What to do when You don't want to be a nurse anymore

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I'm a nursing student in her early 30s who is having some regrets about going to nursing school. I went to college when I was 18 years old but the bad economy prevented me from getting a good job with my degree. I ended up working in a nursing home where I truly enjoyed the atmosphere and working side by side with other nurses. It was there that my interest in nursing was sparked. It seemed like the perfect fit for me because it not only came with a good salary but also would allow me to help others, which is the one thing I always knew I wanted to do with a career.

I thoroughly enjoyed the prereqs I have taken as well as the theory classes. However, I HATE clinicals. Grant it, it's my first time doing clinicals but I find the atmosphere to be so fast pace and stressful that I'm having a hard time keeping up and, even worse, become so stressed out that I constantly make mistakes. I'm constantly getting yelled at by the nurses, the PCAs, and even my clinical professor. I suffer from anxiety and the clinical setting has exacerbated my condition so much so that I was forced to go on medication, which I NEVER wanted to be on.

It's hard for me to walk away from nursing school. I gave up everything and moved back in with my parents to attend school. They have been both financially and emotionally supportive towards me, I feel that walking away will mean they've done all of this in vain. However, I find myself secretly hoping that my clinical professor will fail me so that I have an excuse not to continue with the program. Should my clinical professor somehow decide to pass me, however, what fields in nursing can I go into that will not be so hectic or are there other things that I can do with my degree other than work in an acute setting?

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I can't offer any advice other than you should have a clear alternative in mind before you walk away from nursing. I would give the same advice to anyone who wanted to change their career. Good luck with your new direction in your work life, should you decide to take a different path.

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Specializes in NICU.

I think you are confusing being overwhelmed as a student in clinicals on that floor and potentially being a nurse overwhelmed on that floor. Just like when you first start a job, there is a huge learning curve. As you get more experience, things become more efficient and you no longer become overwhelmed. My advice is to stick it out another semester and see if you become less stressed by clinicals. I come from an aviation background and my mindset has been "Don't pull the ejection handle (eject out of the plane) until you are positively sure there is no other alternative to the situation". So, don't quit nursing school unless you are positive that you see no improvement in your stress at clinicals.

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Is this your first semester? I found the first semester to be the most awful. It got better, for me, after that. Can't tell you to stay or walk away. Only you can make that decision, but I will say have a back up plan in place first.

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Specializes in Med-Surge, Tele, PCU, CVICU, NSICU.

Ultimately, you need to decide what will make you happy and what path you want to take.

But, I can tell you from dealing with people I've worked with that if nursing truly doesn't make you happy then DON'T DO IT!! You will get burned out and end up hating your job, your co workers, your patients, and your life... Nursing truly isn't for everyone.

I know you feel like you would disappoint your parents but I'm sure they want you to be happy.

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