New nurse assistant but already want to quit

Davey Do · Nov 6, 2017

I'm so sorry that you are miserable and depressed and falling behind in your classes, amz93, but it seems you've answered your own enquiry:

I want to quit so bad because I know it would make me happier.

Nursing is not for everyone and sometimes we have to have a wake up call.

Can someone please give me advice. I don't know what to do.

It's not that you're a failure, it's just that maybe Nursing is not your calling. Joseph Campbell encourage us to find our bliss; that which refreshes us, inspires us, and give us energy. Otherwise we will continually have to swim against the tide, forever struggling with our situation.

Now, if we can identify what exactly our obstacles are and overcome them we can transcend where we are and gain insight and a higher consciousness. This is not an easy task, but the rewards are monumentous.

We need to ask ourselves why we feel negatively toward those things and deal with our feelings. Usually we negatively feel as we do due to feelings of fear and inadequacy. Facing fears and gaining experience in dealing with those feelings can allow us to overcome. Again, this is not an easy task, it takes time and perseverance.

The very best to you in your endeavors, amz93!

Agatha12 · Nov 6, 2017

If you are miserable and you dont like your job at all then quit. But before you quit is good to get tine to think what you would like to do for life. Quitting without any idea what to do next might not be ideal if you dont have someone to support you financially.

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Nov 6, 2017

If you have been accepted to nursing school, you are one smart cookie. Now you need to be a tough cookie.

Every new job is hard, of course you do NOT know what you are doing. Nobody likes that feeling, but give it time and learn. This is an excellent way to learn patient care.

That being said, you cannot fall behind in your classes. How many hours are you working per week?

nursemike, ASN, RN · Nov 7, 2017

I think you might be prudent to give some honest thought to why you hate your job. Nurse assistant is a tough, tough job in the best of circumstances, but not every circumstance is equal. If more experienced co-workers are drowning, you may just be in the wrong facility. If you're struggling where others are coping fairly well, that's a harder call. You're new enough that it's pretty likely you'll get better at it, but even that's no guarantee you'll get happier. At any level, healthcare entails tasks a perfectly decent, normal person would find disagreeable. Just last night, I had to take a little puke break. But if that weren't at least partly due to the meds I take, or if it happened more than rarely, I'd probably be looking at a different line of work. It wouldn't be crazy to give it a little more time and see how it goes, but there'd be no shame in bailing, either.

Koalified · Nov 7, 2017

Nursing school is tough and stressful. Being a new nurse assistant in a busy unit is stressful both physically and emotionally. Is it possible that you are taking on too much responsibility? Doing well in school is more important than any job that is just a job and not your career. If you are that miserable going into work, I see no reason for you to keep doing it. I have seen many nursing assistants leave my unit just after orientation. We used to be like "Eh, there goes another one". We would also look at a new orientee and take bets on how long he/she was going to last. There's no shame in it. You gotta do what is right for you.

anewsns · Nov 8, 2017

For me personally , my hardest time in nursing was my first 6 months as a CNA. Not as a nurse. I just cried and cried and slept all the time and it was awful. I was like 22. Things got better over time, it's been 10 years in healthcare. Overall it's better to focus on mental health, but maybe just consider why you're doing this and talk to some people to get your thoughts clear . Maybe better to focus on just school for now or hold off another year or whatever solution feels best.

MiladyMalarkey, ASN, BSN · Nov 9, 2017

Have you considered that you may be over stressing yourself? Nursing school is stressful, made more stressful when distracted by a new job doing & doing a new position. I was working full time and going to nursing school full time for the first several weeks and it was very stressful trying to find the time to study and see my kids. Did not do great on first exam because I was not able to study enough for it. Ultimately I dropped down hours and now that is not a stressor anymore because I actually have time to see my kids and adequate time to study and prepare for class.

You need to consider if you can balance work/school adequately or if it's nursing not being for you. Personally, I believe you are overwhelmed and getting a brand new CNA position while also going to school is a bit of an overload at the moment. Do what you need to do to succeed.

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Nov 9, 2017

Is this your first job?

amz93 · Nov 10, 2017

I am only working 24 hours per week but I am on midnights which is definately screwing with me mentally

amz93 · Nov 10, 2017

I think I am taking on too much responsibility honestly. Glad to hear I'm not the only assistant who might bail right away...

amz93 · Nov 10, 2017

It is my first job in healthcare, yes.