Struggling with finishing school

[breebaby223]

Hi all. I'm looking for advice from fellow lpn students/previous lpn students. I am halfway through the program and really struggling with wanting to finish the program. A month into the program, my niece was born, and due to nurse neglect, she was born not breathing and will probably have disabilities for the rest of her life. At that moment, I realized how that one mistake, that one long day you forget one thing, has such an impact on a patients life. After clinicals at the hospital, I realize that a lot of nurses are the eyes and ears for the doctor, and are usually the ones that catch things before doctors. It scares the heck out of me.

I'm also struggling with dealing with a professor who has it out for certain students, me included. She has made clinicals a living heck and refuses to help those of us who need help. One student is going to the dean with these concerned of favoritism but I'm not sure if it will accomplish anything. All the excitement for becoming a nurse is gone, and I dread going to school. Just wondering if anyone else has been in this boat and any advice? I wonder if it would just be best to go back and finish my bachelors and do pt school instead.

Thank you all

[Jade Nicole, LPN]

Hi! If you are second guessing becoming a nurse, you are not too far in to change your mind, although I'm sure you will feel bad about the money and time spent. But if your heart isn't in it, you shouldn't force yourself to continue. On the other hand, your experience in nursing school may have been totally different this far if you had a different instructor or if the challenges with your niece didn't happen. You don't want to make a big decision based on your emotions. If it were me, I would be praying a lot. Switching to becoming a PT is definitely a great idea too. I hope you have peace with whatever you decide to do!

[ShadowNurse]

Your professor is something transient. I know that in LPN school with your nose to the grindstone, everything feels like the end of the world. But I can say that a few years out from graduation, you won't even care.

Your traumatic experience (and yes, it was a trauma) with your niece is another matter entirely. That requires some serious thought, reflection, and professional counseling. Every nurse must live with the reality that we are human, humans make mistakes, and our mistake could end a life (or severely disable it, as with your niece). I've made a mistake that could have been fatal, and I don't exactly suck as a nurse. You must be able to live with that and function. If you can't, no big deal. You would still be a great PT. Best of luck!