I a firm believer that learning something in a classroom environment is totally different than actually applying it.
I have an interest in nursing, and have had it for some time. I like learning all of the nursing/ medical theories, am a pharmacology nerd, love anatomy, micro, patho, etc. Additionally, my desire and compassion to help people with physically and mentally is above and beyond.
However I am afraid that if I were to graduate nursing school and started actually practicing nursing that I wouldn't like it like I did when I was studying it, I'm afraid I wouldn't be good at it and would be fired and or burnt out and make an error in my work. I know that if you get let go of one nursing job your chances of getting another are like zero. I see all these stories on here of people who are miserable, burnt out, stressed and urge people to do a different career and it worries me. I'm afraid I will be one of those people but I feel as though I have know way of knowing until I actually am doing it. I wish there was someway to predict ahead how I will be!
I already have a degree so the though of going back for nursing to end of not liking that makes me feel like I'd be a failure.
Anyways so what happens if you go back and get a second degree in nursing and find you don't like it. What do you recommend?
I edited your post to isolate these. No repeats. This is your problem, right here. You're going to have to get past this or you'll never do anything, never mind nursing. Have you considered counseling?
One guaranteed thing in life, beyond death and taxes, is that we all fail. Every single person fails at something, and most of us many times throughout life. You're not gonna be special, you're just like the rest of us. You have to accept that possible failure is the price of trying, and then try anyway.
I had a major career before nursing, one which most people are shocked to learn I abandoned to come into this industry. But I have to tell you I have no regrets. This is definitely where I am meant to be. Nursing provides me both personal and financial fulfillment and I cant ask for anything more. 12 hours in my prior career were a total drain on my body and even though I am about 20 years older now, 12 hours go by and I am not even the least bit exhausted, even on night shift!
I did my due diligence before jumping into this career, and I suggest to the OP that she do the same as well. If you do it properly, you will know eventually (and by EVENTUALLY I mean within a few short months at most) if nursing is for you. Shadow a nurse, shadow several, and read up on specialties. Volunteer in a hospital and watch nurses in action! Do what you need to do to become informed. Life is to short to stagnate on this decision. It's either a yay or a nay, then move forward.
OP do you realize how immature you sound? I do not mean to be rude but I'm reading your replies and you sound so needy and immature....
Listen.... None of us are going to pay your tuition. If you are so unsure do not go into nursing. Because with that attitude and severe lack of confidence for your decisions, you will surely crash and burn.
We're not paying your tuition therefore we're not going to be the ones stuck with it. ie it's easy to say go for it but we won't be stuck with the bill.
I don't think current nursing is fit for anyone but the most confident self assured, it's a tough field these days as it is, if you can get hired into it. And nursing school has its own special psychological hoops, it's usually not just straight forward learn the material.
And there are different types of maturity, I wasn't referring to behavorial.
You keep mentioning not wanting to be a failure. Where is your fixation with failing coming from? Childhood, family, friends, classmates, bullies or coworkers? Just curious. Until you deal with this fear and obsession I think you should continue in your current job. Only you can allow yourself to feel like a failure. It is up to you to believe in yourself and ignore any negativity coming from others.
What you do for a living does not have to define you. You don't need to be a nurse to be successful in life, nor does it mean your a failure if you are a nurse and discover you don't like it! I think very few people are truly cut out to be nurses given current working conditions. It makes me crazy when people say how terrible it is, all the problems and then proclaim they still love nursing. Please be honest with yourself. If it sucks admit it, stop trying to deny the truth! I'm speaking generally here. So I think you are not alone in believing one has to love being a nurse or something is wrong with them! Let's be honest, its hard to love a job that stresses you out to the max with unreasonable demands, interruptions, workloads, no lifting equipment and scripting and on and on. I've worked many jobs before some better, some worse, but none as difficult and at times unreasonable as a nurse! I was warned not to do it, but nothing prepared me for what I was getting in for. I'm at the point where I'm just looking forward to retirement and saving my money, because it is just not worth it what it has cost me in my peace of mind, health, back and body! Everybody says get away from the bedside and then it will be ok, so where are all these great jobs. I doubt there are enough to go around for all of us who are struggling or worried about our backs and our future dealing with 500 pound patients etc! I don't want to end up crippled or in chronic pain because of a job! IT is truly not worth it!
OK, enough. Six pages of a thread discussing the same question you have already asked multiple, multiple times. A question which is not answerable by internet strangers. And you fixate on this phrase?
OK, enough. Six pages of a thread discussing the same question you have already asked multiple, multiple times. A question which is not answerable by internet strangers. And you fixate on this phrase?
Not buying it. Enough.
This made me LOL. I can't help but wonder if there is a language barrier since the figurative nature of the original post was missed completely.
I've been working for years and have gained maturity, I'm just one of those people that are lost
This reply is late and you had a lot of responses to your post (did not read them all!) This post stood out to me because you stated you felt lost. Well that happens to the best of us at times. So, I will not sugar coat my post while hopefully give you good advice. Nursing is my second career and I like it a lot more that my previous career. I made more money in my first career but I still prefer nursing.
First, there are many people who love what they do for a living, but there are probably way more that hate their jobs (that's life). BUT ... we all have choices. You have the choice to take the risk and start over. It's a risk!! You may hate nursing way more than your current career. It took me almost 2 years to actually make the decision to change careers because it was an extremely important decision to make.
Second, the nursing field has so many areas of specialty you can choose from. If you don't mind going back to school after you obtain your nursing license, the sky is the limit. If you get burnt out, you can switch areas. You can teach, travel, work with babies or psych patients, get into dermatology or legal nurse consulting, etc.
Third, if you decide to work inpatient in an acute care setting, nursing schedules are very flexible. You can structure your schedule to have a week off between shifts without even taking official personal time off. If you get burnt out. Take a vacation.
Fourth, if the above fails, you can return to your previous career. You are afraid to look like a failure but why do you care what others think about your career choice? At least you will have the option to fall back on. It takes courage to switch careers!!!
Do your research and make a sound decision -- one that you can live with regardless of the results.
So here's the deal. We don't know you, we can't possibly if you *should* go into nursing, or what. The reality is that life is what YOU make it. If you decide to be a nurse, then BE a nurse. Own it. Stick with it. Good days, bad days, and middle of the road days.
If, as other's have said you're still waffling after 27 threads (sorry but that will ALWAYS been hilarious to me), then take a good hard look at why you need so much convincing. Maybe consider therapy, I am being sincere about that.
Specializes in Public Health, Maternal Child Health.
I can only speak for myself. I cannot relate to your anxiety or fear of regret or wasted time. I changed majors in college to nursing, took me 6 years to graduate, and I always knew I would love. Have been working for almost 3 years in public health as a PHN as I aboalutely love it more than I can explain. I couldn't imagine any other career, I feel proud and confident in myself and in my skills and I'm continually learning new stuff. I often think "I wish I had known this 2 years ago!" But you do your best and you keep going. Good luck. I never had second thoughts :)
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Red Kryptonite
2,212 Posts
I edited your post to isolate these. No repeats. This is your problem, right here. You're going to have to get past this or you'll never do anything, never mind nursing. Have you considered counseling?
One guaranteed thing in life, beyond death and taxes, is that we all fail. Every single person fails at something, and most of us many times throughout life. You're not gonna be special, you're just like the rest of us. You have to accept that possible failure is the price of trying, and then try anyway.