Why did you want to become a nurse/ My Story/Rant

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Hello, This is my story/rant

just a little background info - Male, soon to be 21, no children, living with parents, first semester nursing student.

so iv'e been a part time student for quite some time after graduating Highschool, i wanted to become a dentist so i went to St Johns university to pursue a degree in biology... however after my 2nd day of Chem classes i decided there was no way on earth i was going to be a dentist. after that i followed through with my studies for another semester doing quite poorly my GPA suffered greatly. at this time i was considering enter the nursing field.

At the start of my 2nd semester i had a falling out with my girlfriend/ fiance for 2 years and withdrew from classes because i knew i would'nt be able to focus on anything besides her, btw its been a year and change and i do still think about her.

After that i got a job in retail to make the time go by until the upcoming semester came so i could register for classes... i quit that job in retail, hated it more than anything

So after that i ended up signing up for classes at cuny city tech, i took my prereqs for their nursing program on weekends and at evenings. they went fairly well, however over the summer i got a job as a porter for a big building in the city, fyi i am extremely handy i love working on cars and fixing things, i could build a house with my own two hands. Anyways i loved this job it wasnt very much work, the work was easy, and the pay was good for my needs $16 /hr not bad for a college student, regular pay is around 22/hr. this was however a temporary job lasted about 3 months. After those 3 months i signed up for classes again and applied for the nursing program, surprisingly i got into there Associates program, i got a 68 on the pre entrance exam ( i didnt study at all) but my pre req grades were good.

Anyways ive just started my First semester as a nursing student, and idk if this is what i want to do, the stress is unbelievable and the work, well the work seems manageable but the damn instructors seem to enjoy making things complicated for no reason. Anyways ive been offered jobs back in the building where i was previously working, the owner said he'd like me to work in another one of his buildings. ive been thinking about this, idk if im cut out to be a nurse, how do i know this is for me? ive been thinking that if i dont make it as a nurse maybe i should go back and take that job and hopefully work my way up to a building super. im not sure what to do, i have my first exam in a few weeks idk what to study or what to expect, soo much of nursing so far seems like common sense/ requires only minimal critical thinking for me. i am unsure if this is the field for me, how did you all know this was what you wanted. right now one of the major reasons im chasing nursing is the paycheck, i do want a big house, and nice car, etc the american dream. But nursing might just be driving me crazy as of now my classes are on Monday clinical, and tuesday lecture, med math, and a child psych class. besides that im off the other 5 days. idk if im capable of making it in nursing, how did you guys know? did you ever think of giving up?

this is my first post here, i dont really have any friends besides one or two, and i dont think theyd be able to give me an advice that you all could. I dont really talk to people i like being alone honestly. idk i sit and try to read but it seems so boring and the material repeats itself. idk i'd be a great help if i could get an insight as to some other nursing stories out there, as well as other opinions.

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Self-doubt and negative self-talk is a nursing school career killer to those that believe in it. I say you need to do what makes you happy. Do what is best for you first and foremost. You need to enjoy what you are doing to seriously stick with it. You've stated one of the reasons you're getting into nursing is the paycheck. That reason alone is not enough, you will burn-out and leave within a year of working as an RN. Mostly, because you won't to deal with the every day stressors and "crap" that nurses deal with daily when working. Nursing is stressful and difficult at times, on all levels. It can be a thankless job, but it can also be rewarding. If you aren't doing something you love or enjoy, despite the hard and difficult times, how do you expect yourself to succeed in this profession? Not every job is perfect. In every profession, one must take the good with the bad. It is up to you to decide how much you really want to be a nurse.

Simply stated, leave before its too late if you know you will be unhappy later on.

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you have a choice between a career in nursing, with all the options open to you (don't think just about floor nursing in a hospital) and a career as a building super that could lead to .... what, exactly? ummmm, yeah. think about that.

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i know nursing would be a better move career wise, but in terms of doing something i enjoy, i think i'd enjoy being a building super. i can however, see myself being a nurse, and i think i would enjoy it as well, ive been afraid that i wouldnt be able to make it however, in my school they professors said that after the first semester out of our class of 100, about half of us would move on, based on previous classes i suppose they came to that speculation. i also spoke to someone who graduated from the program this past semester, he said out of all the kids from his freshman class, only 7 of them were at graduation. idk, i think my problem is im scared of failure, but ive decided to stay positive and read my chapters everyday and do the practice questions. From what i hear/read people say they find themselves studying all the time, but i cant say the same for myself, however i do have a lot more free time than others. i've decided to stay focused and block out the unimportant people/things in life and just do my best to kick this programs A**. i want to get my bachelors after i finish this associates program have any of you gotten your bachelors after attending an associates program, is it harder? also are there anything you guys can suggest i do to aid in my goal to become a nurse, and make it through my program? there are times when i feel as though i want to give up but ive decided to stay postive and take it all as it comes and just count down the days until the semester is over. if there are any websites/books/Apps that you guys could advise id appreciate it, thanks a lot i think i just needed some other unbias opinions and now that i have them, im going to try my best to do what i have to inorder to pass the program :)

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Ultimately you have to make a decision. Do you really want to be a nurse, or is it something that just sounds good to you in theory, and on paper? Nursing school is hard, and it isn't worth wasting the time, energy, money, and effort on attending, and passing, a nursing program if you are only half convinced that nursing is what you want to do. I love nursing, I wouldn't do anything but nursing, and it's worth every minute to me. However, if there was ever a moment of doubt, ever a moment where a different career began to make its way into my mind, I would step back and consider what I was doing.

If being a building super is what makes you truly happy, then do it. Just know that your prospects for advancements and personal growth will be very limited. Nursing comes with a lot of job security, prospects to advance yourself, and the ability to adapt and change your career as you wish. The pay is also great, and the benefits aren't bad either. It is not, however, the right thing to do to choose nursing simply because of the perks you receive. You have to really love helping people, caring for the sick, and working as an RN. If you don't love that, then you will be miserable for your entire career.

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If you are frustrated with the time requirements for class and clinical and frustrated with the instructors making things over complicated I hate to tell you it's only going to get worse as you advance through the program. The instructors will expect more, the tests will be harder, the clinical thinking will go from common sense to all of the answers being correct and you have to chose the most correct.

As for getting into nursing for the paycheck, it isn't the sort of job where you show up and "phone it in". But in reality we are all working for a check. There are plenty of other options where you can make good money that play into your interests. Have you looked into a vocational or technical school? You've said your good with your hands, could build your own house and really enjoyed your last job working as a porter. Why not go for a certificate or degree in a building trade - carpenter, electrician, HVAC, contractor. Here in Iowa there was a story on the news last night that DMACC grads in the machinists program averaged 3 job offers at graduation and they are actively recruiting students to try and meet manufacturer's demands for skilled labor.

Just a few other options for you to consider. Life is really to short to waste at a job that you hate or simply show up to for the check. Good Luck!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Academics.

You have to do what makes you happy and which can allow you to support yourself and/or a family in the lifestyle you desire.

IMO, it sounds like you aren't too excited about nursing, and you have a chance to get out before it's too late. I like the previous poster's suggestion to look into a vocational or technical school. Based on what you've described about the job in the building, it sounds like you'd be happier making a career out of that. You could do the building work while you are going to tech school, if you so wish.

You sound a lot like my former boyfriend. He got a BS in Finance, with no plans about what he wanted to do with it. Instead of using that expensive education he paid for, he became a water department worker in his city, and now, 20 years later, he is Superintendent of Water for his city. Government worker, great benefits, fantastic retirement.

BTW, you make $22/hr as a regular at the building, without any formal education? I make $26/as a new grad RN with a BSN in an expensive urban area. If you get into a union with the building work, you just might be able to support a family on that.

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I was in the mortgage/real estate industry and a skilled workman that is good with his hands earns a heck of a lot more money than most nurses. I have known people who started out as general labor who built themselves up and within 5 years owned a home building company and made way more than any nurse I know, even a CRNA. With the economy the way it is, you won't be guaranteed that future but you never know. You can also be a self-employed home inspector who can make $175/hour. There are many different options for you out there and if it makes you happy, well, no one can put a price on that. Take it from, a second career person who took a huge cut in pay to become a nurse. But, at least I'm doing something now that makes me happy. Good luck in whatever you decide!

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Specializes in Med Surg - Renal.
i can however, see myself being a nurse, and i think i would enjoy it as well,

You have written many, many words about being a nurse and what you want to get out of the career. However, as far as I can see, you have written exactly zero words about taking care of people.

How do you feel about the patient care aspects of nursing?

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Specializes in ER.

You're still young, so I'm, not sure you really know exactly what you love.

As far as nice house, car, paycheck etc...if that is why you think nursing is for you, DON'T do it.

If you LOVE the building job, go for it.

I LOVE nursing, but if I didn't, I would have been gone 20 years ago. It's far too much of a commitment, IMO, for someone who doesn't love the job. And I don't mean the education/schooling part. I mean the damn job.

I don't mean to sound rude, but I honestly don't feel nursing is the best path for you.

At a certain point in your life, you will look back at the previous 20 or 30 years of your career and either be miserable, because you chose something you "thought" was a good path, or happy, even though you may not own a current year car, take vacays in far away lands, etc. but you will have been happy doing what you've done for that period of time, and still love doing it.

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Specializes in School Nursing.

One thing that sticks out for me is that you haven't actually said WHY you wanted to go into nursing.. I'm not sure how a second day in chem class told you that denistry wasn't for you but obviously that wasn't something you wanted all that bad either.

Ask yourself if this job offer is an 'easy' way out for you. I don't want to offend you but you appear to have a pattern of quitting when the going gets rough. This could also be because you have found your niche yet.

You like building stuff- perhaps engeneering is more suited for you...

The number one thing you need to figure out is WHY you want to be a nurse. The second thing, is there a fear of faliure going on here, to where you'd rather drop out of it rather than try and fail? (I know that feeling, all too well)

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Specializes in School Nursing.

BTW- I think a building super is a great trade and there is just as much potential to make a good living as anything else. If that lights you up, do it.

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