I have been a nursing student for 6 months. I am 39 years old, decided to apply to a university after being out on waiting lists for 2 years at the community college level. Iam paying 45K for an associates degree in Los Angeles. I loved studying and every minute of the stress of classes until the day I went to my first clinical on a med-surg floor. My instructor was a beast, my patient broke my heart(im sure this gets better after time) and OMG the nursing staff. Wow I have never seen a bigger pack of wolves:back-stabbing and viciousness, not to metnion they just could not stand nursing students at all. I am on a leave of absence until late August and Iam seriously wondering is this how nursing is...is this field for me.. I know it is a personal question as to whether or not I can return but after reading tons of posts on here and allnurses, there is such a high burn out rate, and enough negativity to make me never want to enter the field. I entered because I was passionate about helping peopl(as general as that sounds)but Id love to hear your thoughts.
One more thing, Iam wondering should I cut my losses at this point (6K and try for LPN school, then it just might be easier to ladder to RN-if I should decide to do this)
Not all hospitals have those kind of nurses you described.
So, keep on with the RN program and deal with the negative stuff until you graduate and find a decent place to work.
Hey Fab,
Thanks for posting. It sounds like you got the baptism of fire right up front and it's too bad. I wish I could say that what you experienced was unusual but it really isn't. Nursing is a very intense profession with a high burn-out rate but please don't give up just yet. Take a little time to gather your thoughts and reflect on the experiences you've had so far and yes, do a little soul searching too. If you haven't already, make friends with nurses who seem to like their job and unload a little. If they're good at what they do, they will "take you under the wing" and help you sort things out. You already know that nursing is not a profession for everyone but if you're passionate about caring for people and are willing to make sacrifices to get there, keep at it. I can honestly say that as a nurse, I've never worked harder but I've had the most meaningful experiences of my life.
Keep in touch and let us know what you decide.
Good luck,
R
RICU:
What an awesome response..thanks for taking the time to respond and help me reflect. Now Im ready for you to take me under your wing and explain it all...:nurse-clap: Im ready!
I have really reflected and soul searched for a month now..time is running out as August 31st is aproaching. Iam also wondering. 45K for an associates degree?????? I receive loans but ughhhh what an expense to realize just quite possibly it might not be for me.
fablove wrote:RICU:
What an awesome response..thanks for taking the time to respond and help me reflect. Now Im ready for you to take me under your wing and explain it all...:nurse-clap: Im ready!
I have really reflected and soul searched for a month now..time is running out as August 31st is aproaching. Iam also wondering. 45K for an associates degree?????? I receive loans but ughhhh what an expense to realize just quite possibly it might not be for me.
Hey again,
I'm glad I could help. It's good to hear that you're feeling better about nursing, but still aren't sure it's for you. With deadlines breathing down your back, the question right now seems to be about tuition cost and is a questionable career fit wort the expense.
I agree, the dollar amounts are staggering but the same could be said for for all colleges. It puts a lot of pressure on a student making it very hard to decide on a career because you don't want to spend any more than you absolutely have to. On one hand, you have some idea about what interests you but on the other hand, how would you really know without a doubt what it is you want to do unless you pick something that feels right and just go for it? This may sound a bit simplistic, but you have to start somewhere.
Let me jump ahead a little to how you will manage to make a living and pay those tuition loans once you're done with school. What you may not know about nursing is that the starting pay is fairly high in the postgraduate market, even for an associate degree. Should you decide to go in that direction, you can relax a little about earning potential. If after awhile you decide to go back to school for something else, your credits will have excellent transfer potential because what isn't general education is science oriented. Here is where I say that no education is wasted. We all build on prior learning.
I have a daughter who is working through this same decision process herself right now. I think she's like her dad because I'm in my third career and still not finished. It's all been healthcare related but I like to move around.
Keep in touch,
R
One of the cool things about nursing, is there are an unlimited number of opportunities you can take advantage of, after a few years at the bedside.
I'd finish school, get a few years of experience, then see what else is out there.
You could work for an insurance company, medical supply company, for a clinic helping patients, a doctor's office, for an attorney helping malpractice cases, for the government helping veterans.
I wouldn't write off nursing so quickly, knowing what else is out there. I've been a nurse since 1997, and have had my share of "work environment" I'd rather not stay in. The good news is there are always other places to go with nursing experience behind you.
Visit
http://www.nursingentrepreneurs.com for a directory of nurse owned businesses.
Visit
http://www.discovernursing.com for profiles of nurses in almost every specialty you can think of.
It it isn't for you, so be it. However, realize there is more to nursing than the nonsense you'll see as a student in clinicals.
It's an important lesson I hope you'll remember once you're on the other side (as a nurse) dealing with students.
Andrew Lopez, RN
http://www.nursefriendly.com
http://www.facebook.com/nursefriendlyAhhhhh Im so glad I posted my thoughts here.. You were so helpful and caring. Thanks so much. Your reply was very insightful, thanks a bunch. I have a lot to think about. Absolutely 100% I will be kind as a nurse to students should I take this avenue...good thought!
I will keep you both posted.
Hey Fab,
Thanks for getting back to us. We look foreward to hearing what you decide. Either way, we're all here for you.
R
OMG you both are making me want to just go back right now...you both are the sweetest......It means a lot to me.
xoxo
I will let you know
Hey Fab,
Just wanted to encourage you to hang in there and follow your heart!
Your situation reminds me a great deal of my own many years ago. I too took a leave of absence from my nursing program when I found my self frustrated and disheartened by the cruel, viscious "real world" I faced during clinicals. The old saying about nursing eating thier young didnt even come close - more like they slowly and methodicaly ripped the flesh from my bones as I lay in agony and bled to death! I didnt want to be a part of a profession that treated thier own like that.
But during my semester off, I realized that my decision to become a nurse or not wasnt about "them", it was about me. My passion and desire to help those in need and make a positive difference in the lives of others gave me the strength and courage to return to school and complete my RN degree.
That was 17yrs ago and I have not regreted my decision for a minute (well maybe momentarily once or twice lol). Sure there are a few nurses out there that should not be in nursing but I have met so many more that are absolutely wonderful and restore my faith in nursing and humanity each and every day! These women and men make me proud to be one of them.
I'm now a nurse manager and educator and I've vowed to never forget what it was like to be that young nurse. We so desperately need good, caring nurses like you in our ranks and I just wanted to support and encourage you not let the actions of some keep you from following your heart..it would be a shame to lose you because of our own ignorance!
Nursechic68 wrote:Hey Fab,
Just wanted to encourage you to hang in there and follow your heart!
Your situation reminds me a great deal of my own many years ago. I too took a leave of absence from my nursing program when I found my self frustrated and disheartened by the cruel, viscious "real world" I faced during clinicals. The old saying about nursing eating thier young didnt even come close - more like they slowly and methodicaly ripped the flesh from my bones as I lay in agony and bled to death! I didnt want to be a part of a profession that treated thier own like that.
But during my semester off, I realized that my decision to become a nurse or not wasnt about "them", it was about me. My passion and desire to help those in need and make a positive difference in the lives of others gave me the strength and courage to return to school and complete my RN degree.
That was 17yrs ago and I have not regreted my decision for a minute (well maybe momentarily once or twice lol). Sure there are a few nurses out there that should not be in nursing but I have met so many more that are absolutely wonderful and restore my faith in nursing and humanity each and every day! These women and men make me proud to be one of them.
I'm now a nurse manager and educator and I've vowed to never forget what it was like to be that young nurse. We so desperately need good, caring nurses like you in our ranks and I just wanted to support and encourage you not let the actions of some keep you from following your heart..it would be a shame to lose you because of our own ignorance!
I remember during one of my clinicals in Nursing a school a nurse telling me to stand in the corner and watch and "Don't ask me any questions!" I swore I would always remember that. In my last job where I worked for 5 years I remember fellow nurses griping when they had to precept a new nurse or student. I believe part of the problem today is the shear workload (mounds of papaer) nurses have to deal with - but I loved working with new nurses and students, still do, though I'm not in acute care anymore. Benn thinking a lot about getting my Masters and teaching.
Good luck to you
Hppygr8ful
Nursing can really suck. Plain and simple. That's why there's a nursing shortage.
But if you genuinely like helping people, then stick with it. There's a niche for everyone. I was a floor nurse for about a year and a half. I was on the verge of quitting, then opted to go to ICU. Love it.
I tell new nurses all the time that this is more than a job. You make hundreds of decisions that affect the patient's outcome and well-being. If you want to make a difference, you can.
Once you hit your stride, you'll have a blast. I've really come into my own and overall enjoy what I do.
But it sure ain't easy. When it's bad, it's bad.
If you can find a good group of people to work with, that's half the battle. Right now, I work with a really good group of people and that makes all the difference in the world.
Anyhoo, hope you stick to the path and keep with it. Just because other people suck doesn't mean you have to! And by your attitude, I know you don't!
Thats health care for ya!
Welcome
