Thinking about leaving nursing school

Published

First, I hope I do not offend anyone. I am here to get some insight. I am almost done with my first year in nursing school. Being an RN is a wonderful profession, if you enjoy what you do. I do not want to be a nurse, if I am going to hate my job. I am thinking about changing my major to psychology or sociology. I do not think it is right for me. I left high school unsure, and in college I switched back and forth between pre-nursing and psychology. This happened like 5 or 6 times. I am wondering why I went to nursing school in the first place. I had doubts at the beginning of the semester, but they went away. I appreciate everything I have learned because nursing school taught me to think differently. Now my doubts are back. I have been doing research, and I am still unsure. I know I want to understand people and the motives behind their behavior. I have a 3 month old and a newly wed. My husband supports whatever I decide to do. I would like advice from you all, please. Thank you.

P.s. I have more classes in psychology and sociology than my nursing school requires. I have a 3.3 in my nursing classes, and a 3.5 in my pre-requisites. I am doing good in my clinical. I am mud not interested in nursing school. I feel happy when I leave school and the hospital (like extremely excited)!!!!!!

This is so interesting, because I remember having similar feelings as an undergraduate. However, I was a Fine Art major who had thoughts occasionally about being a nurse. Well, those thoughts followed me right into the first year of an MFA program.

The desire to be a nurse only got stronger as time went on, and I ended up quitting the MFA program. I started working on my pre-reqs a semester later and graduated recently. I now finally have my RN license--almost 10 years after I sat down with my undergraduate advisor, confessing my nursing dreams.

If you are having these doubts now, they may only get stronger the farther into nursing you get. I say do some deep thinking about it. Those thoughts I dismissed and ignored for years was actually me being honest with myself. Listen to your doubts and take them seriously.

Best wishes for the future [emoji326]

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.

The bottom line, in my opinion, is that nursing is a direct path to be able to work.

While a bachelors in psychology doesn't lead to gainful work typically, unless you continue on to a post grad degree.

That being said, I think you could benefit from shadowing a nurse in real life or at least chatting with a few real life nurses about how they like their job and what working conditions are like.

Nursing school is not like working as a nurse. I liked working as a nurse way better than school.

If I'd only seen the field through my experiences as a student nurse, I'd want to quit. I've heard several of my peers voice similar concerns.

At the same time, follow your passion. It's ok to pursue your dreams- be they to become a nurse or work in psychiatry.

PS I was a psych nurse and do use the skills I gained in that area to help me work with all different sorts of pts. Psych care is a part of nursing in any area.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I appreciate your insight and I just want to go to work being happy. I want to do something where I have to drag myself out of bed for.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

My hus band is the breadwinner now, so it would not be a problem. I would but I ha never considered being a social worker. Money is important, but my happiness is equally important.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you for the advice.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I wouldnt continue nursing school if you do not want to be a nurse. However, think long and hard if you really want to get a degree in psychology. I have a degree in psychology and there is very little you can do with a BS in psychology. If you do switch to psychology have a clear plan about what you will your degree. It will likely be nessesary your you do get a phd or masters.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thanks for the insight. I always wanted knew I would have a doctorate in something.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Oh for goodness sake. Why continue to invest time, energy & $ into something that you really don't want to do? That's a definition of self-destructive behavior. There are so many other directions in which you can go, including a plethora of other types of health care professions that offer equivalent starting salaries and much better career progression than nursing.

Good luck & best wishes ... whatever you choose to do.

Hello, what are the careers you consider having an equivalent starting salary of nursing but with a better career outlook/progression then nursing? I am Genuinely curious!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am not looking at the money because that will come. I am looking at the satisfaction I will get from doing what I am interested in. I would start off as a social worker, and go to grad school for with psychology or social work. I will decide as I go.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi there! I completely understand your concerns. I have a MA and PhD in Psychology and I also completed an accelerated post BA/BS RN program . Below are my thoughts:

1) Psychology is an amazing field with many , many different options such as clinical practice, research, teaching--there are many opportunities. With a PhD you will have a lot of autonomy, however jobs for PhDs in clinical work and teaching are becoming fewer and fewer. We have a glut of PhDs and Phd's are limited without prescription authority. While there is some headway being made on this front, it really is not happening quickly, it's very much contested and fraught with practical, logistical and safety issues.

2) Nursing is an interesting profession...the culture of nursing however , is ...well....let's just say, it's not for me. That said, nursing has given me a profound appreciation for the medical side of psychology--it has broadened my awareness in many ways. Becoming an NP in psych is also going to broaden my career options significantly.

My advice is to stay in the program and finish. It's much easier to finish, than to leave and then figure out you want to go back. You may not have a spot a year, two or five down the line. Finish the program, get licensed. Then decide your next step---maybe do a MA program in clinical psych (which would be about one year) and then if you love it, get your NP in Psych (or go to PA school). Then..... you can get a PhD in either Psych or Nursing down the road--no rush at that point because you'll avoid ALL of the problems that PhD clinical students face--you won't need to spend 5 years in school, you won't need to apply for an APIC match and then move to who-know-where to get that required year of internship for a small amount of salary .

I would not quit if you are close. Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I am not looking at the money because that will come. I am looking at the satisfaction I will get from doing what I am interested in. I would start off as a social worker, and go to grad school for with psychology or social work. I will decide as I go.

That's a tough situation to be in... However, I think you've just answered your own question! From what I've read in your pervious post, it's clear where your heart is. Nursing is not for everyone, but it is a very and I say very diversified profession. I wont say more because other posters have given you some really good insight. Good luck to you!

Regards,

Seaweed

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm with everyone else, look into psych nursing. It's amazing how much responsibility those nurses have for understanding the patients, often being the one who calms someone down or treats them during a breakdown. Hats off to you though...even though I have a fascination for what makes people tick and why people act the way they do, give me an arm blown off any day, I don't think I could handle all of my patients had something screwing with their minds.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion