I have had nursing in my mind for a long time now. I was aCNA for 2 years , and really enjoyed it. I loved my residents and felt good about what I did for them everyday. All of my prereqs are done, and now it's just a matter of getting accepted to a program. I did not get in last year, and have been rejected by 3 schools so far for this year:confused: Its just so competitive! I am starting to feel so discouraged. Not from the rejections, but from what I have read about the burnout, disrespect, stress, and nursing not being "worth it" on this site. I know this is a place for us all to come and share with each other, to vent, and to connect with people in that same situations (which I think is GREAT and I really love it!) but it really does make me wonder. In addition to that its said there no jobs out there for us once we are finally done...its scary! I love the idea of caring for people and its what I want to do, but it seems soooo many nurses feel disrespected and over worked which is not what I want from my career. It never occurred to me until recently that as much as I wanted it, nursing may not be "worth it" in the end...
So, to all of you nurses out there...what do you think? I know everyone has bad days, weeks, months and this is where you come to vent, and maybe that is what I've been reading day after day...but overall, is nursing as a career make up for the heavy responsibility, disrespect, stress, etc?
If I were you, i'd definitely think it's worth it.
You're already experienced to what a nurse does as a CNA. That would make anyone know 100% whether or not they want to be in this career.
You should keep applying. A lot of schools have spring and fall semester applications; usually the spring semester is less competitive. My community college also offers an RN program which is really easy to get into. You can do what you love to do and then later on you can do like an, accelerated rn-bsn program which is less competitive than the full traditional BSN programs nursing schools have.
Definitely keep trying! Figure out what you should do to have a higher chance of getting accepted the next time around and try expanding the # of schools you're applying to
With the influx of people jumping to nursing as a career choice, it is a no brainer as to why so many people are unhappy with it. Every profession carries it's fair share of whiners and burnouts, for some reason or another. Nursing is a calling, not a career. Some people loose focus of that and jump on board for the money and stability. Sure those things are nice, but they won't get you through the ups and downs of the job. There are people in my nursing class now that makes me wonder why they are even in nursing school. I can understand the stress from taking an insane course load with assignments and tests around every corner, not to mention clinicals. But if you can't put that a side once you step through those hospital doors, then you need to reevaluate what you are in the program for. I am amazed at how many people whine about going to clinicals or doing patient care, mind you, these are some of the same people with CRNA ambitions. I would gladly sub those classmates for someone who actually wants to be there anyday! Its frustrating, but like some of the others have said, it will probably be rewarding if it has truly "called" you! Good luck and DON'T GIVE UP!!!
There are some days where I walk out of work and just want to bang my head against a brick wall. It seems like nothing went right and everything I did could have being done better.
That said, I love nursing, and I honestly wouldnt change any of it for the world. Yes its scary, especially as a new grad, but if you persevere eventually the good days start to outweigh the bad.
Dont give up on the idea just because the job market is tough at the moment, it will get better soon :)
Nothing new here. Its been the same in nursing for years. Bedside nursing is brutal and stressful. Nurses get their experience and then move on to less stressful safer jobs.
Yay!!!! A thread with 90% positive responses. I've seen a lot of threads that are mostly negative responses to this question, but I'm hard headed and I am planning to go for it anyways. I've always believed that life is what you make it. I appreciate the negative responses though. I think they are helping me prepare for the worst. This way either I'm mentally prepared to been "eaten", used, and abused or I will be pleasantly surprised. To OP, good luck in all your endeavors.
Only you can decide if it's worth it to you. If you like being a CNA and being involved in patient care that's already a step in the right direction. You already have some relevant work experience that will make it easier for you to transition to an RN. Take the time to learn from the nursing staff all you can. Perhaps getting a CNA job in a hospital will improve your chances of getting into an RN program. Once you get in, make sure to get an intern program at the hospital, that will improve your odds of getting a job and increase your comfort level and make it less stressful when you are an RN.
I believe if people are motivated and take the time to learn they can succeed. The so called "smart" people are probably not more gifted than another they have just discovered the joy of learning and take the time to study, using all options necessary, whether a supplemental study guide, study group or tutor as the case may be.
Follow your heart! If this is what you really want it will show. Make sure this enthusiasm shows when you apply for an RN program.
Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
With the influx of people jumping to nursing as a career choice, it is a no brainer as to why so many people are unhappy with it. Every profession carries it's fair share of whiners and burnouts, for some reason or another. Nursing is a calling, not a career. Some people loose focus of that and jump on board for the money and stability. Sure those things are nice, but they won't get you through the ups and downs of the job. There are people in my nursing class now that makes me wonder why they are even in nursing school. I can understand the stress from taking an insane course load with assignments and tests around every corner, not to mention clinicals. But if you can't put that a side once you step through those hospital doors, then you need to reevaluate what you are in the program for. I am amazed at how many people whine about going to clinicals or doing patient care, mind you, these are some of the same people with CRNA ambitions. I would gladly sub those classmates for someone who actually wants to be there anyday! Its frustrating, but like some of the others have said, it will probably be rewarding if it has truly "called" you! Good luck and DON'T GIVE UP!!!
It's really not your place to judge who is/is not worthy of being a nurse. Everyone has different reasons for going into nursing. This whole "nursing is a calling" is ridiculous and needs to be put to bed. It just plays into the whole "nurse as angel" myth. Who cares what someone's motivation is to become a nurse? As long as they give safe, compassionate care, more power to them. And if someone goes into school with the goal of becoming a CRNA, so what? Since when did having goals become a crime?
THANK YOU ALL SO, SO MUCH! You have no idea how much this has helped me. It really is what I want to do and your honesty and reassurance is greatly appreciated. I am definitely willing to take the bad with what I know will be the GREAT. Thanks again, you are the BEST
I'm only a 2nd semester PN student so I'm not saving lives yet... I might have an insaney busy/hard clinical day and when it's done I'm exhausted but when I get out of the building and I think about all the things I've done, the people I helped, I get this fuzzy feeling it's kinda like a euphoria....priceless... And it's that feeling of satisfaction makes it all worth while... Every time I feel overwhelmed with work/school I just remember how good it feels, and that when I'm a nurse I will actually do even more important things, that keeps me going. Never give up on your dreams. :)
Specializes in acute rehab, psych, home health, agencey.
The profession needs more canidates who at least show a geniuine interest in becoming a modern day nurse. As much as i personally have "issues" with a lot of the modern day changes with our job I still want and enjoy being a bedside nurse,for me not only the wide and varied aspects of the field related to schedule,money,benefits,areas to work but still take a sense of pride when some patient or family member says thanks or we really appreciate your talent, it is what we try and do in our jobs day in and day out.
and I am planning to go for it anyways. I've always believed that life is what you make it. I appreciate the negative responses though. I think they are helping me prepare for the worst. This way either I'm mentally prepared to been "eaten", used, and abused 
To OP, good luck in all your endeavors.
but when I get out of the building and I think about all the things I've done, the people I helped, I get this fuzzy feeling it's kinda like a euphoria....priceless...
And it's that feeling of satisfaction makes it all worth while... Every time I feel overwhelmed with work/school I just remember how good it feels, and that when I'm a nurse I will actually do even more important things, that keeps me going. Never give up on your dreams. :)
wtrang
44 Posts
If I were you, i'd definitely think it's worth it.
You're already experienced to what a nurse does as a CNA. That would make anyone know 100% whether or not they want to be in this career.
You should keep applying. A lot of schools have spring and fall semester applications; usually the spring semester is less competitive. My community college also offers an RN program which is really easy to get into. You can do what you love to do and then later on you can do like an, accelerated rn-bsn program which is less competitive than the full traditional BSN programs nursing schools have.
Definitely keep trying! Figure out what you should do to have a higher chance of getting accepted the next time around and try expanding the # of schools you're applying to