regrets

arciedee · Dec 11, 2006

I think we all have moments of regret when we realize where we could be "if only." I'm quitting my full-time job in a month to return to school full-time and the idea is terrifying (giving up my income, what if I don't do well in school, etc.). Sometimes I DO wish that I'd gone for nursing much earlier. However, when I look at everything I would have missed if I had:

* I wouldn't have been able to attend the college I did (liberal arts school, no nursing options there), had the great experience I had there, met the lifelong friends I've met there (including one who has also gone on to become a nurse)

* I wouldn't have experienced corporate life and I would probably have always wondered whether I would have liked that more than nursing; I also wouldn't have learned all the things I did... I know I don't want to do this job, but it doesn't mean it was a wasted six years

* I wouldn't have been taking the commuter bus where I met my BF

In the end I try to accept that this is the journey I was meant to travel to get to this point. It's definitely not the most direct route, but I don't regret the detours.

shippoRN · Dec 11, 2006

I think we all have moments of regret when we realize where we could be "if only." I'm quitting my full-time job in a month to return to school full-time and the idea is terrifying (giving up my income, what if I don't do well in school, etc.). Sometimes I DO wish that I'd gone for nursing much earlier. However, when I look at everything I would have missed if I had:
* I wouldn't have been able to attend the college I did (liberal arts school, no nursing options there), had the great experience I had there, met the lifelong friends I've met there (including one who has also gone on to become a nurse)
* I wouldn't have experienced corporate life and I would probably have always wondered whether I would have liked that more than nursing; I also wouldn't have learned all the things I did... I know I don't want to do this job, but it doesn't mean it was a wasted six years
* I wouldn't have been taking the commuter bus where I met my BF
In the end I try to accept that this is the journey I was meant to travel to get to this point. It's definitely not the most direct route, but I don't regret the detours.

Thanks...You are right, I wouldn't have meet all my wonderful friends especially my two best friends and I probably wouldn't have had the job I currently have that give me no doubt in my mind in what I want to do. So I know I shouldn't have any regrets, but the thoughts plague me every now and thn. Thanks again for your response, its nice to know I am not alone.

arciedee · Dec 11, 2006

I think one of the hardest things for me has been to not compare myself to my friends/peers who seem to be much more "together" than I am. They may have already graduated from med school or law school or they have been named an officer of a corporation while I feel like I've been treading water in my career for the past six years. However, I try to keep in mind that appearances are not always as they seem. Those kids who "knew" right out of college what direction they wanted to head in might not be satisfied with their successful careers or they may have other things going on in their lives that I don't have to deal with. When the green-eyed monster rises up I usually just try to acknowledge it (jealousy is a legitimate feeling and sometimes it prompts us to get off our rears and do what needs to be done) and then let it go.

shippoRN · Dec 11, 2006

I think one of the hardest things for me has been to not compare myself to my friends/peers who seem to be much more "together" than I am. They may have already graduated from med school or law school or they have been named an officer of a corporation while I feel like I've been treading water in my career for the past six years. However, I try to keep in mind that appearances are not always as they seem. Those kids who "knew" right out of college what direction they wanted to head in might not be satisfied with their successful careers or they may have other things going on in their lives that I don't have to deal with. When the green-eyed monster rises up I usually just try to acknowledge it (jealousy is a legitimate feeling and sometimes it prompts us to get off our rears and do what needs to be done) and then let it go.

You just hit the nail on the head. My bestfriends are going to prestigious Med schools and already have careers in other allied health fields, and I feel like i'm getting nowhere half the time. I keep trying to tell myself that im not them and my time will come, but it can still get fustrating at times.

blackberry4eva · Dec 11, 2006

i think one of the hardest things for me has been to not compare myself to my friends/peers who seem to be much more "together" than i am. they may have already graduated from med school or law school or they have been named an officer of a corporation while i feel like i've been treading water in my career for the past six years. however, i try to keep in mind that appearances are not always as they seem. those kids who "knew" right out of college what direction they wanted to head in might not be satisfied with their successful careers or they may have other things going on in their lives that i don't have to deal with. when the green-eyed monster rises up i usually just try to acknowledge it (jealousy is a legitimate feeling and sometimes it prompts us to get off our rears and do what needs to be done) and then let it go.

i totally agree with the above post. my best friend and i started nursing school together and while in college i got pregnant at the age of 19, therefore making it very hard to attend colllege and planning to raise a child. the only option i had at that time was to quit, get a job, and take care of my baby, while my friend completed school and has been a successful nurse every since. now at the age of 28, i finally got the guts up to finish. though i often think back at what could have been different, i realize that god has a plan for everyone and i thank him for giving me the opportunity to finish what i started!

PG02 · Dec 12, 2006

I think its quite normal to have regrets but the bigger malfunction would be if you keep regretting and never do anything about it. It's better late than never. I just decided that I wanted to do nursing after taking all those classes to transfer to major in psychology. I wasted precious time when I could've been taking the rest of the pre-reqs for nusring now I'm about to graduuate with AA and then have to go back and do other classes. Time has been wasted but I'm seizing my regret and squashing it.

live4rachael · Dec 12, 2006

There's no sense in regretting anything. Everything in your past got you to where you are today, and without your past, you may not have appreciated your life once you become a nurse. Everything you've done got you to where you are today.

Trauma Columnist · Dec 12, 2006

Oh yes, I have regrets:

1. That when I was 19 I quit nursing school - notice I said "quit". I didn't drop the classes, ended up with a 0.7GPA - not a winning combo.

2. I wish when I had gone back to school (at the age of 32) that I would have gone straight for the BSN. However, hubby was in the military and I never knew how long we would be stationed anywhere...so I did the LPN, ADN, BSN, MSN, post-MSN thing.

3. Regrets that I didn't do an NP certificate but instead went with the CNS.

However, that being said, I have regrets in my private life too. However, at 48 I have come to realize that I am so very lucky - we have food, a home, and a family to put in it! That's what's important.

Reese17 · Dec 18, 2006

Regrets! Regrets! Regrets! When I graduated from high school I was 16 and wanted to be a nurse. I went on a tour of a nursing school and was told that you have to excel in math and science in order to do well in nursing school. Well, I had just finished fighting with high school Chemistry and was fed up with science (I scraped by with a C). So I went on to other things. 18 years later, I am at a dead end job and wanting more from life and decide to try nursing again. I am currently working on my last pre reqs in order to get into the nursing program. I have completed 2 math classes and PASSED, I have completed 1 BIO class and PASSED and I graduated Valedictorian of my CNA class. Now just think if I had done all this when I graduated from high school. I regret that decision everyday but what can I do but move on. I believe our biggest regret would be not trying to fulfill our dreams. Good Luck! and dont give up.