Next year I'll be starting my prereq classes to become a nurse... But this forum is scarring me!

Reading all the posts about the stress, the overwork, the nasty patients, and the difficulties of nursing school has got me thinking. Should I purse nursing? What if I regret my decision?

I have been accepted to a university where I could get a typical four year degree, for a typical office job. Or I could go to my local community college, finish my prereqs and start nursing school.

What questions should I be asking myself to make a decision? As individuals who went through nursing school and nursing, what advice can you give me?

The burdens of yesterday plus tommorrow's worries carried on today's shoulders makes even the strongest person falter.

Pls worry about school first.

What you think about most, you magnify- Quit magnifying the problems(gripes)

What is your eye set on? The goal(nursing) that you're trying to reach or the obstacles(gripes) that are on your way.

Listen to this- EVERYONE gripes or has a bad day and the go about their merry ways( the thing about this, is that you read more of the gripes than the good days). There are good days, just depends on your attitude. Either the cup is half full or it's half empty.

Posts like this irritate me. Man up!

PS- This is part of what I would love to tell my colleagues and get away with it:)

Overall I love being a nurse. My coworkers for the most part are great, I make decent money the schedule and opportunities are practically limitless and I really enjoy the feeling that I am helping some of my patients. Getting an ADN from a community college is cheap, quick and smart imo. Good luck with whatever you decide.

I would advise to to do the nursing degree... you can still get an office job if you decide it is not for you. A healthcare degree is so much more than just working in a hospital or nursing home. You will have many options as long as you keep an open mind to the opportunities when they show up.

The question u need to ask yourself is why do you want to be a nurse? Find that answer and you can determine whether you want to be a nurse or a nine to fiver and gripe or moan or vent about your job to other cubicle sitters.

Nursing student here--

I've been told that school is nothing like what you will experience out in the real world. Forums like these aren't exactly the best place to come and find out about nursing because usually people get on here to vent. There are A LOT of frustrations involved with nursing school and the job in general (or so I hear). It's just easier for people to vent on here because the average lay person (i.e. family members or friends who aren't in the medical field) just don't understand the stress that is imposed upon students/nurses and how being on your feet 12 hours a day/being lucky to get a bathroom break is tiring. If being a nurse is what you really, truly want, you will find a way to succeed. Note: I didn't say you won't feel overwhelmed at times, but if it's your passion you will overcome those feelings. Have you shadowed a nurse for a day before? Perhaps that might help you put your concerns into perspective.

Good luck with your decision!

I love being a nurse. I recommend nursing to most people. I live in a place where nurses can still get jobs (Utah) if they are willing to start in a nursing home. I make a good salary, have flexible hours, and only had to get a 2 year degree.

That being said, some days I get peed on, bled on, pooped on, screamed at, hit, kicked, bit, berated, and lied too. The amazing thing is that nursing is such a good fit for me is that even after the craziest days I want to get up and do it again the next day!

You need to decide why you are going into nursing, what you want to do, and what your expectations are, then figure out if nursing really fits.

What you need to realize is this forum is a poor representation of the nursing profession. Internet forums in general aren't very representative of anything. It's more or less somewhere for people to ***** and whine and occasionally get an answer or ten to some question. On the internet as in real life those that ***** and are unhappy do it very loudly where as those that are happy and satisfied are generally pretty quiet.

That being said nursing like any other profession can be as fantastic and enjoyable or as ****** and miserable as you want to make it.

I think that you should approach nursing with eyes open.

All you read on this forum bad/good IS A REAL REPRESENTATION OF NURSING. I lurked these boards before joining, and had the same questions as you. I was already in my program, and I chose to continue. I will tell you that all the problems and fears and dangers have proven to be quite true. Negative YES it is but nursing is going through a very negative time now for a few years running. Will it be a happy or tolerable forum/profession soon? I can't tell you. Will you have even a remote shot at a job when you graduate? Who knows.

I don't ever make good into bad, or bad into good. I see things exactly how they are.

Imagine how boring the site would be if all the posts were about how we love our jobs and verything is going well! We all hope for that and don't report when it happens. What you read here are the exceptions discussed among equals.

I love reading these post because they are real issues that you will face. Yes there are bad days, bad people, bad employers, bad patients and wonderfully visa-versa :) For the next three yrs (counting pre) you will work hard, panic, stress out, cry, and at the same time make wonderful friends and memories to carry a lifetime. YOu will then stress out again about finding a job and wonder if you have made a mistake. But alas.....you will find a job and become the wonderful nurse you worked so hard to be and you will be very proud of your choice.

"The amazing thing is that nursing is such a good fit for me is that even after the craziest days I want to get up and do it again the next day!"

I could not have said this any better! Keep in mind, this forum is a place where people vent to others who understand. I have vented here because other than coworkers and a few friends, I don't have anyone else to vent to. My husband and family are not nurses, and this is a great place to vent! I would not let an online forum stop you from your dreams...the hard times in nursing are worth the good times, in my opinion!

Nothing rewarding is easy.