Not sure if nursing if for me

[nhunt]

I am 32 and recently returned to college about a year and a half ago. I have changed my major many times because I cannot seem to choose a career path. I do know, however, that I want to be in a medical field. I just recently decided to try nursing and finished up all my pre-reqs. I just applied for the spring evening program and should hear if I am accepted by mid to late Oct. I am currently taking a CNA course to kill time and get some patient care experience and I absolutely hate it. I find myself shaking before walking into clinicals. I'm worried that maybe nursing is not for me and I should try cardiovascular tech instead. I just want to pick something and stay with it because I want to finish school so my husband and I can start a family. I know that being a CNA and being a nurse is completely different but I can't help feeling doubt. Am I overreacting? Does anyone else have similar thoughts? Any response would be helpful because my family and friends are tired of listening to me haha.

[Flexx]

After working as a CNA you should be able to gauge your feeling better

[Mulan]

You absolutely hate it and are shaking before walking into clinicals? I think that would tell me something.

There are other areas to go into.

If I had to do it again, ultrasound tech would sound good to me.

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Sometimes we simply need to take a leap of faith in certain situations. One of the only surefire ways of knowing if nursing is really for you is to complete a nursing program and work as a nurse.

However, if you currently dislike hands-on patient care, and your heart is telling you that you'll never enjoy it, perhaps you should make your exit now before investing too much time and effort into a losing battle.

Other allied health fields that are 'hot' include health information technology and medical records. These careers are burgeoning due to the mass roll-out of electronic medical records. Also, they do not require hands-on patient care.

Look up RHIA certification and see if it interests you. Good luck to you!

[ronchelednik]

If you "absolutely hate it" your words, going to school to be a CNA why would you even think for a moment that you could be a nurse? Nursing is not for you. Do something else.

[RN403, BSN, RN]

From a different view point of the other posters...it is possible to dislike working as an aide yet enjoy working as a nurse. The duties of a nurse aide are within the RN's scope of practice so it is important to remember that you might have to complete these tasks while working as a nurse.Some facilities and floors may not utilize aides so you would have to take on their tasks as well. Just something to keep in mind.

the best way in my opinion, besides working as a nurse, to gain some insight into being a nurse...shadow. Try to shadow a nurse if you can and allow your findings to guide you. Best wishes.

[Cali2015]

I might first try to pinpoint what it actual is about the CNA work that you don't like. I would also want to know if the fear is just due to the unknown or something else. If you are in a bridge program, you'll complete your LPN/LVN year first with the NCLEX exam. You could then decide if you want to continue on to RN or if you prefer to switch gears and do something else. If you want to stay in the health care field, you'll already have your science pre-reqs finished and changing majors might be easier.

[TexasRN75]

Are you doing clinicals in a nursing home setting? Do you think maybe that's what you don't like about it? Just because you don't like that doesn't mean that you won't be a good nurse. I agree with the previous poster. Look at what aspects of your clinicals that you don't like. I had a nursing instructor that told us, "I don't like working with old people. It's not my thing." She worked in nursery. She was able to find her niche. If you truly want to be a nurse, then you will find your niche too. Good luck to you in whatever you decide to do. :)

[Been there,done that, ASN, RN]

" I find myself shaking before walking into clinicals". Please realize... you are there to learn.

If you are feeling this way before walking into CNA clinicals... times that by a thousand when you are walking into nursing clinicals . It's SCARY.. and that's okay.

I don't feel you are overreacting... you just are just quite unsure of yourself.

I was TERRIFIED during clinical rotation as a student nurse. Saw it as .. being dressed up as nurse.. on Halloween.( ended up A okay) !

I hope you will .. take deep breaths.. learn from you instructor, fellow students, and PATIENTS. Finish your CNA course... and go from there.

Then decide if you can do this.I was 32 when I graduated ....I'm betting you can.

[jema1990]

You mentioned shaking before clinicals? Are you nervous? Do you hate it because you hate any feelings of failing you may have or do you hate what you're doing? I feel like those are two very different things...and the former doesn't mean nursing isn't for you. I work on a cardiac icu floor and had HUGE panic attacks when I first began...and I worked med/tele beforehand. If you shake/feel nervous because of tremendous pressure you're putting on yourself...you can work through it. I promise. And you can do anything in nursing...from patient care to teaching to consulting to public health to administrative work and beyond if the bedside turns out not to be for you. Try and figure out why you feel bad...and that will lead you in a solid direction :)

[Student Mom to Three]

I hated CNA training, but had to have it for acceptance into nursing school. Really, really hated it.

Love nursing!!

It would be important to explore why you dislike CNA work. For me (and I may get flamed for this) I really dislike assisting with ADLs. I don't want to feed, toilet, ambulate or provide oral care for pts. Obviously I do it with a smile when I need to......but it is maybe once a month or less that I have to attend to that sort of thing.

What kind of nursing works for me? Procedures! Love it! Several different pts throughout the day, lots of education and calming patients who are nervous, providing moderate sedation. Good stuff!

Although CNA work is important because you go have to know how to do those things and to relate to pts on that level, you don't have to enjoy aid work to find a nursing job you love!

Good luck.

[Student Mom to Three]

If you "absolutely hate it" your words, going to school to be a CNA why would you even think for a moment that you could be a nurse? Nursing is not for you. Do something else.

No even remotely true.