Have you been thinking about quitting or dropping out of nursing school? Before you make your decision, please read this article about why you should hang in there. I can totally understand where you are coming from because I have been in this same position. I was in my first or second semester of nursing school and I had just performed poorly on a nursing exam that I had studied extremely hard for, and I’d had enough of all the stresses and struggles of nursing school.
I was majorly struggling with feelings of “am I smart enough for nursing school” and “am I even meant to be a nurse”. I came so close to switching my major to social work and forgetting about being a nurse. However, after some encouraging words I received I decided to “stick it out” and I’m so glad I did because I don’t know what I would be doing with my life if I’d quit.
In this article, I want to share with you some reasons on why you are probably feeling like you should quit nursing school and why you should stick with it.
Below is a video that I made talking about the feelings of wanting to drop out of nursing school. I hope it encourages you! Don’t forget to subscribe to my Youtube channel for more videos!
Reasons you feel like Quitting
- It’s hard! Nursing school is hard and it has many stresses and struggles, but there are good weeks and bad weeks. Chances are if you are reading this article you are having a bad week, but I’m here to tell you (former nursing student to nursing student) it does get better. For me, nursing school was like a constant roller coaster ride with many ups and downs.
- Everyone wants to! Almost everyone I knew in nursing school at one time or another pondered the idea of doing something different. It is normal to want to quit, especially when you are having a difficult week.
- Personal Life vs Nursing School Life! When you mix personal and nursing school life together, you get chaos! Evaluate your life right now and see if you are being hit with personal issues that are causing you to struggle with nursing school. If you are, try to eliminate or deal with the personal issues so you can get through nursing school.
- Feeling the weight of it all! There is so much to do before you graduate from nursing school, and when you think of it all at once it can literally make your head explode. Try to concentrate on the here and the now, not “Oh no I have to pass this exit exam, and then I have to pass NCLEX but how am I supposed to study when I have to go to clinicals and pass these other exams…..it’s just impossible”.
- It’s okay to fail! If you are failing a class or exam, it is totally okay! Some of the greatest nurses I know failed a class and had to repeat it. I’m glad they didn’t quit nursing school due to this because their patients would have missed out on a great nurse who saved their life.
Reasons why you want to hang in there
- Nursing is so versatile! You can literally do anything with your nursing degree. You are not limited to bedside nursing. You can work anywhere from jails to schools to health spas to the legal system. Name a profession and I can tell you how a nurse can work in it.
- In High demand! You won’t have a hard time finding a job.
- Pay is good! The pay is good along with the benefits. See the average nursing salaries in your state.
- Great degree to have! Even if you decide to do something else other than nursing, a nursing degree looks really good on your resume. Nursing has the reputation of being a difficult degree to obtain so it shows other employers you are smart and hard working since you got through nursing school.
Conclusion
Try to stick with it because you may be like me in the future and wonder how you could have even considered doing anything else. Don’t let stress or failure make you want to quit nursing school.
Sandra says
Thank you for this article! I was actually sitting with laptop studying and trying to decide if I really want to do this. I will be starting my last semester in Nursing school and for the first time I am questioning my ability to succeed in becoming a nurse. Thank you!!!
S.L. Page says
Sandra,
Wow, thank you so much! My goal for writing the article was to encourage nursing students like yourself, and I’m so happy this article encouraged you to keep up the fight. Several times I questioned myself like you have and found it is normal. Thank you for commenting and letting me know the article affected you. I wish you much success in your career as a nurse.
-Sarah
Chizobam Ugwueke says
I AM A REGISTERED NURSE WITH BSN AND MSN STUDENT NOW. IT IS HUMAN TO FEAR UNKNOWN AS WE EMBARK ON NEW PROFESSION BUT OUR UNDYING INTEREST IN THAT PROFESSION MOTIVATES US TO REMAIN FIRM IN DETERMINATION TO SUCCEED BY WORKING HARD SUCH AS DOING HOME WORKS, ASK QUESTIONS, FORM STUDY GROUPS, SAY PRAYERS FOR WISDOM TO UNDERSTAND ETC.
QUITTING YOUR GOAL DOES NOT MAKE IT BETTER BUT SETS YOU BACK. REMEMBER, EVERY PROFESSION HAS ITS OWN CHALLENGES. REJECTION LETTER? YOU ARE NOT ALONE, A SCHOOL SENDS YOU REJECTION LETTER BUT THEY ARE NOT THE ONLY SCHOOL THAT OFFERS NURSING PROGRAM.
IF ONE DOOR CLOSES, GOD OPENS ANOTHER CLOSER DOOR. IN MY OWN CASE, I RECEIVED FIRST LETTER OF SORRY WE CAN’T ADMIT YOU TO THE PROGRAM AT THIS TIME AND I WENT TO THE SCHOOL WITH THE LETTER RECEIVED TO KNOW WHY. THEY PUT ME ON WAITING LIST AND BEFORE RESUMPTION DATE, 3 STUDENTS DROPPED AND I RECEIVED A LETTER OF ADMISSION. PERSIST IN YOUR DESIRES AND DON’T GIVE UP KNOWING NURSES ARE SPECIAL ADVOCATES. YES, BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN MAKE IT AS WE LEARN BY LEARNING..
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GOOD LUCK IN YOUR DECISION TO DO YOUR BEST BY GOD’S GRACE, NOT SCARED OF YOUR DREAM