Nursing School Not For Me

ladside, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN · Sep 13, 2011

I just started nursing school last week and am realizing nursing is not for me. I don't like it and it took me 3 years of trying to get to nursing school and now that I am finally here I realize it's not what I want in a career. But, I know that is what life is like sometimes, you have to experience things firsthand before you know. I had this dream of being a nurse and I really didn't even know what the job entailed. It was just the allure of being a nurse I guess. So, I spent the past few years working on my pre-requisites for nursing school and even got my CNA license and started working in long term care. I didn't like that and I didn't like what I saw with the nurses either. But, in my mind I kept telling myself "you got this far just keep going and deal with it" and my whole support system kept saying the same thing. So, a week before nursing school I felt so much anxiety and depression and I really didn't want to even show up. But, I did and now I know for sure that it's just not for me. I literally forced myself to go and even aced my first exam in med calc, but that feeling that I didn't really want to be there still hung in the air. I finally broke down and called my parents crying. I'm lucky I realized this now because I'm still in the window to drop my classes and get a refund. I feel like a quitter and I feel bad about it, but I just can't continue on. Has anyone else experienced this? I definitely would like a career in the health sciences field. I've been looking into physical therapy assistant or occupational therapy assistant to start. Maybe I need to talk to a career counselor as well. Any thoughts anyone? TIA!

I've felt this exact same way for 26 years! Good for you to say no to nursing!!! You just saved yourself lots of sleepless nights, foul language, and the right to wear 'punching bag' across your forehead. As for me, I'm pursuing a BSN so that I can come off the floor. And just today, I received a job offer that looks tremendous on paper except the part behind the dollar sign. But I need a break from the stress. Had I had the chance to do it all over again, I would definitely hold out until I found.....me. God bless you and be happy about your decision. If nursing is ever right for you, you will find your way back. :yeah:

DreamyEyes · Sep 13, 2011

Sounds like you're making the right decision. Don't feel bad that nursing isn't for you, a lot of people go into it not really knowing what it entails and then change their mind after. If you still want to help people, there are plenty of other occupations in the health field.

Good luck to you!

windmill182 · Sep 13, 2011

I say more power to you for having the guts to do what you felt was right. Most people would have just continued to be miserable because of the time put in, or because of fear of what other people will think of them for "quitting." I wouldn't say you "quit." You just made a realization that your skills and knowledge would best be used in another area!

I'm_reilly · Sep 13, 2011

Wow. I thought it was just me!

I too chose nursing without really knowing what I was getting into. When I started nursing school I immediately noticed that I wasn't really enjoying the classes. In fact, I enjoyed my first two years of college so much more than the last two--the part that was nursing school. I'm a really good test taker, and have always gotten above average grades in school, so the tests were never a problem for me and I thought maybe I would like it better if I just gave it a shot. Then clinicals hit. And I was terrible. I struggled throughout nursing school with clinicals. I never felt on top of things, always worse than the other students. I could never remember what we learned in school and I'm not the sort of person who picks up skills after watching them being done only one time. To be honest, I almost failed a clinical because I got behind one day and gave meds late to a patient. D: The whole time I was in school I felt trapped and depressed about nursing. But, like you, I hated the idea of "quitting" and on top of that I had no idea what I would do if I didn't follow through with nursing. So, feeling completely stuck, I finished school, somehow managed to get B's in most of my clinicals and began the job search. After about 1 1/2 years I still don't have a job and I just had an interview in which I couldn't answer most of the interviewers questions with specific examples from nursing school. She told me most new grads would be able to answer those questions which pretty much took away any confidence I had in my ability to be a nurse. Granted, that was the hardest nursing interview I've ever experienced, but I'm starting to face the reality that nursing may not be for me and am starting to look at other careers. I'm a little scared about giving up without really trying it, but at this point I've had two years of clinicals I did not enjoy and over a year without any skill practice. I feel like I need to go through nursing school all over again just to be able to be a competent nurse. :-/

Don't do what I did! Maybe try shadowing a nurse in a hospital for a bit if you haven't had any clinicals. If you don't absolutely love nursing, going through nursing school is a waste of time and money and creates a lot of heartache for you! There has to be another solution! Do something you enjoy, not something that makes you cry when you come home (and believe me, I've done plenty of that too, and my parents kept being supportive that nursing was for me, but I'm not really convinced)

Maybe I'm not the best person to listen to, since I'm going through this right now and I still may get a job as a nurse but at least you know there's someone else who's in a similar situation to you. :)

mangopeach · Sep 14, 2011

DanielleVW, I agree with everyone else. Good thing you realized this now than later.

For I'mReilly, maybe bedside nursing is not for you. The only area of bedside nursing that I have a real interest in is psych nursing. That's what I plan to pursue after I finish school. Eventually doing a Psych CNS or Psych NP program. This is my 2nd career, hated my first and dreaded going to work every day. I am certainly not going to do that this time around. I know bedside nursing outside of psych - is not my thing.

I think nursing has so many options that in your case, I would look at all the ways that I could possibly use my nursing degree and not just in the hospital setting. Clinics? Dr.'s offices? Esthetic Nurse/Derm/Plastic Surgery Nurse? Research? Informatics? Insurance companies( although I think you may need some experience before you can do insurance companies, not sure though)

I think since you've already gone through school, that you should find a niche that you can use your nursing degree other than in the hospital. So much more to nursing than just bedside nursing. Bedside nursing is not for everyone.

AppalachianRNstudent · Sep 14, 2011

It sounds like you are doing the right thing if the thought of nursing makes you that unhappy. I don't think you wasted three years of your life either. Those pre-reqs will count toward something.

Keep your chin up.

sugarmagnoliaRN · Sep 14, 2011

I totally respect your courage to do what you feel is right in this situation. What exactly is it that you don't like about nursing? Just curious to know some details... I am hoping to start school in January.

I'm reilly: have you thought about other areas of nursing like research? What other careers are you considering?

futurenurseya33 · Sep 14, 2011

I might be in the minority with this, but i'm wondering what it is that you don't like. The great thing about nursing is that there is so much you could do with it. If you don't like bedside nursing you could be a clinical/case manager or be in administration. I would give it some more thought. It could be that you're exhausted because there is so much hard work involved. I just started nursing school 4 weeks ago and its nothing like i thought. I never saw this coming!

I'm_reilly · Sep 14, 2011

Mangopeach and Sugarmagnolia018:

ahh yes, I've been considering other options, however, most require experience, sometimes as much as 3-5 years. I haven't found a position in a doctor's office yet that will take a new grad, at least in my state. Informatics, research, insurance and administration all need experience as well, unless I'm mistaken.

I don't really want to waste my degree, so I've been looking at what I can do with it. I definitely think bedside nursing is not for me, however, most other types of nursing require you to put in that time first and I'm just not sure I can do that considering how miserable I was during clinicals. Additionally, I feel like the jobs that get you away from the bedside tend to be desirable and thus have high competition--I feel like nurses with experience looking to get out of the stress of floor nursing would edge me out, if i could even find a job that would be willing to take a new grad who's going on two years out of school with no job experience at all. not even outside of nursing. :-/

thanks for all the ideas though! maybe something will work out.

rn/writer, RN · Sep 14, 2011

I might be in the minority with this, but i'm wondering what it is that you don't like. The great thing about nursing is that there is so much you could do with it. If you don't like bedside nursing you could be a clinical/case manager or be in administration. I would give it some more thought. It could be that you're exhausted because there is so much hard work involved. I just started nursing school 4 weeks ago and its nothing like i thought. I never saw this coming!

This might be good advice for someone who has invested a great amount of time, money and effort into getting their degree and has just started working as a nurse. But this young person dreads even going to classes. I think she is wise to cut her losses and get the heck out of Dodge. Why should she force herself to endure the next few years, knowing that, at the end of the yellow brick road, nursing isn't a good fit for her. Nursing school is hard enough if you are in love with the idea of being a nurse. It has to be torture to go through all of that when you don't.

BTW, many of the alternatives that people offer in place of bedside nursing require years of experience as a staff nurse. They're rarely attainable by someone just starting out.

morningdew · Sep 14, 2011

I started nursing school last year and there was a girl who was in the same position as you. She got into nursing school and realized that she hated it. She withdrew within the allotted time and got her money back. I think that if you really feel that nursing is not for you and that you won't like working as a nurse that you should do what your heart is telling you and withdraw now before investing the time, money, blood, sweat, and tears that it takes to get through nursing school. The girl who withdrew found the right career path for herself where she enjoyed going to school and learning about her chosen major. I wish you the best of luck!