I wanted to be a nurse for several reasons. I love learning pathophysiology. I looked forward to having a career I trained for with stability and good income. I looked forward to being a hero and making a difference. Whether I make it or not, I admire nurses greatly and wish I have what it takes to join their ranks. At the same time I'm not certain I want to join their ranks.
Almost every day I think about quitting. I'm pretty good at book learning and tests. I flounder at clinicals and skills. I can be shy, nervous, and unsure of my skills. I have compassion and a desire to help people, but I don't think having compassion is enough. I notice that I am getting better at clinicals and a little more confident, but I'm so tired of feeling scared of screwing up at clinicals, worried my patients don't like me, and tired from lack of sleep. Is it normal to think about quitting so often while in nursing school? I also see how much abuse nurses get from all sides, from other nurses, from doctors, and patients and their families. I understand it's all about the patient, but to have to put up with abuse day after day sounds like the sad life of a martyr. What do you all think? Should I quit or not?
You sound like a normal nursing student. If you're too confident, than you're doing something wrong. Have fun, it'll be over in a jiffy!! I dreaded the clinical aspect as well, but I just kept pressing on and finished. Remember, everyone in your class, or any other nursing class, is right there in the EXACT same spot as you are.
It's still pretty tough for me to go to clinical and the worst part, I only have six more precepting shifts to complete in order to graduate from the ADN program. I can't believe I'm so close and I still feel unhappy about going to clinical. It bothers me that although I'm very compassionate with the patients and try my very best in taking care of them, I look forward to the day when I don't have to do bedside nursing in a hospital. It leaves me wondering why and the heck did I sacrifice so much to be a nurse when I'm not crazy about bedside care. I hope my perspective changes because I'm just not feeling it at the moment but one thing for sure, I may feel like quitting, but I won't! Thanks for this opportunity to let me vent.
I really do relate to this. I am first semester and feel the same way.... but I am having a hard time with my lecture side too, so be happy you are doing well in that aspect. My theory teacher has some good advice, she says that the students who are awkward in clinicals don't worry her, the ones who are confident and "know it all" do because they are more prone to making mistakes. I feel so clumsy and out of place in clinical. Some of it is because I really do not feel I am getting trained as well as I should, they just kinda of cut your lose in the unit and it's sink or swim from their. They tell you to "have confidence" but confidence can only be founded on the basis of KNOWING what you are doing.
So stick with it! The more you do something, then better you will get at it... thats just how life works. Nothing worth while is easy... it's really true. Just stick with it, if you have the grades don't freaking give up unless they make. Again, feel happy that you don't have to worry about your theory side, thats a huge load off. now just be very careful in clincal, learn to let stuff role off your back and be stubborn in sticking with this until the end
"I looked forward to being a hero and making a difference."
Doesn't that answer all your doubts? If you have that compassion in your heart then heck yes, stick with it. No one said it would be easy. Otherwise you'd have students coming off the street by the dozen. It takes someone special to endure this kind of "boot camp". If you believe in yourself, everything kind of falls into place. Trust me, I've been there. I am a mom to three boys under the age of 9 and a husband who travels all the time. If I can do it you can do it. My opinion: stick it out! You can do this!!!!!! :)
I will be honest with you and I will probably be the only one in here who has the guts to tell you this but I think you should quit. Frankly, its just not worth it. I can tell by reading your posts you understand the dynamics of how nursing is and whats around you and let me tell you it will ONLY get worse.
Its okay to have days where you feel down but if you are thinking about quitting everyday, that is NOT normal. That means its something wrong with the "profession" and not you. And whats wrong with it is the ABUSE. That is not okay.
Whats sad is students and nurses tend to make the feelings of wanting to quit, cry, being depressed and anxious.... OKAY. We all know those nursing t-shirts saying "your not a nursing student unless you had a breakdown"...and nursing students BUY it,smile and wear it around campus. huh? I don't see that in any other major. And the nursing students start to think NOTHING is wrong with it. There is something VERY wrong with that. So the conditioning process is just beginning....
If you don't get out soon you will get sucked in and it will make it harder to leave. I've seen so many healthy minded self confident women start the nursing program and a year later I can't even recognize them(and in a bad way). They look worn out and broken, bigger, low self esteem (by how they carry themselves), and whats sad is even after all that many can't even say when they will graduate because they don't know. They don't know because they know they can fail any second if an instructor doesn't like them regardless if they are getting excellent grades. You can't even stick up for yourself and everyone knows it. And trust me its the same way in the hospitals. Its built that way on purpose. I don't see this behavior in any other major. Its accepted and SAD.
If you can't respect yourself no one else will. I can't even look or speak to those females anymore because I can't respect anyone who would allow themselves to be treated that way. I know that sounds harsh but that is the truth and that is why patients and the general public treat the nurses the way they do.
I even see it in this thread. As soon as you say what nursing really is everyone tells you "NOT TO QUIT" and basically making the daily humilation,abuse and threats.... normal and acceptable. ITS NOT. I havent heard anyone address the real issue of your post which was the "abuse". Why? Why is it just accepted and brushed under the rug and told it will be "worth it at the end". Look at the posts of the older nurses and see if its 'worth it at the end". The injuries, emotional abuse, missed family time...etc.
Save you soul and body while you still can.
You said you are good with your studies...there are tons of other things you can do to make money and be sane.
You like patho and I'm going to assume you enjoy sciences, like myself. There are tons of other jobs/majors related to sciences.
No, I don't think you should quit. At least, not for the reasons you've expressed here. All nursing students go through some level of what you're feeling. It's perfectly normal.
How is recognizing and being in an abusive environment.....not enough reason to not want to do nursing anymore? The poster stated having no sleep, being scared, not being confident and ultimately the poster is afraid of the toll the abuse will have on him or her over time.
Absolutely NOT!!!!!!!!!!!! I to been through a lot while in nursing school. For me it was like everthing that could go wrong, did go wrong. I myself saw a lot of things and heard a lot of things. I even failed a class in my last year in nursing school, but I'm still here and waiting for start again in the fall of 2010. All those things just made me STRONGER . With that I say hang in there and it will get better:up:
I really think you should sit down and look at it more objectively. As in do a pros and cons list. It is normal to have doubts and lack confidence and all the other things you have described. But if you are truly unhappy, you should definitely re-evaluate what nursing means to you. This job is hard. And it doesn't get easier just because you graduate and pass the NCLEX. In fact it gets a whole lot harder before it gets any better at all. I truly believe that nursing is a calling, and if its not in your heart to do it, then get out while you can. There are days I cry all the way home, then act happy for my family, and then go cry some more in the shower. But I love this job and I can't imagine doing anything else. But do be aware that there are so many areas in nursing, and maybe bedside just isn't your thing. Look at it all before you make your decision.
I think it is hard for any of us who don't know you and your particular situation to really be able to say one way or the other. I think there have been some very good points made. It sounds from your post that you would make a pretty excellent nurse, the kind I'd like taking care of me or my loved ones. One thing I want you to think about is, besides floor nursing, there are so many other jobs out there you could do that maybe you wouldn't feel different. Less abuse, less exhausting.... Like school nurse, visiting nurse, working with drug and insurance companies, etc.. Make a pros/cons list.. Listen to your instincts.. Talk to your instructors, those who have observed you with your patients and can give you that perspective. I wish you the best with whatever you decide!!!!
Wow. This totally describes my life right now! A couple weeks ago, I was WAY stressed out about school. But even over the last couple weeks, it has got a lot better. Don't quit. Here's what I decided about clinicals that really helped my lack of confidence/fear/dread thing:
I am a student. I am here to learn. I will make mistakes. But everyone knows that...because I am a student. I can't be expected to just know all of this stuff naturally. It's going to take time.
So hang in there! We can do this! Prayers and hugs to ya!
I HATE nursing school, and even I know that I will not quit. Why? Because nursing is my PLAN B in life. Unfortunately, my calling is my PLAN B. I plan on pursuing my own small business, nursing will always be my back up for many of the reasons you are now aware of. It's too abusive and hardly pays that much. There also isn't a shortage like we have been told. Do I love helping others? Absolutely. BUt I prefer to make my $$$$ with my business and volunteer nurse once it's stable.
I feel like you would be happier if you explored better options for yourself. Perhaps options that match you...a major/degree that you are EXTREMELY passionate about...a degree/major you won't question yourself twice about. Nursing is an abusive field. Nursing school, clinical rotations, and nursing jobs. That's just how it is for the most part unfortunately. It all depends on what you want. However, I think you shouldn't use the word "quit". If you decide to leave nursing school, that's not quitting..it's changing your path and moving towards a positive future (towards a degree or job you find peace with). There is nothing wrong with that @ all :).
Absolutely NOT!!!!!!!!!!!! I to been through a lot while in nursing school. For me it was like everthing that could go wrong, did go wrong. I myself saw a lot of things and heard a lot of things. I even failed a class in my last year in nursing school, but I'm still here and waiting for start again in the fall of 2010. All those things just made me STRONGER 
. With that I say hang in there and it will get better:up:
inland18mempire
193 Posts
You sound like a normal nursing student. If you're too confident, than you're doing something wrong. Have fun, it'll be over in a jiffy!! I dreaded the clinical aspect as well, but I just kept pressing on and finished. Remember, everyone in your class, or any other nursing class, is right there in the EXACT same spot as you are.