Is nursing school worth it?

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Hi. I am a first semester Junior. I am wondering if nursing school is worth it. I am in a 4 year BSN program and I am worn out. I have so much homework and stress I can't eat, and I am tired all the time. The stress is taking a toll on my mental and physical health. I am just not sure all the strain is worth it. Any advice?

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The answer depends in how much you want to be a nurse. If you want it badly enough, you'll go through anything. I did an accelerated program: my week was 3 days of 10-12 hour clinicals, 2 days of 8-10 hours of classes, and we had papers to write on the weekend and had online quizzes and tests due on Sunday nights. I literally gave myself Sunday afternoon off, and that was it! I drove 1 to 1 hour and 40 minutes one-way to clinical sites. I know exhaustion. I almost fell asleep behind the wheel more than once. But I wanted it that badly. Do you want it that badly?

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Specializes in Med/surg, Onc.

If you want to be a nurse it is! This is temporary, this too will pass.

Nursing school is brutal, really brutal. Sometimes the job is brutal too but it's so incredible and amazing that it is so worth it. I didn't start nursing school til I was married and had a kid, which made it even more difficult.

I graduated in December and this first year of being a nurse is tough but there are days I leave work and I'm amazed that I'm lucky enough to get paid to do this, something I love. I touch lives EVERY day. And yes sometimes I cry and I'm overwhelmed but it's worth it for me.

I worked very hard to be a nurse but school was just a small piece of it. Being a nurse is something I was put here to do.

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I am a single mother of two small children and i work going to school for a bsn..some days i cry because I'm so overwhelmed...with that bring said i LITERALLY can't imagine anything else but becoming a nurse...its all about how bad you want it. Good luck

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Thank you for the feedback. I needed a little boost of reassurance. I saw a lot of posts on how the job is even harder than school and it really got to me. NewYorkerGirl, I drive 45 minutes to campus for every class, and on Mondays I get up at 6 am have class until 2:30, then drive an hour to my clinical site (hitting like 20 stop lights on the route there) and then an hour back home only to do it all again at 5 am. It is good to know I am not the only one dealing with the exhaustion and that it is normal.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

Nursing school sucks there is no denying that HOWEVER would I go back and do it all over again? ABSOLUTELY. Becoming a nurse was the best decision I have ever made, I love going to work. Are there bad days? you betcha. Being a nurse is who I am and I sometimes look at myself in the mirror and think holy moly I am a nurse ( I have been a nurse for almost four years). After all the sweat, tears, stress, anxiety realizing you did it is sometimes hard to wrap your brain around.

If you want you can do it!!!!

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

Yes, it is worth it. I know it seems like forever but look at where you are! You are already a junior & I promise you this time will fly by. I plan on going back to school to get my ADN & not stopping there. Good luck in school!

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Thank you all! I made it through my Junior year in one piece. Needless to say it was one heck of a hard year. I start my senior year next week Monday. Knowing this is my last year I hope will keep me strong and pushing forward. I am excited to announce I interviewed for a dedicated education clinical one-on-one with a nurse and got the position. I look forward to new challenges. I know this year will be difficult and I appreciate all the support.

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