Should I continue nursing school?

[ElsieO's]

I am currently in my second semester of first year nursing school and I entered right out of highschool. I left highschool thinking I wanted to be a nurse but now i can feel my mind changing. It's not that the school work is hard, its that I don't think I will be able to continue my career and life constantly being stressed. I'm already stressed now completing my mandatory clinical placement, done biweekly and I only have one patient; I don't know how I'll be able to manage with more. I'm constantly feeling unhappy going to clinical each morning and I don't think that I'll be able to do this on a regular basis once I graduate university. I guess the main question im asking is do you ever have these feelings currently in your profession or did (or do) you have them while in nursing school, and if so how did you deal with them?

[MilliePieRN]

I graduated last yr. The stress from school is way worse than the stress from work. It's hard work, and stressful, but it's a different type of stress. If it was like always being in nursing school, I would prefer to be put out of my misery...

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

During school I disliked my clinical rotations due to my own personality issues. I am an introvert who doesn't enjoy meeting new people and, unlike other nurses, my patients never really brightened up my days. I am not the type of person who thrives off being needed by others.

I pushed through these feelings of discomfort because I was desperate to get a foot into the door of the rapidly fading middle class, and nursing was the most accessible way to make it happen.

If you absolutely cannot envision yourself providing nursing care to patients for the next couple of decades, my suggestion is to discover something you enjoy and pursue that as a potential career. I enjoy writing, but it is not a practical way to carve out a living, so I work as a nurse.

You should also revisit the reasons you initially wanted to become a nurse. Good luck to you.

[Jules A, MSN]

Only you can answer this question and please don't make a hasty decision.

I felt like you describe and actually quit nursing school my first go round. It wasn't a suitable career for me at that time. I had no interest in med-surge bedside nursing and 30 years ago there wasn't much else going on. I remember loathing every single clinical experience and didn't have the maturity to push through it. It was an interesting turn of events that led me back to school in my late 30s and again I hated all my clinicals except psych, ED and NICU. The only regret I have is that I didn't have the maturity and family direction to have gone to med school as a young person but no regrets for quitting nursing school the first time.

Best wishes and good luck with whatever you decide.

[llg, PhD, RN]

If you do not like the actual work of nursing, change majors. However, if you just feel a little overwhelmed and lack confidence about your abilities to take care of multiple patients -- but still like the actual work of nursing -- then give it a bit more time. Most students feel overwhelmed and struggle with developing the skill to care for multiple patients.

If you think that you are going to find a career with no stress ... then you are probably wrong. I don't know anyone who has a stress-free career or life. Sometimes, we have to endure stress and in doing so, become stronger. That's part of growing up.

But if you really don't like the work that nurses do ... and your reasons for pursuing a nursing career no longer apply ... then get out now and don't waste any more money on a career you don't want.

[NOADLS]

During school, you have to do a bit of everything. Out in your own practice, you pick where you work. School was much more stressful.

[OldDude]

I think TheCommuter nailed what you should do; revisit the reason you initially wanted to become a nurse. Being right out of high school you really don't know much about anything in regard to professions, career paths, and other real life circumstances. Maybe the "idea" of nursing led you to that direction and now that you're getting to see some of what it's really about you're realizing it's not what you imagined. That's not necessarily a bad thing. As these other nurses have posted, most everyone dislikes nursing school but it's completely different when you get out and start working. I hated nursing school and was sure I would not work in the field until my pediatric rotation and realized that was my niche. Be honest with yourself. Nursing school is hard; physically and emotionally. You're young enough you can regroup and start over on something else or stick it out and try it on for size and then move on if it's not your passion. Only you can decide. Let us know what you choose.

[Libby1987]

I went in right out of HS as well and I felt awkward in clinicals. I could write care plans all day but felt dread every time going in. Part because I didn't know what to do, part because I wasn't doing enough, I was just stuck trying to make my way through the day. But in the moments when I felt confident I liked the work. I never really liked the hospital environment, the only thing I liked was the human interactions and the tasks.

I sure don't think it's the career one should take in these times if you don't see yourself wanting to deal with what it will take to get into a job you would like. All these grad nurses vying even for LTC spots, unless I wanted to go that route permanently or knew you could be competitive for more desirable to you positions, I'd look at other options.

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Moved to our General Nursing Student forum for nursing students and members to give you advice and support you need.

There are several threads here about members who disliked clinicals due to stress and went on to have successful careers while others decided to change career direction.

Members have already given you good advice to reflect on reasons you decided on career. You might want to search here for stress reduction techniques while in nursing school or how to survive nursing school to see how others have dealt with school stress.

Best wishes on your journey to finding career that fits you!

[tnmater]

When I was 19 I quit nursing school. My main reasons back then were the doctors. The ones I encountered were intimidating and jerks. Now, 30 yrs later and I'm back in school. I've found two things: 1) I have more confidence and 2.) Dr.s have more respect for nurses and value their experience with patients. I regret not finishing school when I was younger. So many things might have been better in my life. Examine yourself as to WHY you don't want to finish. If it's the clinical rotation, remember, there are so many avenues that a nurse can take their career. It doesn't have to be just in the hospital setting. Teaching, schools, insurance companies, research, lawyers, home health, businesses, or technology (hospitals really need tech. geeks who know the nursing process) are a few areas that need nurses. Look at what you can do beyond nursing school. I too have had clinical rotations that I just despised and others that even surprised myself that I loved them so much. Nursing school is stressful and tiring. If that's the problem, look at what you can do to ease it. If you just absolutely hate it, then look into majors that you can still use what you've learned this far. Just don't quit college all together! The best advice, I think, is to talk with your instructors or an advisor. Remember, they are there to help you and you might even be surprised that have had the same feelings as you.