Wmbog

Since beginning high school I have had the dream of becoming a nurse or physician. I have busted my butt for years now gaining experiencing, studying, volunteering obtaining certifications, extra courses, anything and everything I could get my hands on to enter the world of medicine. Now, just before I am supposed to be entering a nursing program I am having massive anxiety on whether or not I should continue with this dream of mine. Here is my background and the reasons why I am second guessing my choice. I have been working as a CNA for two going on three years now. I have only worked in two places with LTC and Rehabilitation. I have worked with all ages of people, all different medical backgrounds, I have had some amazing and insightful experiences and I love helping others. I take great pride in what I do and I work very hard at it... however, I am struggling. Throughout my career as a CNA and especially recently I have been working in a facility that treats its employees poorly, we are over worked, and under staffed I'm talking 2 CNAs for 60 patients, the lack of teamwork is astounding the patients are frustrated, the employees are burned out. I have been working for months now to work together with my fellow co-workers and administration to find solutions to our problems within the facility but nothing is getting done. I hate my job. Realistically I know that there are amazing facilities out there that are not like this but when it comes down to it I know nursing is stressful, nurses are often over worked, under paid, short staffed, and often times feel unappreciated. I'm just curious of others opinions, has anyone experienced this? Does it get better? I guess I am just extremely discouraged, I cannot imagine spending my life being treated so poorly and becoming trapped in a profession that will cause me emotional turmoil on such a constant basis. I am the kind of person who works hard to advocate for those who can't advocate for themselves, I work hard to help others, to be there for them, to encourage their success and happiness even if I have to compromise my own comfort, but I cannot compromise my physical and mental health. Any advice, encouragement, information, experience, anything, would be helpful for me to make this decision.