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Discussion

Time for me to quit

I am at a turning point now. I worked like hell to get into nursing school. (I already have a degree in biology, but I wanted a career change.) I've been miserable so far. Nursing is not what I thought it would be. I have a great grades, but I flunked a clinical last year. I have a chance to go back in Sept and try again, but I'm wondering if it's the right thing to do. My teachers all say that I'm smart, dedicated and that I work hard.

Everybody tells me that it's my decision, but that doesn't help. Yeah, it is my decision, but how do I go about making it? I'd be happier as a home health care aide, but everyone tells me that I'm too smart for that kind of job (Please!) and that I'd get bored. I don't think I'd get bored. I'd think I'd be at peace because I'm being useful.

What other options other than a BSN are open to me? Ideally I'd like to work with patients in their home settings, but add to my knowledge of healthcare etc.

Thanks in advance.

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    • Featured Replies

    Why don't you continue with your BSN and get into home care as a RN?

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    Just think why did you want to be a nurse in the first place? Why did you decide to switch your career to nursing? If its for a legit reason and not "for the money" i suggest you continue with the nursing path there are all kinds of jobs out there for nurses, from forensic, to correctional, to HH, Hospice, administrative, to the good 'ol bedside nursing you name it. Just do not lose sight on WHY you chose nursing in the first place.

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    • Guides

    What happened at clinical? Seems like your issues might be stemming from that?

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    What about being a home health aide do you like better? It's possible you might be happier as a social worker. There isn't anything wrong with that, but think carefully about what you're doing. Job shadow some nurses in the field to get an idea of other jobs you might like.

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    • Expert

    What you do not seem to be considering is that a home care nurse does what a home health aide does, then some, the nurse part. I would complete the BSN, then go into home health. If you do extended care work, you will find yourself doing basic patient care, such as hygiene, just like the home health aide, but you will have the added tasks that licensed nurses do, such as giving meds and respiratory treatments, communicating with the care team, etc. In that manner you can feel fulfilled that you helped someone, while at the same time, being able to use your higher education. You can rest assured that you would feel bored only doing aide duties when you are capable of much more. Hang in there.

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    • Author

    These are all great comments and questions! You are helping me think the situation through rationally. Right now my emotions are "running the ship."

    First of all, after a long career in a variety of jobs, I wanted to do something with my life that was meaningful. I like helping and caring for people. I like working as a member of a team. I understand family dynamics because of my own personal experiences with relatives with chronic illnesses, special needs sibs etc. I loved working as a volunteer at a hospice. I got my CNA to see if I really liked the "nitty gritty" of patient care. And I do.

    I had a number of problems when I got accepted into a very competitive BSN program. I had an accident that took a long time to recover from. Then I had a bad experience with my clinical teacher in Fundamentals of Nursing. Mind you, I take full responsibility for my own failures. I got such "stage fright" that I was unable to pass two validations.

    I learned a painful lesson from this experience.

    Right now I am taking Psychology and some electives. My self-confidence is at an all time low. I am scheduled to retake Fundamentals and some other classed in September. I am happy to say that I think (fingers crossed) I finally landed a summer job as a sitter/home health aide through an agency.

    My personal life is in crisis as well. (Husband's business not doing well, he's depressed, blah blah)

    I don't mean to dump a laundry list of my problems here. I am smart, strong, resourceful and talented. I need to get out of the mental hole I dug for myself.

    Please keep the comments coming!

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    • Guides

    It sounds to me like making major decisions (such as quitting) is probably not the wisest course right now given all the stress you are under. From what you related above, you have what it takes and are developing the self awareness to get you through this next time around. I would delay making any big moves at this time and continue on the course as you have laid it out. Your stress and your understandable insecurity is talking louder than anything else. But just because it is the loudest does not mean it is the most accurate.

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    • Author

    Not.done.yet - Thank you for sharing your wisdom. And I love the Maya Angelou quote.

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    • Author

    One more day - one day more.

    I would like to thank the people on this thread (and the people in this community) for helping me through a tough time. I am still in the game, mostly thanks to the support I find here. And I don't mean just the encouraging replies; I value the questions you ask me too. Especially the tough ones. We have some excellent diagnosticians here.

    Make a long story short, I hunkered down and made the cut for the next year. I don't know any of you personally, but from the bottom of my heart I thank you.

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    I would give it a go again. You only did 1 semester right? Fundamentals? Things get a lot more interesting after that. As you start to learn more and are able to put the pieces together, it gets better.

    I am about to graduate next week and first semester, I thought about quitting. Wasn't sure if it was right. I am so glad I stuck with it!!!

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    Congratulations!!!!

    I'm so glad that you have managed to come through such a rough patch. Hope things get better for you now.

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