To go back to nursing school or not?

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Last fall I was in a BSN program (TN) for one semester and I only passed one course. I was discouraged and figured nursing wasn't for me because the first try was unsuccessful. The tests I took at my school were passable but I was so stressed out, depressed, and indecisive about continuing with the program or withdrawing from school and trying again at my home state(GA), that I did not pass but only a few of the tests. I ended up changing my major to Health Information Management (HIM) with a minor in Business and start the program fall 2012. I felt content from switching from nursing because now my life is stress free and more laid back. With help from that one semester in nursing school, it eased my transition into HIM and applying into the program. My friends and my mother try to encourage me to go back into nursing, but I was so crushed :crying2: I don't even think about going back. Then, once I came home (GA) for the summer, my friend's mom told me to do CNA school to keep me entertained for the summer and have something to fall back on if I ever needed a job. My mom (a RN) hated the idea and argued that I might as well go back to nursing school instead of being a CNA. I ignored her because I refused to go back to nursing again and signed up for the class anyways. I am doing great in the class and everything for whatever reason that I read and learned from nursing school pours out of my head when going over material in class. In CNA school, my instructor, a RN, pulls me to the side and tells me from her assessment of me in class, I need to go back into nursing school no matter how i get it done. I took her advice. Now I don't know whether to stay home and try nursing school again at 6 AD programs I can apply for or continue with HIM. Any Advice?

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Sounds like you were not in the right mind frame when you 1st started. What I mean is you have to be really focused on what you are doing in order to see the purpose behind it and to do well. It sounds like you have what it takes if your mom and instructor can see it. Question is how bad do you want it. only you can decide. Good luck I am sure you will make the best decision for you.

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical, Pediatrics.

I can relate! I too majored in nursing when I went off to school (2001) and I also went two semesters in nursing and dropped out. I can truly say, like the previous poster mention, that I wasn't in the right mind frame at the time. After I changed my major to Speech Therapy and graduated school, I decided not to get my masters because I knew deep down that was not what I wanted to do. Now I am teaching and I am so ready for a change (especially since they are firing people). I know this was alot but I feel that you must follow your heart. I am learning that when things get tough, I can't give up. I wish I knew that 7 years ago :). Follow what you want to do and if it is nursing, then go for it. This time might be different but you know what it was like the first time. P.S. I am trying to savemoney to go back myself:)

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical, Pediatrics.

I meant to say because you know what school is like.

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Specializes in L&D.

You have to be ready to go back. Take an assessment of yourself. Is this something YOU want to do? Or are you doing it b/c your mom, the RN, wants you to do it? Will being an RN make you happy?

I don't tell many this but I was in nursing school years ago..my mother committed suicide in my 3rd quarter in 2004....I quit. I was emotionally done. I switched to Sociology and got my bachelor's degree....I knew I'd always go back to nursing, I just didn't know when.

Fall 2011(7 years later), I was finally ready and went back and am doing great. I don't think I would have made a great nurse in 2004....now I know that I will! I just wasn't ready back then, and I think you need to really assess yourself and see if it's something you want to do and something you are ready to do. If you need to take a break, take a break and come back to it later.

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Specializes in Forensic Psych.

Honestly, all I'm heating is that other people keep trying to get you to go back, not that you actually want to. You said you're content with your choice, so why change?

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Well, you could always finish the current program, then go back to nursing afterward. Look at all options. Maybe a little longer with less stress would be good for you. And you know, nothing stops you from opening those texts and notebooks from nursing school and going over the material on your own. If you can motivate yourself to do that, you know that you are ready. Good luck.

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Honestly, all I'm heating is that other people keep trying to get you to go back, not that you actually want to. You said you're content with your choice, so why change?

^^^this. You have to want to go back on your own and yes nursing school is very stressful so that is not going to change when you go back. If you feel at peace right now, why change anything? I would finish out the HIM program if I were you and then go from there. If YOU feel like you want to go back to nursing school...then go back. Good luck!

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I think you should do what YOU want to do with your life. I agree with the previous poster! Nursing school is very stressful, and that is never going to change. If you feel like you want to go back into nursing, then go for it! But you have to make sure that it's what you want to do, not just because everyone else wants you to! If finishing the HIM program is what you feel you should do, then that's what you really should do! Then if you decide that nursing is for you, then it will still be there for you to go into! But, if it's not something you would want to do with your life, then you really shouldn't do it! Because you'll just end up miserable with your life and no one wants that for you!!

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