Is it worth taking time off from school if I dont love it?

UniqueUserName · Oct 24, 2018

I think if you take time off, you probably won't go back. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. If nursing isn't for you, then leave it. Find something else that will make you happy! With that being said, it would probably be a better idea to just finish the program and then decide if it's what you want to do. You have already made it this far, it's not a long program, just finish! There are so manybarea's of nursing that you can get into, you might find one that you like.

quarterlifemess, ADN, RN · Oct 24, 2018

I think you owe it yourself to take a semester/quarter off if you are questioning yourself. I think it would be better to question your decision now before shelling out the money for an ABSN then afterword and be stuck with the debt. I would not take a full year off though as material will be a little fresher in your mnd from your first class(es). If you decided to pursue something other than nursing only taking a semester/quarter off will allow you to still be familiar with 'school mode'.

Horseshoe, BSN, RN · Oct 28, 2018

FWIW, I haven't met many people who actually "loved" nursing school. There should be very little expectation that nursing school should be "fun." And real jobs, nursing or otherwise, are often "not fun." That's why it's called work.

But that's different from hating every minute and finding no personal satisfaction/fulfillment from a job. Just be sure you can distinguish the difference.

johsonmichelle · Oct 29, 2018

Long story short, I thought I always wanted to go into the medical field. I graduated with a degree in biology in May, and started an ABSN program in September (after months of working on applications). A month before the program started I got cold feet, and questioned if I actually wanted to do this. I work as a CNA in a LTC and I absolutely hate it, and get anxiety going into work. I am still questioning school as well. I dont particularly enjoy the classes, and Im finding it hard to see myself working as a nurse, especially because it seems we are all being funneled into hospital nursing. My first clinicals have been in maternity, and I feel like I should be enjoying it, but Im not. I know there is so much more going on, but all I can see is pass meds, educate, and change dressings.
My long term goals used to be to get my masters and become an NP, but I dont know if I can make it to that. My school allows us to take up to one year of personal leave from the program, and I am debating doing that after this semester. I am just nervous because I dont know what I would go into otherwise, and on some days I do enjoy the classes Im taking and the idea of nursing. My family is also telling me that if I stop school, Ill never go back. Ive been talking to my advisor, and I guess I just feel stuck. I have no idea what I want to do.

I would recommend you complete the program. In my opinion, nursing school and the real world is nothing alike. When I was in nursing school , I did not enjoy it but now that I'm a nurse, looking back , nursing school was not that bad. Even if you don't like nursing, you can use your degree to transition into something else.

NICUismylife, ADN, BSN, RN · Oct 30, 2018

#1. If you take a break, you will probably never go back.

#2. CNA in a LTC is NOTHING like RN in an acute care setting.

#3. What is is about that classes that you "don't enjoy?" As someone else mentioned, RN school is not fun for anyone. It's hell. Pure hell. But I have to say that the material was fascinating to me. If you find that you are not interested in the human body, pathophys, disease processes, treatment plans, etc. then the medical field is definitely not for you in any capacity and it's probably best to look into another field. However, if you find that the content is interesting, but the workload, or presentation, or expectations are what you aren't enjoying, well, that's just nursing school for you, and it's only a short period of time that is well worth the sacrifice.

#4. If RN is not your dream, but your dream requires becoming an RN as a stepping stone (i.e. if you want to be an NP), then you have to suck it up, and complete that stepping stone.

#5. If NP is your goal but you don't want to actually work as an RN, have you considered becoming a PA instead? The amount of schooling is similar, and you go straight into the profession rather than having to put in time as a beside nurse. I believe the pay is comparable as well. Something to consider.

I went to nursing school knowing that I wanted to work with sick infants in the NICU. Basically, I learned about 2 weeks worth of stuff that pertained to my chosen field in nursing school. The rest of the program was dedicated to adults. It was hard. But I put my nose to the grindstone, did my very best, and suffered through 2 years of taking care of adults (shudder). It was worth every single second. I look forward to going to work every single day. I am passionate about my career and I can't imagine doing anything else. If you know in your heart that you want to be an NP, then I promise you, you will look back on nursing school and your bedside nursing career and be thankful that you made the sacrifice to get to the rewarding career that you dreamt of.