Really need advice

[AZStudentRN]

Hello,

I am new to this board. I really need some advice. I am a nursing student pursuing a BSN at a private school. The school I am attending is costing me well over 100k. I know that is crazy to many people (sometimes I can't even believe it myself!) I chose this route because all the nursing (ADN & BSN) programs I looked into via state schools and community colleges were 2-3 yrs waitlist. This is a fairly new program and is still building a reputation with hospitals.

Well, to make a long story short...I realize that I am not as excited about becoming a nurse as I thought. I am disillusioned with my program, it's accelerated and I feel like they are cramming so much info into such little time. As soon as I learn something, I find myself forgetting it because we are being thrown into new material. I read so many posts where new grads are having a hard time finding a job and I'm just worried that if I continue (1 yr. to go) that I'll be left with a huge debt, difficulty finding a job (especially since my program is fairly new and not well-established within the medical community). I really want to move on, cut my losses but at the same time I feel guilty that I've put 1 yr. into it already and hope I don't regret my decision to cut out early one day.

Should I listen to my gut instinct (that this may not be for me...all my clinicals have been at less than stellar hospitals where the RNs seem miserable). I just am so disillusioned. I have so much respect for RNs. From clinical experience, I see that this profession deserves so much respect. It is tough! Especially floor nursing. I ultimately want to work in the OR as a surgical nurse but I hear from other RNs that that position is very hard to come by especially in this tough market. I've also learned that one hospital is refusing to hire any students from my school. This scares me.

I feel that it may be better to leave now while my loan payback would be far less than if I finish the program and have 100k to pay back. What would you, who have experience in this profression, do?

[BettyBoop01]

Only you can answer that question. For me, getting 3/4 of the way through and never finishing would always bother me. But the reality is, the job market is not great for new grads right now and you still have your final year & the boards to pass. You need to do some serious soul searching and figure out if this is for you. If it is not, that is ok, but what is your plan going forward? You cant just jump ship and drift with 3 years under your belt. Is there something you can transfer the credits into? Perhaps a less expensive school? Nursing is not for everyone, and I am actually trying to decide if it is for me. I am in my first nursing job and looking for another, hoping it gets better.

Go back to what drew you into this field to begin with. What made you want to be a nurse? The working with people? The science? Maybe then you can see if your just overwhelmed with school and debt, or if you actually want to do something else. At this point, I would say finish, but that is just because I would regret getting almost to the end. You need to decide for you. The reality of nursing is very different than school, so dont let school ruin your perspective.

[AZStudentRN]

Thank you so much for your response. You are so right. I definitely have some soul searching to do! I have considered perhaps transferring some of the courses I have taken (all the sciences) and try to apply them to a physical or occupational therapy program. I already have a Bachelor's degree in another field and I could be eligible to enter into a entry-level Master's program in the field of therapy. I've talked to both RNs and PTs/OTs and it seems that the PTs/OTs have an overall better job satisfaction but then again I realize this is just subjective. I know there are many RNs that love their job. I see the OTs/PTs at my clinicals and I always think "now that is something I would like to do". I would still get to interact with patients and help them. I'm just not as crazy about the demand placed on nurses, the overwhelming responsibilities (sometimes unfair), the current lack of positions..etc. Ah well, I'll have to really start thinking about this.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

Given the outrageous cost of your program I would drop out while reconsidering. Even if you DO find a job right after graduation you are going to have a very hard time paying that off.