Last semester but.. I Hate Nursing!

[mitral]

I really didnt know what I was getting into with nursing. But now that i've had more experience with clinicals, i'm thinking this is not the job for me! I can't stand the idea that if I forget one little thing I can kill someone- literally. (And my memory sucks, let me tell you.) When I started this program I really thought there would be more safe guards for when you are set loose to patient care. All through out schooling I would voice this concern, and they would reassure me with "It's ok, you will be trained to handle all of these situations" well here we are, I graduate in 2 weeks and strongly feel I have not been prepared. I am a 'straight A' student and grasp the concepts well, but most of what we are taught has no use in the real world. I am starting to wonder- are there any degrees where I can apply my nursing credits? Or are there at least any jobs in nursing that are relatively low risk?

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

There are plenty of acute problems that come with school nursing, and this is NOT the place for someone who lacks confidence. In my first year, I had two students with open fractures that ended up requiring surgery, a pregnant mother who slipped and fell in the cafeteria, severe asthma attack requiring 911 call, a teacher with a cardiac history complaining of chest pain...shall I go on? School nursing is not for someone who is intimidated by life and limb threatening illness/injury. There is also what is know as failure to rescue...if you miss something on assessment that you should have caught, and harm comes to the student as a result.

That's all stuff a basic EMT could handle straight out of school.

[Nolander]

I feel what you're saying, OP. I'm in the same boat...sort of. I thought I was going to make a career change when I got into nursing school. I was in a rut with my existing career and wanted something new. I really never went through a formal application process since the program was new the director was taking anybody with a modicum of qualifications. I made a call and got in. I graduate (actually I'm not going) Friday, and I have no desire, at all, to work full-time as a registered nurse. I think the provider role in an outpatient setting is pretty cool, but nurses don't do a lot that I find appealing. I used to be rather interested in medicine and healthcare, but I realize now that nursing is not medicine and am thus disinterested. I'll probably stick with my current career although since last summer I have experienced a renewed vigor and savor going to work. At any rate, I'll take the NCLEX, but I have no intent to apply for a nursing job at least not in the near future.

so have you pondered going to medical school? what about NP, or if you prefer the medical model - PA school.

[lisaannej]

I understand completely. I will be graduating in October. I've learned throughout nursing school that I really dislike bedside nursing. I am much more interested in public health, research, case management, and even psych, which is less bedside. If bedside nursing isn't what you are interested, find other areas that are?

[Ayala]

I hate nursing school, but I love nursing.

Good luck.

[Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN]

That's all stuff a basic EMT could handle straight out of school.

I'm not sure I get your point. The OP is in Nursing School, not EMT school.

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

so have you pondered going to medical school? what about NP, or if you prefer the medical model - PA school.

Yes, I have. Thanks! I'm "supposed" to start a master's program this fall to be a psychiatric nurse practitioner. The sad part is, at some point, I'll need 2,000 hours of clinical experience, which is the equivalent of one full-time year of work, to start the clinical courses. The core such as research, advanced patho, adv. pharm, etc. I can do now. After biding two years in nursing school I can't put forth the time and expense of going to med school and PA school options are so few and far between that it's almost easier to go to med school. I suspect there will be quite a lag between getting my core courses done and entering and completing the clinical courses.

[ImThatGuy, BSN, RN]

I'm not sure I get your point. The OP is in Nursing School, not EMT school.

I'm not surprised.

The underlying point is that an EMT basic is not given a wide array of medical knowlege, however, he is trained in specific medical and traumatic emergencies. That said, they don't work with much beyond bandages and oxygen. I say this having worked as an EMT and paramedic. A school nurse isn't going to have a lot of medical supplies handy to implement a lot of measures so the scenarios presented making the case that a school nurse is a difficult job and not one for a new grad isn't that great.

[Nolander]

Yes, I have. Thanks! I'm "supposed" to start a master's program this fall to be a psychiatric nurse practitioner. The sad part is, at some point, I'll need 2,000 hours of clinical experience, which is the equivalent of one full-time year of work, to start the clinical courses. The core such as research, advanced patho, adv. pharm, etc. I can do now. After biding two years in nursing school I can't put forth the time and expense of going to med school and PA school options are so few and far between that it's almost easier to go to med school. I suspect there will be quite a lag between getting my core courses done and entering and completing the clinical courses.

There are plenty of PA schools around. The and pre-reqs for PA school arent nearly as strenuous as med school. You may have most of the pre reqs completed (a&P, microbiology, chemistry [except one semster of organic is what many PA schools require])

[Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN]

I'm not surprised.

The underlying point is that an EMT basic is not given a wide array of medical knowlege, however, he is trained in specific medical and traumatic emergencies. That said, they don't work with much beyond bandages and oxygen. I say this having worked as an EMT and paramedic. A school nurse isn't going to have a lot of medical supplies handy to implement a lot of measures so the scenarios presented making the case that a school nurse is a difficult job and not one for a new grad isn't that great.

A school nurse is not an EMT. I did not say that a school nurse is a difficult job (it is, but not for the reasons I mentioned. Those are the rare occurrances). I did not say it was not for a new grad (I had less than 6 mos hospital experience before I became a school nurse). I think you need to re-read my post. I was responding to a post that said there are not acute, urgent problems in school nursing. This is untrue. I was also responding to the OP suggesting that school nursing is not for someone who lacks confidence in handling urgent situations, which based on the first post seems to fit the OP.

Not sure why you are debating EMT versus nurse. Completely different settings, scope of practice, and education. An EMT cannot do a school nurse's job in it's entirety, although the training might be useful in the rare emergent event.

[Miss Molly]

Purple Scrubs, I would like to point out that you dumped all over my post without really reading it, so I don't think you are one to criticize. I used the phrase "acute problems that could easily become deadly" and I stand by that. In the context of this thread, the OP expressed worry about accidentally killing a patient because of something she did. Sure, a school nurse will face emergencies that require first aid (basic EMT skills), but you cannot argue that the daily activities of a school nurse are as volitile as those of inpatient nurses. That is what I meant.

[MN-Nurse, ASN, RN]

Or are there at least any jobs in nursing that are relatively low risk?

I wonder if the job is your problem or your desire for comfort is your problem?

Any job, nursing or not, is going to require you to think on your feet and deal with things as they come up for which you might not be fully prepared.

[Purple_Scrubs, BSN, RN]

Purple Scrubs, I would like to point out that you dumped all over my post without really reading it, so I don't think you are one to criticize. I used the phrase "acute problems that could easily become deadly" and I stand by that. In the context of this thread, the OP expressed worry about accidentally killing a patient because of something she did. Sure, a school nurse will face emergencies that require first aid (basic EMT skills), but you cannot argue that the daily activities of a school nurse are as volitile as those of inpatient nurses. That is what I meant.

And I stand by the fact that in school nursing, there is always the possibility that at any second, an "acute problem that could easily become deadly" can arise and as the school nurse, you are the first responder. There is no rapid response, no ICU transfer, no more experienced nurse to get help from. If the OP is looking for "low risk" specialties, this is not it. Just because life threatening emergencies are not a daily occurrance does not mean that the school nurse can be unprepared to deal with them when they arise.

Just for fun, google "School Nurse saves student" and see what happens, or read testimonials on the NASN website. BTW, I love it when someone with no school nursing experience tells me about my job. Good times :)