Thinking of leaving the program...

[nursegc]

Dear courageous souls,

I am in my second semester of a two year program. It has been the most difficult, challenging,

exhausting,and yes,sometimes rewarding experience of my life. This is a second career choice for me.( I have a

B.A. and an M.F.A.) I am a solid "B" student who works very hard for it. We just completed our first exam (which I did

very well on amazingly, 86 ) and I feel like Nursing is not right for me. I am agonizing over this decision. I know I

can do it but I am beginning to feel so beaten down by it all. I know I am not alone with these feelings. I

understand all about it being similar to boot camp. I also know how fortunate I am to have a seat in this program.

It feels as though they are training/preparing us to work in a horrible system. I took a couple of days away from it

to really come to an unemotional and rational decision. It is physically painful to think about studying again...my

gut and heart are saying one thing and my head is saying something else....please,please advise. Thank you all

who are daring to embark on this journey. "Civilians" can never know what Nurses go through. Bless you all.:redbeathe

[agldragonRN]

please don't give up. nursing school is tough. i had to change the way i studied for the nursing exams because it was totally different from exams i took for my computer science degree. give it time and do your best.

being a nurse is a rewarding profession so it will all be worth it in the end.

cheers,

angel

[OB-nurse2013, BSN, RN]

Wow, I don't know your exact situation but I am in about the same point in my program and have many moments like yours. I'm not giving up but some days I feel like that and then sometimes I am very excited and happy with werre I am. Do you ever enjoy what you're doing? I mean aside from the h/w and tests and stress..Anything you like?

[kirbycruiser]

I would be afraid that to give up at this point would always leave you wondering "WHAT IF". Don't second guess yourself and just think you are already almost half way there.

On the other hand you can always throw in the towel, so you will ALWAYS have that option. You are not trapped and nobody is forcing you to do this. You worked your butt off to get where you are and you would not have come this far if you didn't really want to be a nurse. I wish you all the luck in the world no matter what you decide.

[mzrainydayz, BSN, RN]

I would tell you to do what is best for you, only you know how you feel. I started my college journey with a major in business. I comleted half of the credits and I suddenly realized that this is not for me, I wasn't happy or content. I thought long and hard and I dropped out. I took some time to figure out what I wanted to do. Long story short I ended up getting a PCT job in the medical field and I loved it, I love taking care of patients. I decided to go back to college to pursue a career in nursing. Figure out what career is right for you, don't waste your time and money. Follow your heart.

[spore2008]

Maybe you can talk to your program to see if you can take a leave of absence. This way you can "save your seat" while you consider other alternatives. Also, you would need to find out if you would get any tuition money back from this semester. You may be having an emotional rough patch, an existential crisis of sorts. And it is certainly possible you would be feeling this way regardless of the fact of your current status as nursing student. Just something to think about.

[nursegc]

Thank you all...:redpinkhe

[blueyesue]

Think of nursing school as an actual part of your life that you can't change or fix. It is something you just have to walk through and do your best to come out on the other end. It is not a separate entity from your life. It's like family; they are part of your life no matter how much joy, stress, or heartache that comes along with them. :)

You can do it!!

[cyncare4u]

:jester:While i was in nursing school i was working full-time, and to make a long story short it took a toll on my body. I had to re-evaluate my situation and made changes. Ist i took a semester off from school, then cut my work to part-time, and also made time for myself to relax. On my off days from work i would go straight to the gym right after school and work out. I would also schedule a half-hour massage whenever i could afford it. Remember to take care of yourself first before you can take care of others. Nursing is not a bed of roses, it is a difficult job that is mentally and physically demanding. So just dont make a decision on a whim;:redbeathe think long and hard on what will makes you really happy-quitting nursing school or pulling up your boot straps and finishing the program. Bless you and good luck on whatever decision you make.

[eabarnet]

DO NOT GIVE UP. A career in nursing is a wonderful achievement. Find out what you love most about being a nurse and finish school pass the NCLEX and pursue your dream. As a nurse you have so many options. You can be a clinical nurse, an adminastrative nurse, a nurse educator and much more. Don't give up you will regret it. This is a second career choice for me as well. You have to see it through because you are fortunate to have been afforded this opportunity. In some states it takes years to be accepted to nursing school. Don't give up, your almost there.

[NCRNMDM, ASN, RN]

Do you really want to be a nurse, and if so, why? Are you driven to help people, or did you just "fall into nursing?" If you aren't really incredibly, whole-heartedly driven to be a nurse, then I can understand why you are struggling, and you may not want to continue. Unless nursing is really what you want to do the rest of your life, and something that you are passionate about, you probably won't like your job. Nursing isn't a job you say is, "just okay." You either love it or hate it. If you are truly passionate about nursing, then don't give up this easy; keep pushing, and hang in there. We all have our days, and it gets better.

[iPink, BSN, RN]

I'm a career changer too, but doing an accelerated BSN program. There are days I want to give up, but I always encourage myself to continue on, with God's help. I was forewarned nursing was going to be hard, and they weren't joking.

If you know absolutely nursing is not for you, then get out while you can. If your heart is saying stay in it then stay, but don't force it. This is your second career and you want to get it right this time.