others doubting your decision

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Hello all, I've got a bit of a side topic for you. I've been hoping and planning to begin nursing school for well over a year and it's looking like I can this coming fall. I also have two very close friends, whom I've known for over ten years, and the three of us have very open and honest friendships. One of them told me last night that they were discussing, and both of them are bit concerned that nursing is not a real dream of mine, just some sort of phase. That kind of threw me. I value their opinions, though I know my decisions don't have to be dictated by their opinions. And I know they'll support me if I go for it, but the fact that they can't see me pursuing it long term concerns me some.

I know no one here can answer for me whether nursing is in fact for me, but did any of you have friends, family, etc. who doubted you? What was the outcome, how did it work out? Thoughts?

Thanks!

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Specializes in Tele, Renal, ICU, CIU, ER, Home Health..

Yep, My mom is a nurse and she said I'd never make it through nursing school. She was wrong. I passed with honors!

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I think you should follow your heart. If you decide not to pursue this because of your friends you may end up resenting them. I would say do it! You only live once. And your friends will be there no matter what even if you fall flat on your face.

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Yep, My mom is a nurse and she said I'd never make it through nursing school. She was wrong. I passed with honors!

My mom was an RN HATED it! growing up I only remember her complaining and hating nursing, she was "forced" into it by her parents she had no "choices" I never even contimplated becomming a nurse thought it would be the worst proffesion ever. Until I went to work in a hospital and it was like being run over by a truck, yup this is for sure what I want! So now at 39 I am working toward that and have been for the past 3 years

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Hello all, I've got a bit of a side topic for you. I've been hoping and planning to begin nursing school for well over a year and it's looking like I can this coming fall. I also have two very close friends, whom I've known for over ten years, and the three of us have very open and honest friendships. One of them told me last night that they were discussing, and both of them are bit concerned that nursing is not a real dream of mine, just some sort of phase. That kind of threw me. I value their opinions, though I know my decisions don't have to be dictated by their opinions. And I know they'll support me if I go for it, but the fact that they can't see me pursuing it long term concerns me some.

I know no one here can answer for me whether nursing is in fact for me, but did any of you have friends, family, etc. who doubted you? What was the outcome, how did it work out? Thoughts?

Thanks!

Is there a reason why they think this is just a phase? Where you going through things past or present that would make them come to this conclusion?

At the end of the day, only you know what you really want. I know they are your friends, but they have managed to plant a seed of doubt in your mind, don't let this set you back find the strength within yourself to go the distance.

I have had people put me down most of my life with the epception of my parents and my grandmother, if i listened to the nay sayers i wouldn't be anywhere in life.

"The greastest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do"

Keep at it and Good Luck

~M

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Specializes in Adult and Pediatric Vascular Access, Paramedic.

You have to just let what other people say go in one ear and out the other when it comes to them deciding what your goals in life are. I realize you value these friends, but understand that only you know what is best for you and what you want to do, so do not let them talk you out of it.

Swtooth

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If your friends are the only ones with doubts, I wouldn't worry about it. If they are making you start to doubt yourself, there are a few things you can do. Do you have any healthcare experience at all? A lot of us don't, but if you have the time you could try volunteering at a hospital a few hours a month, or shadowing an RN for a day. Your friends might think you don't really know what you're getting into, and this could help show them (and yourself) that you do. You can also remind them that becoming a nurse doesn't just mean working in a hospital. Tell them how valuable a nursing degree is, and how you can work at a school or a Dr.'s office, or do telephone triage or work for an insurance or pharmaceutical company. You can go back for a masters and teach at the college level, or become an NP with prescriptive powers and work in a small practice. If you tell them all of this, it should help them to see that even if they are right, and you do buirn out in one area of nursing, that there are so many things you can do with your degree. You can even travel and see the country on someone else's dime! Good luck to you!

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Hello all, I've got a bit of a side topic for you. I've been hoping and planning to begin nursing school for well over a year and it's looking like I can this coming fall. I also have two very close friends, whom I've known for over ten years, and the three of us have very open and honest friendships. One of them told me last night that they were discussing, and both of them are bit concerned that nursing is not a real dream of mine, just some sort of phase. That kind of threw me. I value their opinions, though I know my decisions don't have to be dictated by their opinions. And I know they'll support me if I go for it, but the fact that they can't see me pursuing it long term concerns me some.

I know no one here can answer for me whether nursing is in fact for me, but did any of you have friends, family, etc. who doubted you? What was the outcome, how did it work out? Thoughts?

Thanks!

Just yesterday someone I know said that " you don't want to get into nursing, they work 16 hrs shifts, they work all the time"..... blah blah blah.......The truth is that I worked jobs where I worked ALL THE TIME, DEAD END JOBS, LOW PAYING JOBS with absolutely no future for advancement.

I am yet to get encouraging comments from people about my choice to become a nurse . everybody I talk to has negative things to say. I try to ignore it as much as I can. I don't even want to talk to anyone any more.

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At times in my life, I've had people tell me negative things about my choices. I've learned to ignore them and move on. Rather then argue, I silently vow to prove them wrong and usually do.

Rather then defend yourself to them, ask them why they think that. Or say "Well, you're entitled to your opinion and what if it does turn out to be a phase? At least I'm trying something new".

You're getting an education and that's not something bad. Besides, how does one know if they like something if they don't try it?!?

Is it possible your friends are unhappy with their situation and might be jealous?

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Can they see what's inside your heart? I think not. Honestly, this is a personal decision and something you need to be 100% committed to. GO FOR IT. Only you know what is right for you!!

Good Luck!

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Thats not so bad, I had someone say to me, "you don't want to be a nurse and wipe peoples butts"..

ugh.............

~Nora

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I would ask them why they feel that way. Could be that as you have been fretting over tests, etc. that they have taken that for lack of interest or excitement on your part. We all get it, but so many others that aren't going through this process don't.

The funny thing is that I have gotten a ton of support for this decision. So much so that it has made me even more nervous. lol People think that if you are bright that you will just sail through with A's, but we all know that isn't true in nursing school. I don't think they realize that my undergraduate degree and success in my first career really mean squat right about now. lol

I find I am doubting myself. Once I got one wrong on the NLN I felt like a failure. I have very high expectataions of myself. Too high at times which works against me as I would do better if I just relaxed.

I worry about having mean instructors, mean nurses, etc. after seeing how some are treated here. That makes me nervous. I do think however that once I am officially in that I will become a nurse. I know I can do it and need to just put the nerves away.

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