Is nursing school bad for my health? Will it be the same as a nurse?

[emptyboxcars]

I have one year left as a nursing school student. I have a 15 year history of knee pain (due to pronation), which has been getting worse the last few years. Since starting school, I've been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis (a chronic foot problem), gastritis, reflux, and possibly an ulcer (EGD is scheduled). I was diagnosed with stage 1 cancer two years ago, even though I do not fit the profile for this particular cancer one bit. We have no idea why I have this kind of cancer, but I have wondered if it's due (at least in part) to my anxious personality. I am a very anxious person.

While I find the medical field fascinating, I find clinicals and school in general to be very stressful for me. I am also a mother, which is why the stress is higher. I am doing great in class and clinicals, but I am seriously wondering if it's in my best interest to become a nurse. I have young children and it's important to me that I be there for them. I would hate to have the cancer come back sooner than later and not be around for my children. Regardless, with my particular problems, I can't help thinking that perhaps this career will only exacerbate these chronic conditions of mine.

As it is, I now have a big school tuition bill looming over my head and I've worked hard to get to where I am. I thought I'd write here to get some objective feedback. Should I continue school? I doubt the stress level goes down (at least the first few years of work while you're still learning the ropes as a new nurse). Any thoughts?

[applewhitern, BSN, RN]

I am only responding to the "stage one cancer." After my son was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer at age 21, I learned by being with oncologists for the next 8 years, and at MD Anderson, that 75% of cancers have no known cause, and if it is genetic, it can skip many generations before it hits you. Also, at MD Anderson, they told us that nothing you eat, or don't eat, has ever been proved to cause or cure cancer. Also, they told us that stress does not cause cancer, but it can make the cancer worse or grow faster, if you already have it. The only advice I can offer is just be diligent about your screenings.

[Good Morning, Gil]

Oooh, wow. That's a toughie. And, no the stress levels do not go down right away (though they will once you have some experience and are confident!) You will not be comfortable in your new position for a year (well, depending on the position, may take less in other areas. I know it took me about 6 months to really feel confident in rehab and feel like I could handle anything thrown my way). If you can land a non-stressful area like outpatient or lower acuity area, then you will most likely adjust quicker. I can tell you, though, that I have been an ICU nurse for just a few months, and while I am confident in myself and the decisions I make, I am not yet completely comfortable (it just takes time). I come home from time to time wondering what I did wrong or forgot, but I know that will lessen as I become more confident (but I have learned to try to keep work at work; this is crucial to your survival in nursing and health lol). I can tell you, though, that my anxiety has gone down since I got off orientation (if that makes sense, I was more anxious being evaluated/watched constantly, being corrected, etc but was a necessary component of my training and has made me a better prepared nurse; now that I am on my own, I feel much better, but that's not the same with everyone. Most people feel more anxious when they're on their own lol; I don't b/c I feel that I can ask for help if I need it, but otherwise, I'm free to use my own routine, etc).

Anyway, with your anxiety and physical ailments, I would not suggest starting out in ICU or ER as a new grad; this will only exacerbate things, and it's not to say you're not capable, just may not be the healthiest option for you.

Also, nursing school is stressful (part of the whole being evaluated thing, but once you get comfortable with your instructors, and they are comfortable with your knowledge/skills, it gets better.

This really is only a decision you can make, but yes, nursing is stressful, just is by nature of the profession, but you most certainly don't have to choose the most stressful areas. There are areas in which you can practice that are pretty laid back, like rehab, for instance. I worked there as a new grad, and while it took some adjusting with time management, it was a very routine job (with occasional emergencies); you walk in there knowing what to expect, but your patient ratio is higher, too, than in the hospital, so it's not without its challenges (staffing, etc).

Only you know what's best for you, but my main point is: there are nursing areas that are not stressful. You don't even have to work at the bedside if you don't want to after a few years, and new grads have landed clinic jobs, public health, etc. Or you could work your one year at the bedside, and if it's that unbearable, maybe try home health (though that has its challenges, too, but maybe you'd do better on a 1:1 basis). I met a lady once on vacation that does home health, and she watches the same person every day, and she said it beats the hospital hands down, she's never stressed, and enjoys her work. Not everyone enjoys the hospital (I do), but if you don 't, why force it? You don't have to work in a hospital if its not your cup of tea and just makes you too anxious.

I wish you the best! I think just being a new nurse causes some anxiety anyway (even if you're not typically anxious), so take heart; you're not alone there. You have quite a lot going on health wise, so only you really know what's best. You can even do nursing work that's not with patients (and just in an office setting) if you end up finding patients are stressing you out.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

yes, the stress will be there as a nurse. I recommend considering a position NOT in a hospital.

[VACnurse]

I am so sorry that you are going through all that. What I would like to tell you is that I just passed my RN exam a couple months ago, and I am a mom of 2 young girls. When I started school, my youngest was 8 months old and still breastfeeding, so I can understand the stress of being a nursing student and mother at the same time. Unlike yourself, I was healthy all throughout so I can't comment on that, but what I can tell you is that after 4 long years of the worst stress of my life because of studying for exams and waking up at 4:30am to get to clinical on time, not to mention having accumulated quite a bit of debt, I can now finally call myself a RN. Because of the pride that my family and friends have for me because of the accomplishment of that HUGE goal, the nightmare of school has become a memory of long ago. I wish you all the best, and trust in yourself that you will make the right decision for you.

[cosmicmama, BSN, RN]

The stress levels will not go down, and that WILL affect your health, IF you let it. The one thing you can change is you. I suggest you find some stress relief techniques that work for you, and try to effectively deal with your anxiety, whether or not you choose to continue with your nursing studies. You are probably correct in thinking that your anxious "personality" has a lot to do with your health concerns. I deal with this a lot in my health coaching practice. Stress relief and positive attitude is a HUGE piece of the puzzle. Ask yourself if you really want to be a nurse. If you do, then you are going to have to do some work on taking care of yourself. Nursing is what it is, and the stress level is always going to be high...it's how you deal with it that matters.

[anotherone, BSN, RN]

for me the stress of being a nurse was A LOT higher than that of a student. never experienced anything like it. and it lasted at that high peak for about 4 months and remained at amoderate level for about 8 months total.

[cosmicmama, BSN, RN]

Stress in general is bad for your health. Even if you don't become a nurse, you are going to continue to encounter stressful situations in your life and it's going to affect your health if you don't learn how to manage your stress.

[carolmaccas66, BSN, RN]

A lot of people on here think that nursing and the medical field is synonymous.

Can I please get one thing clear? Nursing is NOT medicine. If you're expecting to to do more of the medicine side, you will be sorely disappointed.

The stress in the first few years of nursing is unbelievable. I don't recommend new people finishing nursing courses, especially very young people as I don't think their mature enough to handle death & dying for instance. But if you nearly have fin, and think you can work out child care around shiftwork (very hard), then do one year of clinicals and see how you go. You won't know the real nursing until you have your own patient load, or until you start working as a nurse.

It always baffles me on here why people think nursing is the same as medicine. The two are not interchangeable. You will be doing more charting, observing and giving meds of course, not to mention the million other things that take up our time.

IMO you have to give 100% to nursing and study. If u don't you will probably fail and are doing yourself a disservice, as the workload is intense.

[Zaphod, BSN, RN]

not just stress, but hospitals are unhealthy to be in. no natural light, rsome radiatio exposure, might have to go hungry and not pee for 12 hours. Do not by any condition accept night shift-that has been linked to cancer, diabetes etc. Maybe a position in Dr.office. I wonder have you considered some of the therapy positions that have more normal schedule and less stress. physical therapy assistants make almost as much as nurses-just one exhample.

[Fiona59]

Hate to break everyone's bubble but Outpatient Clinics are stressful.

I have friends that work in wound and cataract clinics. They have stress due to surgeons running late, families upset because they've had to wait for their surgery. Facing 50-70 patients (and their families) a day isn't a cakewalk. The clinics in my hospital rarely hire new grads but want experienced surgical services nurses because they are familiar with the wounds and can "read" a patient.

[zebrapants]

I started nursing school in 2007. I was 30. Maybe it's a coincidence, but I started getting gray hairs, noticed more wrinkles, feel anxiety, had trouble sleeping, gained 40 pounds...all of it started in nursing school. I've been to the ER for chest pain. I've had pneumonia twice in a 6-month period. My back hurts. My feet hurt. I am only 34 years old and feel much older. I am crankier, less patient than I used to be. I don't have as much to give to the ones that I love. I am experiencing fertility issues. Again, some of this could be a coincidence, but I never had medical issues until nursing school. If I could do it over, I would do something else. I heard nurses telling me not to become a nurse when I was in school, and I thought they were just burned out, and besides, I couldn't quit because I'd already put so much effort and money into getting my degree. Well now that I know how nursing is, I would have absolutely no problem turning my back on my education and just making peace with the fact that it was a wasted few years. Nothing is ever a waste, by the way, except continuing in something that makes you miserable--so I am working on getting out of nursing. Patients are not the issue, although dealing with them can be difficult at times due to the "system." Administration sucks, they are only watching the money, and middle management is worse...they will squash you just to get ahead, to look like they're cleaning house or getting things done...policies made just to look like progress is being made. Oh and everything falls on the nurse. Families will call you all day long wanting updates because they can't reach the doctor, doctors will call you because they can't reach a different doctor or they want you to do x,y,z...xray, ultrasound, pharmacy, NO ONE knows how to contact the doctor except for the RN, apparently. Sorry to be so blunt, but nursing is not kind to those of us who take things to heart or get anxious, or who love our families more than our jobs. Good luck.