Nursing School Not For Me

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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 feel kinda better after reading this thread and you are not alone!. I started my first year September 6th, after going for 2 weeks, I started to realize its not for me and I withdrew my program and got refund. Yes I want to help but at the same time I say to myself that in the future I will probably have no social life with family or friends :S

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I know a girl that said the exact same thing you did. She left school at the end of the first semester and applied to the Physical therapy program. LOVED it.

I'm just saying that don't let the overwhelming aspect of nursing school get to you...make an informed decision.

I did that. I was in a 2 yr ADN program ...it got to me. I left at the end of the first year. Yes, there was a serious illness in my family, I needed to work to support my family because of the illness...but in all honesty I could have gotten loans, asked my parents to help and done other things beside walk away from school but I got scared that I couldn't do it. I should have stayed and finished.

so now I went back. got my LVN...and am transitioning next year to get my ADN...or I may go for my BSN not sure yet.

Either way...I'm saying ..if your not happy with the actual career ...you should leave ....AFTER you have a plan.

I didn't and ended up stuck for 10 yrs... I'm proud I went back..and finished something even if it wasn't the ADN. I'll get there. I'm just taking my time.

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On 9/14/2011 at 7:24 PM, willowita said:

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.

Hey I'm wondering if you ended up become a nurse?

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Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
2 minutes ago, shelz8 said:

Hey I'm wondering if you ended up become a nurse?

The person you quoted hasn't visited the site since 2017, so you likely won't get a response.

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Specializes in Nursing.

Hello everyone!

my name is Alex and I am 26 years old. I have always wanted to work in medical field. I originally wanted to go for medical school but I don’t think I’ll have a the financial ability plus I don’t want to spend that many years of schooling so I decided to go to school for nursing and become an NP at the end of the day. I have worked so hard to get my prerequisite done for nursing program and finally made it into the program. I really enjoyed my prerequisites classes but since I have been in the nursing program (January 2020) I question my decision of going into nursing. I also have gotten my CNA certificate but did not like working as CNA, it’s just not my personality I guess. Now, what scares me about nursing is the amount of stress associated with the job, dealing with paperwork, sacrificing my own health to take care of others and I feel like I may not like it at the end of the day. But I haven’t worked in the healthcare sitting other then a week for my cna certificate. I feel like I like The medical model more than nursing model but as I said going for MD is very time consuming and need a lot of financial support that I don’t have. I have been looking into radiology or cardiovascular technology It sounds like they don’t spend too much time with the patient and I do like working with medical equipment. I’m currently working as machine technicians for an electronic company and I enjoy doing that but I have put so much effort and still am interested to do something in medical field. I’m kinda freaking out at my first semester of nursing.
any advice/ information will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

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First semester is too quick to throw in the towel on nursing as a career. Since you are not a teen who just graduated from high school, you should start looking at jobs and career for the long haul. You said you don’t like CNA work but at least you have the active certificate and can get a CNA job to support yourself if necessary. You should consider completing nursing school and getting a nursing license to use as necessary. If you quit now who is to say that you would like any other kind of technology qualification? Work for awhile as a nurse before saying no or say no with conviction that you are going to stick with your next choice. Sooner or later you have to come up with that long term plan. And stick with it. Good luck.

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It baffles me that people believe they have to love what they do to make a career of it. It’s work. Society needs things done. Your life outside of work is your real life, and a job is an ends to a means. You can learn to find satisfaction in knowing you personally have made a positive contribution to the work at hand. It’s about the lifestyle your work affords you, and the added bonus that you get to contribute to society.

‘Does anyone really think every correctional officer or trash collector goes to work absolutely just loving their job everyday? Very few. But society would grind to a halt without them.

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Guest1142305 said:

It baffles me that people believe they have to love what they do to make a career of it. It's work. Society needs things done. Your life outside of work is your real life, and a job is an ends to a means. You can learn to find satisfaction in knowing you personally have made a positive contribution to the work at hand. It's about the lifestyle your work affords you, and the added bonus that you get to contribute to society.

'Does anyone really think every correctional officer or trash collector goes to work absolutely just loving their job everyday? Very few. But society would grind to a halt without them.

I don't think enjoying what you do is too much to ask since you will literally spend approximately 1/3 (or more) of your life doing it.

Not everyone looks at a job as "just a job"... some ppl strive to find satisfaction in all areas of their life... speaking for myself, it does wonders for my mental health when I enjoy what I do, who I am doing it with, and what I'm doing it for. There are ppl who can compartmentalize and that's fine too.

 

As for the topic: 

I am considering dropping my PN program and returning next year. I finished the first semester successfully but am really struggling with motivation this semester. During Winter break, I considered dropping and coming back with the next cohort, but I talked myself out of it.

Now I know for certain that I need to drop because I dread going to class and can't find the motivation to do assignments or study for exams.

I still see myself becoming a nurse but there's got to be a better way than this.

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