Quitting Nursing School

Ruby Vee, BSN · Aug 20, 2016

I am seriously considering quitting nursing school. Just the amount of times that I have met with advisers to consider other career paths is already an indication of how much I want an out. A lot of what I have read recently says "Don't quit nursing school just because it's hard or stressful! Stick it out; it will be so worth it!" The problem is, I don't want to quit because it's hard. I enjoy the challenge, and I am an intelligent student with awesome grades. I never have a problem with the information/lectures/exams. In fact, that is the only part of nursing I enjoy. I like the theory (learning about bodily processes, diseases, OB and women's health), but hate the practice. I also did well in clinical, so this has nothing to do with my "performance" in the program. I just feel out of place in clinical.. I dread it every day and am so relieved to go home afterwards and not see the hospital for a few days. I used to work as a PCA in a children's hospital - thought I would LOVE it. I really didn't (again I felt out of place); I dreaded work and hoped I would see as little patients as possible. I feel terrible saying that, but it's just how I feel! I don't mind helping people, but I really thought I would feel different! I see other students getting so excited over landing their dream PCA job; and I don't want anything to do with a PCA job. I have a different job currently in a private practice, where I do mostly office work and interact with mostly healthy patients. I do enjoy that and definitely do not dread coming into work.
I have 2 more years left in the program. I either stick it out and "force" myself through the motions, or take a year off and think about what other careers I might enjoy.
Should I take the break, seeing as I am not passionate about this career?
-Nursing Student in an early "mid-life crisis"

Don't quit because you're not passionate about the career. Sometimes the passion comes after one takes one's first job and becomes competent. But if you're sure you're just going through the motions and that you don't want to do the work of nursing, you don't need anyone else's approval to quit. Just be sure, before you do quit, that you have an alternative plan.

NICUorbust, ADN · Aug 20, 2016

I can't tell you whether to stay, or quit, but i will say that there are SO MANY avenues in Nursing that do not involve direct patient care. You could fall into one of those career paths. Insurance companies, education, telenursing etc. I'd take a look at some of those "non patient care" avenues before jumping ship.

CrunchRN, ADN, RN · Aug 20, 2016

Honestly, I would bail. It is not for you and that is fine. Find a better fit because you will have to work for a long time.

oceanblue52 · Aug 21, 2016

I didn't love my CNA job, but I do like being a home health RN. There are a lot of different avenues. You need to do some self analysis and decide if it's the setting or the responsibilities that you don't like. It's normal to feel anxious in clinical, but if you hate ALL aspects of care coordination and patient care you might try something else. Nothing wrong if you do decide to change :-)

Dorali, BSN, LPN, RN · Aug 22, 2016

There are so many things you could do with a nursing degree. Some people don't like direct patient care, some people are better with the office side of things.

You've made it this far, I'd hate for you to bail. Do some research and look into other options.

If the other types of work you could do with your degree doesn't help you feel any better, then by all means find something else.

You only have this one life and you don't need to spend it doing something that isn't going to make you happy.

Good luck in your decision!

caliotter3 · Aug 22, 2016

When people are close to finishing, I always advise to complete, get the license, then maintain in an inactive status. You never know when a nursing license might come in handy in the future. Also there is the ability to say in an interview that you set a goal and stuck it out.

direw0lf, BSN · Aug 22, 2016

Well honestly when I read what you wrote to me it sounds like you already decided? I don't believe you need to prove to anyone whether you have valid reasons to leave the nursing program or have to defend your reasons why you don't want patient care or a PCA job. Anyone who makes you feel like you DO is wrong imo. Yes I and other nursing students try to encourage each other, especially because we probably all have our breakdown moments, so we say don't quit it's worth it, but we also KNOW we want this badly. If you dread it, don't waste more of your precious time and college expenses. Maybe I'm wrong though, and there's an area in nursing that you'd be thrilled to be in, but I did want to say that you don't have to feel like you owe any explanations for changing majors. There's no explanations needed if someone changed from psych to biology, so why should a nursing student need to feel bad or in a crisis about switching? Just my 2 cents!!!

martymoose, BSN, RN · Aug 22, 2016

i wish I had the foresight you have, otherwise I wouldnt have wasted >10 years on a job I cant stand. I, like you, like the theory, disease process part, but cant stand the clinical part. I wish some would have told me to explore other venues.

Best wishes, and good luck.

whatwasithinking75 · Aug 22, 2016

Looks like you already made up your mind OP.

blakee123 · Aug 22, 2016

Sorry to hear that you do not feel like this is a good fit for you. If you have to "force" yourself to do something, especially your career, then it might not be the avenue for you. Although I must say, you can be a nurse without being a clinical nurse. Maybe a doctors office is right for you. I hope that whatever you decide, you love it.

3peas · Aug 23, 2016

Like you I love the theory of nursing and the intellectual part of it, and I'm currently pursuing a PhD in it. I had to find the right fit of patient care for me and I did (finally). Not everyone is meant for med/surge, ICU, or ER. Nursing is a large pie and you have to find your little piece.

If your gut says quit then quit. You can pick another major that keeps you in the medical field (if that's what you want) but in another specialty. OT, PT, social worker, LPC, pharmacy, or research.