To continue on or not?

[HoneySyn]

I've had a rough year, so far. I'm not sure if I even want to continue on in the RN program. Drop out of the RN program and transfer into the LPN program or just continue to suffer myself with chugging forward.

The thing that I am having problems with is dealing with the sense of failure in actually failing an anatomy and physiology class and being barred from continuing on in the program because of my failure until I retake and pass that same class again.

And now I am realizing that I am not at all enjoying all of the science.

How do you find the strength to continue on?

How do you know when you're on the right path concerning your career?

How do you know when you need to change?

Will it be worth it if you do change your career?

[BlueChocolateCat]

Have you actually begun any nursing courses? It sounds to me like you might be in your per-requisites.

I will admit that I have never failed a class; however, there are some other students in my classes that have failed classes before (be it per-requisites like A&P or some heavy nursing classes).

I can tell you from experience that the "general education" prerequisite science classes are NO fun. I hated anatomy and physiology (but I did like it better than english/literature). Chemistry was also no fun. But once I finally got to start the core nursing classes, everything changed. I didn't feel like I was chugging along anymore. I felt like I was learning something relevant, exciting, and useful. I am now in my senior year, (along with some other students that had to be held back, so to speak) and I'm loving it. Honestly, I don't even know how I made it through chemistry and all of those darn science classes. They were terrible!

I do understand that nursing is not for everyone. I truly believe that you need to dedicate yourself to it. I understand that you are having doubts. However, before throwing your hard work away, possibly consider these things:

1. Talk to a school/college of nursing counselor.

2. Get a job (preferably at a hospital) as a nurses aide. This will give you first hand experience dealing with nurses and watching what they do.

3. Becoming an LVN/LPN is nothing to scoff at; however, they are incredibly similar to RNs just with some restrictions within their scope of practice. Your work will be almost identical to that of a full RN. If you are going to be become an LPN, I would suggest just getting your RN right now while you are in school. A lot of LPNs are moving to their RN degree. It gives you more flexibility and more job opportunities.

4. Find some books written by nurses about what they do. In my first semester of nursing school they had me read Critical Care by Theresa Brown. Its pretty good. She was an English professor that decided to become an oncology nurse.

Good luck to you!

[motay68]

If your having such major doubts and not enjoying the science of it maybe you should reconsider your career path. Nursing is really heavy on the science aspect of things. Switching to the LPN program isn't going to make it any better for you.

Do you feel like you are just overwhelmed with the course load or you really didn't make the right decision regarding nursing in general? I KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt I want to be a nurse. Even if the courses I have to take aren't any fun or make any sense regarding my major I do it. If I don't understand something I get a tudor (they are included in the tuition at my school) stalk this website and google anything else.

What I do understand from making it through a year of prereqs and a semester of nursing is If you don't really want to do this there is no way you will. If your miserable and feel like this wasn't what you signed up for maybe it is time to look into doing something else. However, if you are just stressed out and overwhelmed talk with your instructors and see if you need to do something different to help you pull through this.

[krisiepoo]

A&P felt like such a slog when I was in it but I can't tell you how much it helped me in my actual nursing classes and clinicals (when you get to apply everything you've learned). You NEED the science to be a nurse. When studying, think about the systems as a person and how it would manifest, etc... I'm actually contemplating retaking A&P after I've graduated (I graduate in December) to relearn all the info now that i have a better understanding of how it all works together...

Nursing is more than wht meets the eye...

[HoneySyn]

In this program, we don't have a year of pre-reqs. It's a direct entry and all of the anatomy and physiology, English, microbiology, stats, and nursing courses involving the classroom, lectures, seminars and clinical placements are all mixed in with one another.

[THELIVINGWORST, ASN, RN]

In this program, we don't have a year of pre-reqs. It's a direct entry and all of the anatomy and physiology, English, microbiology, stats, and nursing courses involving the classroom, lectures, seminars and clinical placements are all mixed in with one another.

That is the exact problem with "private" "Do your prereqs while you're in the program!" schools. That is not enough time to include your prereqs during a challenging nursing course. AP and Micro are paramount to your nursing education.