Nursing School A Mistake

Updated:   Published

become-nurse-school-mistake.jpg.6a654c4293082ec964cfc9c1cbf69769.jpg

I decided I wanted to be a nurse a while ago, worked hard and got into a really competitive program. We’re two weeks in and I hate it. It’s a lot of work but that doesn’t bug me that much. I’m really struggling because I don’t think I want to be a nurse. I don’t know what I was thinking getting into this. Everything we cover is just so incredibly unappealing to me. Like, I don’t want to do any of this. It makes me feel even worse that I wasted a space that someone else could have used. I have always been a pretty social person but school is just making me shut down.

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Customer service.
11 hours ago, wogatu said:

I’m really struggling because I don’t think I want to be a nurse.

Finish your first semester then see if you still don't want it. Do your best. 

Which part are you having trouble with? 

Nurses deal with bodily fluids and etc. In some places, they don't have assistants. They do everything. 

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Sometimes it's the fear of it all which throws us for a loop.  I agree w/ the above poster.  Finish this semester and if you truly decide it's not what you want, then exit.

Whatever you decide, I wish you the best!

3
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CEN, Firefighter/Paramedic.
On 9/4/2021 at 12:43 PM, wogatu said:

I decided I wanted to be a nurse a while ago, worked hard and got into a really competitive program. We’re two weeks in and I hate it. It’s a lot of work but that doesn’t bug me that much. I’m really struggling because I don’t think I want to be a nurse. I don’t know what I was thinking getting into this. Everything we cover is just so incredibly unappealing to me. Like, I don’t want to do any of this. It makes me feel even worse that I wasted a space that someone else could have used. I have always been a pretty social person but school is just making me shut down.

Have you done any clinical time yet?  

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×

I would give it some more time! My first quarter of nursing school was the worst. It was so busy and as you said, unappealing. I hated everything we did and I thought I would hate nursing. It got a little better in the second quarter and then way better in the third quarter. Clinicals can suck depending on your interests and where you end up, but if you just work through them and learn what you can, you can move on and eventually find somewhere you actually enjoy being. Plus nursing school is so different from real nursing, so sometimes people just have to power through it.

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Remember,  you don't have to work at the inpatient setting. You won't make as much money in outpatient, but it's an option (Just make sure you have no desire to work in a surgery center, as a travel nurse, etc.) 

At least finish the semester. Can you get to the LPN level in your program?

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

I kind of disagree with other commentators.   Nursing school is hard, very hard. It takes up a lot of time and you have to be passionate about reaching your end goal. I know many people who have failed through subjects Because they don't have the time to dedicate to it. It can be very challenging obtaining your RN. Bachelor's was easy and master's for NP is challenging. None of it was bad as nursing school though. 

Which leads me to working as a nurse. Floor nursing in the hospital is very hard.  Every one is super excited when they 1st start but as time goes on you realize you hate your job. Every year of nurse burnout? Well, it's real and most nurses reach that point after 2 years. That's a very short time to experience burnout. Hospitals have high turnover for good reason. Outpatient might be better but the pay sucks. At least in hospitals you can get overtime,  that's where you make majority of your money.

I also have friends who are leaving the profession. There's a lot of dirty work that nurses do. Oh, not to mention you'll have quite a few run-ins with people who are mean. Established nurses really do eat their young. They're mean because they're burnout too. It's a vicious cycle.

So my point is if you don't like it now, you may be better off looking for something that you do enjoy. Get into something that excites you! There are so many careers out there,  you just need to find one that you're passionate about. Knowing what I know now,  I would not re-choose nursing as my profession. 

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Operating Room Charge Nurse.
On 9/7/2021 at 1:53 PM, rion35 said:

I kind of disagree with other commentators.   Nursing school is hard, very hard. It takes up a lot of time and you have to be passionate about reaching your end goal. I know many people who have failed through subjects Because they don't have the time to dedicate to it. It can be very challenging obtaining your RN. Bachelor's was easy and master's for NP is challenging. None of it was bad as nursing school though. 

Which leads me to working as a nurse. Floor nursing in the hospital is very hard.  Every one is super excited when they 1st start but as time goes on you realize you hate your job. Every year of nurse burnout? Well, it's real and most nurses reach that point after 2 years. That's a very short time to experience burnout. Hospitals have high turnover for good reason. Outpatient might be better but the pay sucks. At least in hospitals you can get overtime,  that's where you make majority of your money.

I also have friends who are leaving the profession. There's a lot of dirty work that nurses do. Oh, not to mention you'll have quite a few run-ins with people who are mean. Established nurses really do eat their young. They're mean because they're burnout too. It's a vicious cycle.

So my point is if you don't like it now, you may be better off looking for something that you do enjoy. Get into something that excites you! There are so many careers out there,  you just need to find one that you're passionate about. Knowing what I know now,  I would not re-choose nursing as my profession. 

I agree with this. I started second guessing if I wanted to be a nurse my sophomore year of college and wished I would have listened to myself. I found the subjects I studied fascinating but hated actually working on the floor. People kept telling me to stick with it and try it out for a few years. Thankfully, my last clinical in nursing school was in the OR and that gave me a taste of a different type of nursing. I'm happy working as a nurse in the OR but if I could go back in time I would not pursue nursing. 

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ER, Pre-Op, PACU.

I hated all of nursing school - I couldn’t wait to finish. Two miserable years….saying that nursing is nothing like nursing school but is very hard and stressful - in a different way. One way or another….2 weeks in is not enough time to make a decision.

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×

You may find that you hate many things nursing related while in nursing school, and then while working as a nurse. You may find nursing school very challenging, or you may find it silly and inane. Either experience can make you want to peace out. However, what kept me going were two things; one, I liked working with patients a lot, and two, I know exactly what my career goals are. Knowing your "why" will get you through almost any crummy experience. Figure out what yours is! 

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Chamberlain Nursing student.
On 9/4/2021 at 12:43 PM, wogatu said:

become-nurse-school-mistake.jpg.6a654c4293082ec964cfc9c1cbf69769.jpg

I decided I wanted to be a nurse a while ago, worked hard and got into a really competitive program. We’re two weeks in and I hate it. It’s a lot of work but that doesn’t bug me that much. I’m really struggling because I don’t think I want to be a nurse. I don’t know what I was thinking getting into this. Everything we cover is just so incredibly unappealing to me. Like, I don’t want to do any of this. It makes me feel even worse that I wasted a space that someone else could have used. I have always been a pretty social person but school is just making me shut down.

Someone in my class our second session said “I’m a nurse why are you teaching me to change bed pans, nurses don’t do that” , and the teacher had to turn off her zoom screen because she laughed so hard ? some ppl just don’t realiE what it entails but do know that there are millions of different positions it doesn’t necessarily have to be bedside nursing. 

Up Vote Up Vote ×
On 9/4/2021 at 12:43 PM, wogatu said:

Everything we cover is just so incredibly unappealing to me. Like, I don’t want to do any of this.

If you don't enjoy the subject matter that is a red flag.

May I ask what kind of thoughts you had about nursing before you started the program? At one point you felt you really wanted to pursue nursing. It's worth asking yourself what has changed or why your feelings have changed. For example, "I thought nursing was about X but I can see now that it's about Y and I don't enjoy Y." Or, "I thought nursing was about X but I can see it's about Y and I'd rather do something that is more like X."

We might be able to offer more relevant comments/advice if you can pinpoint what has changed a little more.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion