LittleLibra

LillyFish, I could've written your post verbatim. This is my first semester of nursing school, and I'm weighing whether to drop out now or to go through with my license and then "hope" something great opens up. It's a career change for me, too. I left the corporate world to do something more meaningful. I chose nursing for all the right reasons, but am discovering that no amount of research beforehand prepares you for the REALITY of bedside nursing. Anyone who says "Well what did you THINK it would be like" is not helpful. At all. Can I ask where you are now in life? Did you stay in nursing? Leave? Regret it? Would love to know what transpired in the past couple of years!

Hooliebug- THANK YOU! Yes, it's caring about people and the desire to connect with them on a meaningful level and help them that drew me to nursing. Lab so far has been so "clinical" and robotic and awkward and clunky with where to put my hands (as a nurse, not as an EMT which is a whole different world), how far to slide the pt across the bed before rolling them (I pretty much dumped my mannequin over the edge on my first try), and so on. And while I was carefully repeating back my demonstration step by step, my instructor made kind of a snarky comment about my ability to memorize things not carrying me through having basic common sense-- so it all kind of got to me that day. I really don't think I want to work bedside in a hospital... at least, not any more than I have to for other avenues to open up. I'm going to find someone I can talk to about those avenues and figure out exactly what I need to do to get there-- then I'll decide 100% to continue or not. Thank you for your reassurance that everyone is all thumbs at first!!!

RotoRunner- My jaw fell open when I read this, because being a flight nurse is exactly what I would want to do for a dream job!! I know it's super competitive for a tiny number of open spots, and takes a lot of experience. Kudos to you on such an awesome accomplishment, and your reply made me feel 100 times better after my crappy day in lab! RNperdiem- You're right. I get the stuffing knocked out of me sometimes, and I start questioning myself too much. If anything, I stay committed to things for TOO LONG instead of bailing when I should have; so I appreciate the feedback that everyone fumbles, and not everyone is cut out for bedside / hospital which is ok because there are still other avenues.

Hi everyone- Before I go any further in the nursing program, I wanted to ask the veteran nurses what REALITY looks like after graduation for someone like me. Bluntly, is there any place for people who are really book smart but sometimes fumble on the playing field? I am that person. I think it's a self-confidence thing; when I'm nervous / being watched by the nursing instructor, etc., I get clumsy and start making mistakes. (I was a terrible waitress, a terrible bartender. I memorized drink recipes like a pro and have a 4.0 in my pre-reqs, but I was terrible behind the bar, and so far in my Fundamentals labs just working on mannequins, I am not a rock star). I WAS great as a first responder, and in one-on-one situations with the injured. No fumbling there. Anyway-- I don't look at this as a flaw anymore, but as a piece of me that needs to find a good career fit. I already know Med-Surg is not for me. I have a feeling the hospital in general probably won't be for me. I have a prior BA in French, and have just started the nursing portion (2 years to go) of my BSN. Should I stop NOW before investing more time and money, or do you think there will definitely be a niche for me somewhere-- with just my BSN because I'm not willing to invest in more schooling at this point. I am really scared of spending more time and money, and finding out at the end that my BSN and personality type are going nowhere together! Thanks for any advice before I continue down the wrong path / quit the right path.