Not sure if I want to stay in the nursing field...in desperate need of advice.

[LPN709]

Hello everyone. I'm in a pretty hard place right now and I would really appreciate some advice. I'm currently an LPN. I graduated last April and received my license in May. I'm also taking my pre reqs for a fast track program. But I'm really starting to regret my decision to pick this path..I had the worst time in school and have never been more miserable in my life. I understand school is meant to be tough...nurses should be tough! But I realized my unhappiness is still here, even after school. Don't get me wrong, I loved the theory portion of school. I was probably the only person who enjoyed a&p, med surg, and even the tests! But the clinical portion was awful! I've always been an introverted person and not super social...this tended to have me targeted by my class mates and make clinicals extra tough and stressful. However, since school I've been so miserable and unhappy my husband sat me down and told me he was worried and thought I was depressed and needed help. We talked some more and he suggested maybe changing career paths since I'm only 20. Well my local community college, which I'm attending now, offers a registered health information technology program. It sounded perfect. I still get to be in the medical field but not have the direct patient care which I loathe. Don't get me wrong nurses are amazing! But I'm thinking it's not for me. The thought of quitting the nursing field made me feel so relieved I almost cried. But I hate that I wasted all my blood, sweat, and tears in LPN school. And I've never actually worked as a nurse. Maybe it's different than school.. I'm just not sure if I should continue with nursing or change paths. I would really appreciate any and all advice!

[THELIVINGWORST, ASN, RN]

Slinkyheadcna why do you feel the need to be so snarky? OP I admire you for being truthful to yourself. At 20 years old you have a world of opportunity ahead of you! I actually think a HIT degree would be an excellent idea. You have an understanding of the medical terminology already. I know that you don't want to be a nurse but I think that perhaps picking up a PT position might allow you to get some experience while you are getting your other degree. I see a lot of hospitals moving to EPIC that are looking for HIT candidates with medical experience. Don't forget about the companies that write the software are looking for people too. Good luck![/quote']

I was not being snarky, I am being realistic. You are 20 years old and you have experience in school only. In real life, things may look differently to you when the pressures of instructors and classmates watching are removed. There is the possibility that you hate ANY field you go into.

People always think the grass is greener on the other side, but the sun shines the same no matter what.