Is nursing worth it?

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Is all the stress of nursing school really worth it in the end?

The stress i have experienced has caused me to lose about 4-5 pounds in a matter of 2 months. Ive had frequent migraines, hardly sleep, & just feel overwhelmingly depressed every single day.

I know these things may be common in nursing students, but i was wondering if going through all this is worth it?

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Specializes in critical care, ER,ICU, CVSURG, CCU.

look at your academic journey as an adventure, rather than a daunting task :x3:

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Specializes in Psychiatry, Mental Health.

I'm sorry you're finding school so stressful!

From the symptoms you are describing, I strongly suggest that you see someone at student health or your own family physician. Depression, weight loss, frequent migraines, lack of sleep need to be investigated and treated. (All of them are highly treatable.) Having all these symptoms all or most of the time is not normal.

Is nursing school worth it? It sure was for me. I had a very fulfilling 35-year career. Is it worth it for you? Only you can decide, but deciding while you are stressed out and depressed may not be the best idea. Get yourself checked and also consider talking to a counselor at school. You may want to continue now, you may want to take a leave of absence to get treatment and then return, you may want to quit. All three options are legitimate; it's just a question of choosing what is best for you.

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Specializes in ICU.

I'm not so sure it is anymore. If I hadn't had my parents helping me, and I had come out with student loans instead of being debt free, I probably would have said no. I also think it depends on what area of nursing you're going to enter when you graduate. A lot of my classmates who work in OB say they love their job and going to work every day is a pleasure... that this is so much easier than nursing school, etc. I work in ICU and the realities of nursing are a lot more challenging and more stressful than anything I ever did in school. So there are some areas that will seem like a break after the rigors of school, but there are some areas that are a lot more mentally and physically demanding than school ever was. So, if you're looking for assurance that things will be better for you and less stressful when you graduate, I can safely say that there is no guarantee you will be less stressed and may even be more stressed and worn down than you are now as a student. It's kind of a flip of a coin.

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Nursing school is cake compared to actual nursing.

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Specializes in CVICU.

The short answer is "no".

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Sorry, but it only gets worse in the real world. You are on your own with all that responsibility. I wish I had gone to school for business or something. I am seeking to end my nursing career and cannot wait to get out, I will be on top of the world!!!!

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Was very worth it for me. But you have to decide if it is right for you.

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You really need to do some soul searching and decide if nursing is really what YOU want. Not every body is meant to be a nurse. And that is OK. Do what is best for you. Some people may think that it is not worth it, some people think it is worth it. What you are asking is subjective and you'll get different answers. So just think long and hard about what you want to do. Nursing school is hard but doable.

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Specializes in Med-Surge, Tele, PCU, CVICU, NSICU.

Nursing is worth it if that's what you truly love. It is not one of those professions you can do just for the money (which isn't that great anyways) because you will get burned out and bored and annoyed.

I have days that I absolutely hate it and wish I could go back to fast food....and I have days that remind me why I do it :)

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Specializes in Telemetry, Med-Surg, DOU/Step-Down.

im sure there is not a nurse on this discussion that has felt the same way you do. even when you become a nurse, your first year will be full of tears and stress and you'll want to quit (trust me)! but nursing is a very rewarding profession. you will find what ind of nurse best suits you and work at your own pace. we have tons of autonomy and though working to save lives is never easy, your knowledge will grow and THAT is what will make it easier.

stick it out kiddo! you can do it!

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Specializes in public health, women's health, reproductive health.

I've been having these thoughts off and on lately too. Overall, my instinct is that it is worth it and I am on the right path. However, there are many times when I feel so challenged and exhausted, emotionally and physically, that I begin to question myself. I am going through a rough patch now and I have really had to spiritually center myself to try to rise above the difficult moments. If these moments had happened earlier in nursing school, I might have quit. Probably not, but the option wouldn't have seemed so extreme. I am over half way through now and that is motivation to press on when those times get really hard. I have too much invested in this endeavor and would like to see it through. Obviously it remains to be seen if I will be happy as a nurse. I just don't know.

I want to agree with the suggestion to maybe go and talk to your doctor about how you have been feeling and what is going on with you. I have thought about doing just that and will if my feelings don't get better when this semester ends in a few weeks.

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