Lev

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    I don't feel depressed even though I'm not exactly sure what that's supposed to feel like.

    a lot of the time it just feels like nothing.

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