wellhereiam

Sometimes, people have adverse reactions to the flu shot, even though it's a dead virus. I used to think it was all psychological. I rarely get the flu, so I rarely get the flu shot. Even during clinicals, I didn't get the flu shot and I never got sick. This year, I decided to get the flu shot because it was pretty cheap at my school. A lot of non-nursing students kept saying they wouldn't get the shot because it makes you sick. Well, I didn't belive that and kept telling them to get it since it was a dead virus and the "sickness" was probably psychological. Ha ha. Serves me right. Well, a day after getting the flu shot, I woke up with a low fever and aches all over. So my new conclusion is it is not psychological. It is possible to get "sick" after getting the flu shot. I don't think it's coincidence because I rarely get the flu, even when I'm around sick people (I have an awesome immune system). I agree with a previous poster. If you usually get the flu, get the shot. If you rarely get sick, you can bypass it. Anyway, the flu shot is based on the virus professionals think will be going around this year. We all know the virus constantly changes and it's not a 100% guarantee that you won't get it.

Everybody grows up with different experiences. Maybe that girl has medical experience, great parents that encouraged learning, went to a solid school, studies twice as hard b/c she has the time, or is naturally smart. In my nursing school experience (I am no longer a nursing student but I didn't flunk; just went into a different direction), it really did seem like the "C" students did excellent in clinicals while the "A" students were slower. My conjecture is that "C" students know the minimal material they need to study; they are busy with work or kids or whatever and can prioritize and just know what's the most important. "A" students are more detail oriented. They like to learn everything so they do well in class, but perform slower in clinicals because they're into learning so much detail that they don't prioritize well. Please don't take into offense into any of this. It's just what I've surmised based on what I've seen. So, no, "A" students don't neccessarily mean they are better nurses. They could be better test takers or spend all day studying because they have time while other students don't. Everyone will feel nervous at clinicals. Some people are better at hiding it then others. There will always be people better than you and worse than you. Plus, since you're mostly working by yourself rather than seeing a bunch of other students work, it's really hard to see whether you really are what you say you are-- stupid, since it's hard to compare. Why don't you talk with close students to see how they feel. Ask your instructor what you need to improve on. Ask that smart girl how she does it. Ask others for techniques on decreasing your nerves. It's okay if you end up using anti-anxiety meds. Honestly, I wish I were the "C" student that did well in clinicals rather than the "A" student that struggled in clinicals. Good luck and hope you find some peace.

How about signing up for a sports class at school? That way, you have to go, and it's no extra cost. You could find a nursing school partner and jog/yoga together after class. Do it in between class. I had a 3.5 hour lecture where we had a 20 minute break in between. I would run at least a mile. If you really want to push yourself, sign up for a marathon or sports competition. Then you'll really feel like you have to exercise or look like a fool on game day. Ditto on the listening to lecture while exercising, as said by kakustak. You can still study and jog/walk. For me, joining a gym would never work because the thought of the amount of time it takes to change and drive there (and the gas money) gave me an excuse not to go. You have to find a small spot in your schedule where you can stick it in.

First of all, thank you all for your response. I've been racking my brain trying to think of what else I could do. Sunray, I think you are right on target about me not liking customer service; therefore, I probably won't like myself as an occupational therapist or sales etc. I have thought about healthcare research, education, administration, etc. The reason I thought of education, even though it involves customer service, is because I do actually like teaching and didn't mind formatting lectures and presentations to whomever I was tutoring. Research would sound interesting as well, although I guess I'd have to spend a ton more years in school if I switched into that. Plus, sometimes I like the lab work, but sometimes I don't (A&P was cool; chemistry sucked; microbio was fun half the time). Administration sounded appealing as well b/c I'm a very structured, organized, always looking for more efficiency- type person. To an earlier question, so what are my interests? The problem is I can be interested in many things-- psychology, math, stats, biology, english, nutrition, rhetoric, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology etc. I think my problem is I like learning about anything-- but I don't neccessarily like doing them (This reminds me of the quote "those who can, do; those who can't, teach"). I guess what I like doing and have been told I am decent at are the following: teaching, advising, tutoring, organizing, managing other people, writing articles, editing other people's work, reading research articles, writing (research) papers, creating programs and educational materials (ie powerpoints, brochures), drawing, painting, critiquing anything, learning about health, talking about theories and ideas, memorizing, acting, talking, listening, and gosh that's a random list. Then I thought about things I hate doing: Pleasing people over trivial matters (i.e. customer ****** off about waiting 5 min or patient ****** off about not getting food at *exactly noon). And things I'm not good at doing: On the spot speeches or critical thinking (ie what's 55% of 30?), super multi-tasking (as in caring for 5 patients at once or having a paper, clinicals, work, and exam all in one day), labwork the first time (I often messed up in microbio lab the first time I did ANYTHING, but always perfect the second time-- this ****** myself off too ha ha). Maybe I'm just a slow learner. Maybe I have a problem with commitment. Maybe I'm just pessimistic-- probably indecisive, which is why I can't figure out whether I like working alone or in groups (I guess I hate and like both at times). Maybe I have a confidence problem. Maybe I'm trying to really be someone I'm not (everyone wants to be a nurse, why not me?). Maybe maybe maybe. I'm working it out with a counselor and career advisor. I'm also trying to "do" all these professions that sound interesting to me by volunteering; I guess that's how I"ll reallly really know. Thanks all. I think quitting nursing was a right decision for other people, as in good for the nurses, docs, and patients b/c I doubt I was prepared to do my best. But I do think it was a wrong decision for protecting myself (being selfish here) for job security for life. Oh well. Maybe I am crazy. This decision will probably bother me for the rest of my life. argh.

Isn't it true that people usually hire nurses as health educators though? I'm suspecting I'll never ever get a secure job b/c of my decision. I know that staying in nursing for job security is a wrong reason, but I am worried I will struggle with the rest of my life. I don't know if I'm okay with that. Sometimes I think it'll be okay to struggle to find a job as long as I like what I'm doing... but what if I never find a job. Idk. I am so indecisive... I hate that I don't like nursing. *sigh. I really really think something is wrong with me-- that I'm cruel for not liking bedside care. I drive myself crazy.

Argh. So I went through 2 years of prereqs and 1 year of nursing. I ended up quitting because I really despised clinicals. I originally went in to this major b/c my parents told me to. I thought I'd learn to like it. How could I not like it? It's a respectable profession that ensures job security for life. It's about caring! Everyone and their mom wants to be a nurse! Well, I didn't like it. I must be crazy. I like the learning and teaching part, charting, and assessments; honestly, I didn't like patient care at all. Sorry. I dreaded every clinical. I had a 4.0 even in nursing, but I didn't like actually doing what I had learned. I wasn't good at it either. My clinical instructors always said I was fine, but I knew I was the slowest and that they only saw me 10% of the time. I feigned interest in whatever we were doing. If I had stayed, I would have had to endure 2 more years of clinicals. Then after graduating, I'd have to do 1 year of med-surge before being hired for anything else. What I want to do though, is health education or pharmaceutical sales rep or anything related to medicine but not involving patient care. I know that by quitting, I have closed so many opportunities, but I really couldn't stand clinicals. I knew that the patients I was caring for deserved better (I didn't kill anyone; no worries). Now I'm wondering whether I should have quit or not. Gah. So the million dollar question: Was I wrong or right in quitting? (Yes, I know I took someone else's spot who probably wanted it more. Sorry, but if you want to criticize me, you can pm me. I would rather receive answers to my question). Please be honest. I can take it (I've been drinking :wink2: ). Thank you all for reading and responding.

I quit with a 4.0! I've never been this happy and and unsure in years. I have NO idea what I want to do even though I've discussed it with plenty of career counselors; I just know it's not nursing :). I think I just like everything, but don't love anything. I haven't told my parents yet. They still think I'm in it because... I've been pretending. Maybe I'll tell them next year. ha ha. So giddy. Thanks everyone! Maybe I'll move and start over, except I guess the economy won't give me a loan so...erm.. I'll sleep on it for a while. wheeee.

Thanks for all the messages, everyone. After seeing counselors, career counselors, doctor, etc, blah, I'm still in this program. I should feel fortunate. Lucky. So many people would like to be in this position, but I hate it. I've tried searching other career choices, tried talking to others, etc. I can change majors. I can switch schools, but this would take a year. Might as well try and get this nursing degree during that time.Even then, I might end up hating the major to which I switch. I'm indecisive. I change my likes a lot. One day I'll like something, next month I won't. Hopefully and probably I will flunk out this quarter or get cancer. I am so stupid in clinicals. Really hate my life, but I don't expect sympathy. I don't know how you guys put up with all the abuse from patients who want first class treatment when a lot of them have caused their own disease (ie smoking= lung cancer). I don't know how to talk to people. But of course, now I'm just unneccessarily lashing out at others because I'm angry at myself for getting into this stupid mess. Anyways, thanks for all the advice. I have wasted everyone's time. I don't expect replies because it's all been said already. No, I won't harm myself. Too lazy to do so. ha ha. Plus it'd take too much work to clear out this dump before I do so. Plus if I fail, well, that would suck for the rest of my life to have that on my medical record. Night ya'll.

Yep, I had 1.5 years in between A&P and nursing. I just started reviewing the contents again about 1 month prior to nursing school starting. In patho, your prof might give a brief A&P overview again though. In theory classes, you usually go through the systems again. Most students I know had a 1.5 year gap (it's kinda how the scheduling goes) between anatphys and nursing, and they didnt' review prior to school starting, and all of them made it through! Yay!

P.S. I say I need more practice with AM care, but I don't really like it anyways. It seems repetitive and boring. Sure, you can do a cool full body assessment, but eh other than that it gets boring. I wonder if I care about my patients at all. I think I don't. I'm not sure. Maybe there are moments, but those moments are few. I think I used to be really bright but since I never focused on one subject, I never became great at one thing, so I'm not sure what I can do in life.

thanks for all your replies. i'm holding off talking to a counselor until the end of the school year. clinicals are not getting better. i am too slow; i don't get everything done. all the patients i have had have been easy patients-- not that i purposely avoid the hard patients, but i pick them because their chart looks interesting. then i find out that they're already fully mobile and there aren't that many am cares that i can do. i wish i could become a better am care provider because i haven't done bedbaths and diaper changes since last quarter!!! i feel like if i go onto level 2 and don't remember this stuff, i'm gonna suck even more. my skills have been deteriorating since last quarter. my critical thinking skills have sunken; i don't think i even try, and my instructor can tell. i'm pretty sure he thinks i'm lazy and stops asking me critical thinking questions anymore. i forget a lot about my patient-- ie recent labs. all i remember are "x" is low and "y" is high, but i have trouble remembering the value and the regulars. i miss really obvious things. for example, if the patient has difficulty breathing, i wonder why when he came in with gi diagnosis. i couldn't find anywhere on the chart stating wheezing or respiratory problems or anything. then my instructor points out in doctor's handwriting "wheezing," several times throughout notes. which i couldn't read beforehand b/c the handwriting was messy. that made me feel so stupid. it was so obvious. i think my plan is to talk to a counselor, but i'm going to continue the program. i'm just going to wait to flunk; that way, my parents will not be mad since i didn't drop out. i'm probably going to flunk this quarter anyway, and you know what? i won't be sad. i'll just be disappointed i wasted 3 years (2 year prereq 1 year nursing). everyone will be disappointed because i was supposed to be the really smart one. i bet i could've done anything i wanted, but i have no idea what i like doing. hate business, not good with communication, hate working alone in office, but get anxious in very social environment. my parents refuse to talk about my unhappiness and my friends think i'm just being too hard on myself because "i'm the smart one." i feel very trapped and have been very unhappy, but i know i'm being selfish because so many people would die to get into this program. what a waste of money too. what saddens me as well is that patients think i'm providing them good care, but really, they just enjoy my company--anyone's company would suffice. my care is not good. my mind doesn't care. i think i want out. i can't focus in school. i sleep all the time. 5 more weeks... thank you everyone for listening. any other advice besides talking to a counselor? i'm not sure if i want to get a job over the summer related to medical field. it can either help improve my skills and confidence level or it might make me hate it more. any advice? what was your experience like? there is not a a day anymore where i don't think about unhappiness.

If a nursing student makes a mistake that endangers the patient, can the patient sue the student or do they just sue the hospital with the nursing school just kicking out the student? Or can the hospital sue the student. I was just curious about this. Thanks. Btw, no, I didn't kill anyone!

I know this is kind of late. I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for actually taking the time to read and respond. I will talk to a counselor and just get through this quarter. No need to worry about patient harm. I am still careful not to do anything stupid. I haven't made any serious life threatening mistakes yet; I'm just apathetic or sad. I don't know, but gah just a couple more weeks.

Thanks. The problem is, I don't know what will make me happy. Another thing: I suck at time management. The list goes on and on. Sometimes I hate working by myself, but sometimes I feel uncomfortable working with people. I'm weird.

hi. i'm finishing my first year of nursing school. i'm not sure if i like it or not. i originally got into nursing because my parents wanted me too, but i was also interested in the subject and patient care. i don't think nursing is right for me. btw, i'm in the rn program. most of my instructors are excellent. i have great clinical instructors. here are my concerns. if anyone can help me, thanks. 1) i ace my classes. i’m book smart, but i suck with common sense in clinicals! i think it’s because i lack a lot of experience. i didn’t even know how to change a diaper until this year! l i won’t mention all the dumb mistakes (really dumb common sense errors) here or else i might be identified. i don’t know what to do in a lot of situations, but of course i won’t know what i don’t know until it happens. then i feel really stupid. 2) i make a lot of stupid errors. i still forget to id patients even though i constantly remind myself to. i think it’s because i work with the same patient all day, so i forget to id them for new procedures. i check the patient information for food and procedures outside of the room, but when i bring it into the room, i forget to id them. 3) i stopped caring. right now, 25% of the time, i love being in clinicals. 75% of the time, i hate it. i don’t know why i stopped caring, but my patients deserve better. i just get through the day now. what i like about clinicals is patient teaching, documenting (weird huh?), and physical assessments. what i hate is giving meds (afraid of errors. i do enjoy learning about meds though!); i think wounds are interesting (ie stage 4 ulcers), but really dry cracked stage 1 or 2 ulcers creep me out (weird again?)! 4) because i stopped caring, i’ll probably make an error and get into a lawsuit. i bet i’ll worry about a possible lawsuit every day of my life. 5) i always feel overwhelmed with information. i used to study so hard, but weeks later, and i forget the information. now i’m slacking off like crazy. i just lost all motivation. 6) i’m afraid of infectious diseases. i can’t remember all the microorganisms and which precautions for what. also, i know this sounds bad, but i’m actually afraid to work with aids patients. originally, i didn’t mind, but now i keep finding random cuts on my hands and arms… 7) i’m shy. i’m always nervous. i hide it, but it shows during emergencies. i’m not good with emergency situations. i guess all that indoor studying made me not have good people person skills. i’m not very social anymore. 8) i think i’m the slowest “skills” learner in my class. i mean, with 3 new skills every day, i never master the previous skills! i practice, but one two weeks later, i forget! 9) i was pretty spoiled as a kid. i don’t even know how to take the bus. therefore, it’s hard for me to be independent now. i’m really trying. (feel free to hate me over being spoiled. i would to, if i were you). i think i’d make a terrible nurse. i don’t know if i would feel this way if i were in other majors. i probably would because of low self-esteem and confidence. i don’t know what else i’d pursue. i was pretty good at every subject (except science. i sucked at science until i found a passion in it in college. i still think i’m only ok at it) in elementary to high school, but i never pursued one subject to be great at it. so i consider myself an average person now. i think i spent most of my time indoors reading. now i’m that weird anti-social awkward kid. i don’t know what to do… i really hate clinicals. i suck and lack confidence. i don’t know if i should waste my time and money with 2 more years or quit now and try something else. how often did you think of quitting? do you know anyone that quit? what did they end up doing? i think of quitting every day. that bad. such a shame though. i used to be a bright kid. my school has a good nursing program and is well known for 2 other majors, but it sucks in everything else. if i quit nursing, i’ll feel stuck with a crappy degree from a crappy school. any suggestions? i have not talked to my parents about this. they do not want to hear it (really). my friends outside of the major don’t understand and tell me they think the major’s easy. thanks for reading.