Not so sure I want to be a nurse

RNMom2010 · Oct 30, 2008

Some advice from a gal who has dropped out of a nursing program only to decide that in fact, nursing IS for me and had to wait on a list to get in to another program.....

Before you drop anything RESEARCH till you can't research anymore about different fields you are interested in! Then, if you are 100% sure you want to change fields, drop from nursing.

amarilla, RN · Oct 30, 2008

To be fair...

no one knows your reasons for wanting to be a nurse, or could judge for same even if we knew them.

This is my second career and if I can say anything, it's this:

you can't have it all. If you're going to choose something to pursue, try to think of what will make you happy: a job you can look forward to going in every day. Money, a great title or special perks don't help you sleep at night if you hate your job. Really. (Just one woman's opinion who has been there.)

For example: pay. The more money you want to make, the more sacrifice you'll make, in one way or another. It might be years in school, years of low pay while you prove yourself, no time for your family and endless responsibilities, but it will require a piece of you. Something has to give.

Flexibility: indeed. Some nurses enjoy flexible schedules. Have you also read here how exhausting consecutive 12 hour shifts are? How patient ratios are climbing? How understaffing injures, overtaxes and burns out even the brightest and best nurses?

There is always a trade.

You're absolutely right: nursing is a lot of work. I think you'll find most anything worth something requires a bit of effort. That being said, I wouldn't give up just yet. The volume of information is overwhelming, and I can see where it's intimidating to try to wrap your mind how you'll learn, know and practice these concepts and skills one day. Think instead, though, that all of this information and concepts are taught to prepare nurses to do what we do: care for patients. Nursing offers incredible opportunities throughout a very diverse field; it's very unique that just a few years of education can get your foot in the door to a field which can provide plenty of challenge, education and promotion for those who wish to go further.

If caring for others and a desire to help is what brought you to nursing, you may want to reconsider. Perhaps you can shadow a nurse for a few hours or meet some of the senior student nurses from your desired program for more insight? It might surprise you to know what it's 'really like'.

Best of luck.