Not So Sure About This

raynefall · Feb 18, 2004

Hey there. I need some advice. I am in my 2nd year of a BSN program. I have all my prereqs done and am set to start clinicals in the fall. But, I dont know if I want to be doing this. I am terrified of the stress of nursing, getting fussed at, and holding people's lives in my hands. I have been considering dropping out of the program and going to a community college to get a veterinary technology degree. But I feel that would be a wast since I am halfway to a bachelors degree. My husband is very supportive and said to do whatever I want to do as long as I am happy about it. But, vet techs make way less than RN's but they have way less stress to deal with. And for some reason animal poop, vomit, and insides dont bother me at all like people's do. Can someone who is in clinicals give me some insight? I dont know what to do. I am not a person who deals well with intense stress, so I am not sure if nursing will work. But I love learning about anatomy and medical stuff. That is why I havent quit yet.

I don't know one person who wasn't/isn't terrified of the stress of nursing, getting fussed at, and holding people's lives in their hands...these seem like normal feelings to me. *shrug* I think you should stick it out, however, maybe you should become a cna first and go from there.

prairiegirl · Feb 18, 2004

I don't know one person who wasn't/isn't terrified of the stress of nursing, getting fussed at, and holding people's lives in their hands...these seem like normal feelings to me. *shrug* I think you should stick it out, however, maybe you should become a cna first and go from there.

I dont think getting a CNA would do me any good. I am halfway to a BSN. Plus, I dont think a CNA job would be stimulating enough for me. I like to be challenged and use knowledge. That's why I started in RN and not another level of nursing. I cant take steps back either. College is too expensive and my husband and I want to start a family after I graduate and work a while. I dont want to prolong how long it takes me to graduate.

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Feb 18, 2004

Only you really can make this decision. I am still doing pre-req's but I can only imagine anything new is going tobe scarey! Gosh, I was petrified when I brough my first baby home from the hospital (talking about having a life in your hands....).

I am still debating as well whether I want to do nursing or go the MD or PA route....there are many factors to think about and you need to think honestly about it all for *you*. What do you really want to do?

I love learning about anatomy and all that as well, and am not sure if Nursing is for me yet 100%. So I can somewhat relate. Have you ever thought about teaching?

Marilyn

prairiegirl · Feb 18, 2004

Only you really can make this decision. I am still doing pre-req's but I can only imagine anything new is going tobe scarey! Gosh, I was petrified when I brough my first baby home from the hospital (talking about having a life in your hands....).
I am still debating as well whether I want to do nursing or go the MD or PA route....there are many factors to think about and you need to think honestly about it all for *you*. What do you really want to do?
I love learning about anatomy and all that as well, and am not sure if Nursing is for me yet 100%. So I can somewhat relate. Have you ever thought about teaching?
Marilyn

I"ve thought about teaching in college level. My husband and I hold strong beliefs against public schools, and there are few private schools nearby. So teaching primary is out of the question. I suppose I should volunteer at a hospital or something, but the thought scares me. Maybe nursing is not a good idea...........

raynefall · Feb 18, 2004

I dont think getting a CNA would do me any good. I am halfway to a BSN. Plus, I dont think a CNA job would be stimulating enough for me. I like to be challenged and use knowledge. That's why I started in RN and not another level of nursing. I cant take steps back either. College is too expensive and my husband and I want to start a family after I graduate and work a while. I dont want to prolong how long it takes me to graduate.

Ooops....I tend to skim the posts instead of reading everything. Like the poster above wrote, you need to make the decision yourself. I know how expensive college is but if you don't think you can do nursing then don't do it...life is too short for you to be doing something you don't like. Good luck in choosing the right path.

marilynmom, LPN, NP · Feb 18, 2004

I"ve thought about teaching in college level. My husband and I hold strong beliefs against public schools, and there are few private schools nearby. So teaching primary is out of the question. I suppose I should volunteer at a hospital or something, but the thought scares me. Maybe nursing is not a good idea...........

When I mentioned teaching I meant *at* the college level. I am a homeschooling mom so I can understand your feelings about public schools (well, at least where I live).

Why does volunteering at the hospital scare you? I think if that does scare you, nursing may not be what you want to do then, unless your just trying to talk yourself out of it because of fears that everyone has. Whatever you do, don't sell yourself short.

Mariln

NICUbabyRN · Feb 18, 2004

You need to do some deeep down soul searching. Why did you decide to go into school for nursing to begin with? Maybe your answer is hidden in that question.

Clinicals are extremely stressful for most people, me included my first year. Maybe you would prefer to work in a doctors office. But, with nursing no matter where you work you never know just what will come in the door.

prairiegirl · Feb 18, 2004

When I mentioned teaching I meant *at* the college level. I am a homeschooling mom so I can understand your feelings about public schools (well, at least where I live).
Why does volunteering at the hospital scare you? I think if that does scare you, nursing may not be what you want to do then, unless your just trying to talk yourself out of it because of fears that everyone has. Whatever you do, don't sell yourself short.
Mariln

I am scared to volunteer, mainly because I dont what to expect. (stupid fear yes, I know). Also, it just hit me what might be going on. My grandad just died 2 weeks ago. And it killed me watching him suffer in the hospital. I dont know if I could watch that and the family in grief. Then again, I guess it is different if its not your family member. I'm thinking I should at least stick it out through one semester of clinicals. I dont want to quit without really knowing. My husband had some good advice for dealing with nasty bodily fluids....."they are only molecules, everything is made of molecules".

Thanks for all the advice,

Laura

iliel · Feb 18, 2004

I'm at the same point you are...just a few months from the core classes and I am taking another path. It's hard...you have to really really look deep inside yourself. You need to look at every option, every reason, it's a hard thing to do. It took me a few months to make this choice, but I am happy with it...it works for ME.

I wish you all the best, don't regret what you choose to do, you are young and can always go back or do something else in the future!

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Feb 19, 2004

Also, it just hit me what might be going on. My grandad just died 2 weeks ago. And it killed me watching him suffer in the hospital. I dont know if I could watch that and the family in grief. Then again, I guess it is different if its not your family member. I'm thinking I should at least stick it out through one semester of clinicals. Thanks for all the advice,
Laura

The fact that you just watched a family member go through the dying process has to be a very big factor in your current feelings. Can you remember feeling anxiety and fear before your granddad's passing? I am reminded that just a couple of weeks before I started my first semester clinical, my mom became very ill. We thought she was going to die. The strain of assisting in her care put me in a crisis about the nursing career path. I was already experiencing the second thoughts that occur to all of us before we start. The cure for the jitters, in my case, was continuing on with nursing school and clinical. It is very true that it's different when it's not a family member.

It's important that you identify what's happening in your life to change your mind about something you obviously felt was an important path in your life to follow. I don't know isn't sufficient. Volunteer. What's the worst that can happen? The world will still spin and tomorrow will still come.

studentnurse74, LPN, LVN · Feb 19, 2004

I don't know if this could be another reason, but I'm also nearly done with pre-reqs. I was really freaked out for a while and wanted to do something different, but found it was only because I've been taking classes on and off for 8 years, and now it's coming down to the wire, so I got a bit panicked. (sp?) Just think about if it's really what you want to do, and keep in mind that there are many different jobs within nursing itself if you don't like one area.