Unsure if this is what I want anymore...

[klovesedamame]

Hi all - for the past several months (5-6 months) I've been seriously considering if this is the right path for me. I'm a second year nursing student, and have really struggled this past year. It isn't the workload or the material that I am struggling with, but a general feeling of, I don't know if this is what I want to do and I don't know if this is for me. I did a placement out in the community in my first semester and absolutely adored it. But, I also felt very burnt out dealing with populations struggling with addiction, homelessness, and mental health issues and required a lot of support from my instructor. This semester, I'm in the clinical labs, and everyday I find myself asking why am I here? I have so much anxiety about making mistakes in simulation and during testing that I can't even fathom the real world. I've talked to my instructor who told me that everyone feels the same way and it gets easier, but it truly feels beyond just normal school anxiety.

I just feel that I'm in too deep to walk away now. I'm almost halfway done my program, and I am a mature student, but I also don't want to finish this program and be a horrible nurse. But I also don't know what I would do if I wasn't doing this. Did anyone else feel this way in nursing school and have any advice or tips about where I can go from here? Because I feel so lost and I feel like I am drowning.

[ItsThatJenGirl, CNA]

I'm not quite in nursing school yet, but I have many of the same fears. I'm going to go ahead with my degree, because I've been working on it for a long time now. But, I have a back up plan (degree) if it's not a good fit. That's given me some comfort and a bit of space to breathe. Maybe something like that will help?

You can also see a counselor to help manage your anxiety.

Best of luck.

[roser13, ASN, RN]

There's a big difference between feeling as if you're drowning in school, and feeling as if you don't know if you even like this new career path that you're working on. I would guess that both feelings are common. I know for certain that the drowning sensation is very normal.

If you are indeed second-guessing your career path (and not just because you're overwhelmed), I think it would be worth it to take a step back and give yourself some time to think. That is very difficult to do in nursing school, I realize. A semester off likely would mean a year off. But you need time to reflect, talk to advisers & friends, etc.

Good luck to you.

[Sour Lemon]

If you're financially secure and won't be in debt from your schooling, follow your heart. If not, it might be better to finish and have some prospect of being able to pay loans back and support yourself ....even if it's by doing something you don't "love".

[cleback]

I'm less concerned about the anxiety. Thats normal. Once you gain some confidence from experience, you'll be less anxious. It's just the nature of the job.

I'm more concerned about your saying you got burned out during clinical. If that's happening as a student, I'm not sure how you'll handle those situations as an RN. Experience will not help you with that.

[amoLucia]

... I'm almost halfway done my program, and I am a mature student, but I also don't want to finish this program and be a horrible nurse. But I also don't know what I would do if I wasn't doing this. Did anyone else feel this way in nursing school and have any advice or tips about where I can go from here? Because I feel so lost and I feel like I am drowning.

I was thinking like PP roser13. Can you take the time off to breathe?

Seriously, better off to stop now and regroup than to finish your education/job search etc and THEN realize that you STILL TRULY don't like nursing any more then than you do now. I guess what I'm trying to say is 'why put more effort (time, money, angst, etc) into something you might really truly not like in your future?'

Will be so much more difficult to change directions and/or start all over again.

You don't say if you had a prior career. Or did you just enter school later in life? I really think those students who are 'nsg as second career students' or 'mature students' fall into 2 groups. One group will do well in their new career endeavors. And the other group will STRUGGLE - as they see what nsg careers entail. Group 2 may not even make it past school, or they'll start working and be terribly disappointed and discouraged that they're just another little nurse fish in a big healthcare ocean.

Nsg is NOT easy, nor is it for the faint-of-heart. So it is OK not to 'love' nsg. Best to be honest with yourself as early as you can and take the right steps. But early doubts do plague many, many, many nsg students and newbie nurses. It would be a shame to give up too early.

Are you balancing anything positive into your lifestyle? Any activities with family/friends? Any travel? Day-cations? Get a new hairdo or some new red undies. Read a junk novel. Something just for you! Maybe a checkup with your PMP for a wellness check or meds if nec. Are you trying to eat and sleep well?

PS - you prob would not be a 'horrible' nurse. You just wouldn't be another Florence N or Saint Mother Theresa. Good luck to ((you)).

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

Do not downplay your feelings...

Nonetheless, remain mindful that the role of a licensed nurse is far different than that of a nursing student. I detested school and clinical rotations, but found that working as a nurse was much better.

[DNTcode]

Well, I used to have same fears prior to signing up myself for nursing. Was not sure if I would be able to handle it, like it, if I would be able to deal with all it brings.

Since I was a chicken, I volunteered in the hospital first to see...so I know I would love it, and I wanted to do that.

I am glad you have an instructor who helps you! That is a treasure as many colleges in my area are well known for not supporting students but in contrary working hard on tripping them and eliminating them as some sort of a which hunt. (Thanks god, maybe not so much thanks god as it comes to outcomes, they opened recently nursing program at private university but thanks god for one thing: as anyone who pays gets in - unless really, really mentally unfit, there are suddenly no more students interested in those abusive colleges... yay, wake up call :) but back to your problem!

I would say, that you have many things on your side. School support, you are half way through.

Now you just need to find out, if you really have just usual doubt or if you really truly will not enjoy this calling. If you feel like it is too late to call it of, then look at carrier options. You may very likely find something without need to deal with bedside, homeless, mental issues and everyday trenches battlefield of nursing! There are nurses in variety of setting, and some are call jobs, office jobs. You might very well find fit

[pink_kola91]

Not all nurses are made the same and not all nursing positions are made the same. That is the beauty about nursing. If you hate working with babies, you can do adult med-surg. If you love babies, go to peds, NICU, or mom-baby. If you like crazy, go to the ED. If you like a low ratio but like a mental challenge, do ICU. You can also work in a clinic at a hospital or at a community clinic. You can become a case manager and have limited direct-patient care. You can do home health nursing. There are a thousand other nursing options beyond just the few that I've listed. The thing they have all in common - you have to finish your program.

I started my program thinking I was going to do pediatrics. I'm leaving my program thinking "I'm never doing pediatrics." Nursing school is the time to help flesh out what you hate vs what you love. And even after you graduate, it's still a learning process.

And to be honest, half of my graduating class right now is either on HTN meds, anti-depressives, or are in counseling. I've cried more during the last 2 years than I had during the four years before when I was completing my pre-requisites done and Bachelor's degree. You got to want it. If its the material that is drowning you, study harder. Find a study group. Talk to your teacher ahead of time before there is an issue. If its a mental or emotional block, talk to a spouse, some friends, other students, a counselor, just someone.

I hope this helps. Best of luck to you.

[caliotter3]

I am with those who say you should finish your degree, obtain the nursing license, then place it in an inactive status if you find you do not want to work as a nurse. You can always revisit it later in life, and the license will be there if you find yourself in a position where you have to rely upon it in order to make a living. Nobody will force you to work as a nurse once you have the license. But having the license will give you that option, if you choose it.