Nursing School Not For Me

Published

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 waited a year to get into Physical Therapy and once I got into the program hated it! I got out after one semester and used the science background to become a teacher and I love it. Been teaching for 27 years.

Nursing isn't for everyone I think you definitely have to get "The Call."

2
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Nursing isn't for everyone I think you definitely have to get "The Call."

I don't know if you have to have a calling. In fact, I'm pretty sure you don't. But you probably shouldn't hate it and want to run screaming from the classroom.

Anybody out there who wished you had headed for the parking lot in nursing school but still went ahead and got the degree/diploma? If this applies to you, how long ago did this happen and how do you feel about your decision now?

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Wow, reading this thread is a bit alarming to me. Right now me and my classmates are doing our prereq's but I'm the only one that has zero hospital, clinic, patient experience. I feel like maybe I'm naive about what I'm getting into. I'm changing careers, I'm almost 30, and I feel like this is my last chance to go to school and do something else before I get older. My parents are both RNs and that's what inspired me. I guess I should try to shadow them or do volunteer work.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Willowita: definitely shadow! You need to know what you're getting into. For some people, it's perfect, but for me I struggled a lot with how fast-paced everything was, how often you're just thrown in and have to figure out how to make things work. You have to critically think quickly and make decisions quickly and effectively, something I'm just not good at. I love caring about and helping people, but the actual skills/hands-on part of the job is the part that I'm not good at. I actually had one professor ask me if I was ADD or if I'd been home schooled, neither of which was true (and I don't even understand why being home schooled would make me bad at my job :-/).

*disclaimer: I have not yet had a nursing job, I'm a new grad and I'm seriously considering changing careers after my experiences in nursing school, so, the following is just my :twocents: :) it may be biased lol*

Nurses work long hours, sometimes evenings/nights, often every other weekend and holiday, and it's physically demanding, involves lots of bodily fluids and risk for contamination, and can be stressful and emotionally draining. If you don't love nursing, these aspects of the job might get in the way of your sense of satisfaction with the job. Of course, if you can handle that for a few years, you can eventually move on to other areas of nursing with better hours or away from the bedside all together, but you're going to have to put in those years first. Oh, and as a new grad, it's really hard to find a job so you might have to start in an area you don't like first.

whew...my posts are chronically too long. sorry! :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If a student is dreading the fact even GOING to class, there's a lot to be said. If they've made their decision that nursing school isn't for them, just let them be...Telling them to "tough it out" is only going to worsen what they're going through. Cut your losses!!! You can leave without regretting it! I 've gone to classes with nursing students that DON'T even have a rudimentary grasp of the English language, or can hardly do math. Cheaters, whiners, those that are going into nursing for the money are now commonplace. If you're not happy, get out. NOW.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'll lay out our core classes and rotations.

Foundations: 9 days. 8 hours each. Worked out to about 5.5 hours of patient time. All nursing home.

Acute Care: 9 days. 8 hours each. Worked out to about six hours of patient time. 2 days ER. 1 day ICU. 1 day wound care. 4 freakishly boring days on med/surg.

OB/Peds: 4 days. 8 hours each. OB. The peds part: one 12 hour day.

Complex Care: Don't know. Haven't taken it. It's supposed to focus on emergency and critical care departments.

Psych: no rotations. Did a 4 hour chemical dependency unit observation.

Community Health. 90 hours. The number of days doesn't really matter as long as we "see" 5 specialty areas. Some other elements and projects are figured into those hours so we actually only do around 45 hours (give or take) of time in a clinical area all of which are observational.

Management: Don't know. Haven't taken it. Supposedly we'll schedule it ourself although I haven't a clue what we'll actually be doing.

Ancillary classes: pharmacology, pathophysiology, issues/trends, research methods, geriatrics, and something else of a bland nature that I can't remember.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I understand what you are saying. No. I'm not a nurse and hats off to those who are! I am a CNA who will be graduating with a BA in sociology. I'm looking to get back into health care some how. I miss human anatomy and medical terminology I once studied as a medical office administrator.

I too am contemplating going back into nursing, but not sure. I know I like being a cna minus the pay and the heavy lifting and night and weekend work. I wanted to become a health educatior, but realize in todays economy their the first to get cut. Someone else told me RNs get most of those jobs.

So I'm confused too. I didn't know I wouldn't like social work until now. Sitting in an office all day on a phone shuffling papers. I thought about other programs, but none of them have the opportunities that nursing do.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Wow, it was great to read all of your posts. I actually feel a lot better about my decision. I spoke with the dean and she understood and withdrew me from nursing school. I got all of my money back. I feel a little bit of guilt because I have worked pretty hard the past 3 years on getting into nursing school and my family was really counting on me. I packed up all of my things and moved to a big city by myself so I was also super lonely which added to the feelings. I was trying to convince myself to stay, but it got to the point where I couldn't go against myself anymore. I was having to call my family in order to hear phrases like "you can do it" or "it's only 2 years and you will get your Bachelor's degree". And in my head it sounded good; like I will have a Bachelor's degree and job security, but that's no way for me to live. For me, nursing was a dream based on assumptions. I'm just glad that I realized this now rather than a semester down the road or even graduation.

1
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac Critical Care.
If a student is dreading the fact even GOING to class, there's a lot to be said. If they've made their decision that nursing school isn't for them, just let them be...Telling them to "tough it out" is only going to worsen what they're going through. Cut your losses!!! You can leave without regretting it! I 've gone to classes with nursing students that DON'T even have a rudimentary grasp of the English language, or can hardly do math. Cheaters, whiners, those that are going into nursing for the money are now commonplace. If you're not happy, get out. NOW.

Just to clarify, I was not in any way trying to tell you to "tough it out" ... I really was just curious to hear your insights about what you disliked about nursing school. To be totally honest, I feel like I know what I'm getting into but it's always good to hear the opposite opinion (i.e. what's NOT so great about being a nurse) so that I know I'm making the right decision for me (although I'm sure I am)... I am familiar with the hospital environment and read a lot on these boards about the negatives of nursing and have weighed them carefully, but I am curious what your take on it is :) I hope you didn't think I was trying to negate your opinion!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Wow, it was great to read all of your posts. I actually feel a lot better about my decision. I spoke with the dean and she understood and withdrew me from nursing school. I got all of my money back. I feel a little bit of guilt because I have worked pretty hard the past 3 years on getting into nursing school and my family was really counting on me. I packed up all of my things and moved to a big city by myself so I was also super lonely which added to the feelings. I was trying to convince myself to stay, but it got to the point where I couldn't go against myself anymore. I was having to call my family in order to hear phrases like "you can do it" or "it's only 2 years and you will get your Bachelor's degree". And in my head it sounded good; like I will have a Bachelor's degree and job security, but that's no way for me to live. For me, nursing was a dream based on assumptions. I'm just glad that I realized this now rather than a semester down the road or even graduation.

That's good news only if you can tolerate the job. If you can't, it's more like a prison sentence.

Glad you were able to get a full refund. Maybe your pre-reqs will have some other application that won't make you crazy. Education is never wasted.

I'll bet you feel like a boulder is off your back. Enjoy your life and find out what you were meant to do. :up:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac Care.

Get out while its still early. Believe me I have thought about it myself a few times too. Every thought of Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy or Social Work. Lots of your pre and co reqs are required for those classes as well.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Inursing isn't for you, then it isn't for you. You know you best! If you want an allied health career maybe Respiratory Therapy (I used to do that....Respiratory is a great field), or maybe medical laboratory technoloy (many people overlook this but I have friends in that area and they love it).

P.s nursing school isn't the greatest cause they take up all your time....but the clinicals are great....it makes me say yup this is for me.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion