Not sure if Nursing is for me...?

Editorial Team / Admin · Jan 30, 2015

Since you haven't yet started clinicals, have you tried shadowing a nurse? That may give you a bit more insight into what nurses do during a shift. I also wouldn't set in stone the type of nursing you want to do- I went into school thinking I wanted to do peds or labor & delivery. Guess what- they were my least favorite rotations! Clinicals will also give you a taste of several different nursing specialities, and you may find you want to do something totally different than what you think now- I didn't have any OR exposure until my final semester, and I ended up finding my niche. Have been in the OR since graduation, and currently have no plans to leave.

NICUNurseReady · Jan 30, 2015

Hey there. First of all, let me say I think that it is great that you are able to be so honest about your fears when heading toward nursing school. Nursing is an extremely rewarding field while being terrifying at the same time. Now to your questions. Needles, giving shots used to terrify me too. I was so afraid that I would hurt someone or do it wrong. Once I had my first lab where we practiced giving shots, my fears were entirely dissolved. I received so much satisfication from giving shots that were quick enough to minimize pain while providing medications that my patients needed.

Second, medication dispensing is also a scary thing. It is a lot of pressure and our media loves to portray the moments when serious medication errors occured. Let me tell you this, as a nurse you will learn to have a personal bubble of calm when surrounded by busy and intense situations. Being able to stay calm in these frightening times will help you to be able to calculate doses before administering them.

My biggest advice when you are considering any field is shadow. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life until I followed a nurse and fell in love with nursing. The best part of nursing is the flexibility. Most nurses change fields 8 times during their career so even if you are unsure as to which field you wish to go into, you can always switch later.

Good luck and I hope you find a field you love no matter what it is!

nhookie · Jan 30, 2015

Thank you! I tend to plan a lot so I've been stressing myself out trying to find a specific nursing job that caught my interest, but I'll definitely consider what you said.

Nienna Celebrindal · Jan 30, 2015

I don't know if I have any advice but I have some thoughts and maybe they will help you in some way so I'll share them.

Lots of nurses are terrified of needles and doing all sorts of things, but you do it a few times and you get over it. If you don't the amazing thing about nursing is there are TONS AND TONS of different options as far as what you can do. You do not (and in my humble opinion you should not) have to pick an area of focus while in nursing school. Your taste will evolve. I was convinced I would never want to do anything Cardiac, and for years I didn't and now I love it. I didn't think I could ever do hospice but I loved it and I totally see myself going back one day.

If physical therapy really interests you though maybe that would be a good choice?

windsurfer8, BSN, RN · Jan 30, 2015

If you are not interested in nursing then try to identify why and what DOES interest you. Are you not really interested in dealing with people? Are you not really interested in working nights? Are you not really interested in the medical field? So say you really want to work in a hospital, but don't really want to do bedside nursing. I have a friend who is a cytotechnologist where I work. He works M-F and gets paid basically the same I do. He just looks in a microscope all day. For me..no thanks..but for him perfect fit. If it is just "fear" of figuring it out nursing, but you really want to do it..you more than likely will figure it out and be good to go.