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I don't like nursing anymore? what should i do?

Hi there,

I've studied child nursing for a year at Southampton and I really don't like it,

It's not that it's too hard it's quiet the opposite I really thought nurses had more responsibility and that I would get to use some clinical skills and theory rather than just changing nappies and reading through paperwork and policies all day.

I want to do something different and am really interested in healthcare sciences, studying cardiac and sleep science.

Has anyone on here been feeling the same or have any insight into what the healthcare sciences course entails??

xxx
Reply 1
Hi, I just qualified so have a slight insight. I wanted to quit after my first ever placement and mentor... perhaps it would be better after this year? I know our first year was terrible as we had to learn with adult and mental health students for the theory side and most of the info was geared towards them.

What sort of placements did you have? Was it these you didn't like? What sort of skills have you been doing/not allowed to do?

My advice would be to speak to your personal tutor about it. Perhaps see what you make of the beginning of second year? You don't want to have wasted a year, to then enjoy second year. but likewise, you don't want to waste more time doing something you clearly don't enjoy. Maybe you could try and arrange some days shadowing other healthcare professionals, which may lead you to one of their careers instead (if you have the grades etc).

Sam
Reply 2
Hi,

I've completed two placements, surgery, health visiting and am in the middle of neonates.

I don't feel like i'm learning a lot, i don't feel like i'm doing a degree when I go in for a 14 hour shift and just change nappies and do feeds. I'm really jealous of the student doctors they get to get so much more involved than me, i'm just fed up of the whole nursing thing, I really respect nurses and think they do an amazing job It's just not for me.

Can you arrange days shadowing healthcare workers? I asked my tutor and she wasn't too much help

xx
Reply 3
You rarely do learn anything in your first year, dont worry too much at this stage, because of the vast amount of theory you have thrust upon you especially in the first year you'll find you only remeber it when you need it. As for practice first year will mostly be about observation and doing the rubbish jobs. Dont be afraid in your second year to take control of your learning and demand more from your University experience.

The best thing you can do is talk to your tutor and see if there are any options, you can carry your credits onto another course.

And I would urge you to give the second year a try, not all of your placements are going to be a good experience unfortunatley as not all mentors are as inspiring as others.

What is it that is causing you to feel this way, is it the job, the staff, your experiences so far?????
Reply 4
Original post by Marie456
Hi,

I've completed two placements, surgery, health visiting and am in the middle of neonates.

I don't feel like i'm learning a lot, i don't feel like i'm doing a degree when I go in for a 14 hour shift and just change nappies and do feeds. I'm really jealous of the student doctors they get to get so much more involved than me, i'm just fed up of the whole nursing thing, I really respect nurses and think they do an amazing job It's just not for me.

Can you arrange days shadowing healthcare workers? I asked my tutor and she wasn't too much help

xx


Well, Idk if it was because I have been at teaching hospitals in London, but I have had days with physio's, OT's, dieticians, consultants, watched a liver transplant, heart surgery, been a scrub nurse. I certainly agree with johnibravo's post as there is certainly a lot more responsibility and skills as the year's go on. Intensive care nursing is like no other (I expect you will get a chance to have a placement there in 2nd or 3rd year), where nurses catherterise, maintain airways etc etc.

But if you are looking in to other healthcare areas, I would definitely recommend spending time with them if you can organise it. I did have one friend on my course who left at the end of 2nd year to study nutrition and dietetics.
Reply 5
Original post by Marie456
Hi there,

I've studied child nursing for a year at Southampton and I really don't like it,

It's not that it's too hard it's quiet the opposite I really thought nurses had more responsibility and that I would get to use some clinical skills and theory rather than just changing nappies and reading through paperwork and policies all day.

I want to do something different and am really interested in healthcare sciences, studying cardiac and sleep science.

Has anyone on here been feeling the same or have any insight into what the healthcare sciences course entails??

xxx


Is that really all you do? I want to study child nursing next year, but after reading this I'm not sure...:confused:
Reply 6
Original post by Marie456
Hi there,

I've studied child nursing for a year at Southampton and I really don't like it,

It's not that it's too hard it's quiet the opposite I really thought nurses had more responsibility and that I would get to use some clinical skills and theory rather than just changing nappies and reading through paperwork and policies all day.

I want to do something different and am really interested in healthcare sciences, studying cardiac and sleep science.

Has anyone on here been feeling the same or have any insight into what the healthcare sciences course entails??

xxx


I can understand that often when you start a course, you may realise it is nothing like what you expected :frown: That can be hard. Maybe you could talk to your head of faculty or someone senior and tell them how you feel. They may be able to tell you what to expect in the future or correct some myths you may have. Maybe you will learn more clinical skills in the later years?

I doubt that cardiac and sleep science would be more practical than nursing. There may be more theory but I can't imagine that it will be very practical based. Also in this job market, I am unsure about how likely you are to get a job with that degree. In contrast nursing is very practical and can lead to a job directly.
Reply 7
Original post by Ok24712
Is that really all you do? I want to study child nursing next year, but after reading this I'm not sure...:confused:


You shouldn't take my opinion on board i'm just one person.

Loads of my friends love the course, it's a lot of commitment and hard work so don't go into the course without any experience. Try and volunteer at your local hospital or get a job as a healthcare assistant before you apply for the course. Plus it will be easier to get onto the course if you have experience.

I think I would of preferred adult nursing because I have found there to not be much hands on care as they usually have parents with them who do all the cares I found alot of the time I would have a whole day where all I did was obs all day.

Working with children is great and I loved my time as a health visitor but not in the hospitals. I found alot of nurses to openly mock the fact I was doing a degree to be a nurse when they didn't have to, not all nurses are sugar and sweetness I can tell you that haha.

Just get some experience and you can make you're own mind up :smile:

Good luck x
Reply 8
Original post by hali0112
I can understand that often when you start a course, you may realise it is nothing like what you expected :frown: That can be hard. Maybe you could talk to your head of faculty or someone senior and tell them how you feel. They may be able to tell you what to expect in the future or correct some myths you may have. Maybe you will learn more clinical skills in the later years?

I doubt that cardiac and sleep science would be more practical than nursing. There may be more theory but I can't imagine that it will be very practical based. Also in this job market, I am unsure about how likely you are to get a job with that degree. In contrast nursing is very practical and can lead to a job directly.




I get what you mean about cardiac and sleep science not being so helpful, I'm just trying to think of my options. I think i'm just gonna take some time out to decide what I want to do, I don't think it's good to make rash decisions! I'm going to leave the course because it's really not what I want to do but will take my time out to think about what I want to do properly, i'm not going to start a degree without a job in mind.

Thanks for your advice!!
Reply 9
Original post by Marie456
I get what you mean about cardiac and sleep science not being so helpful, I'm just trying to think of my options. I think i'm just gonna take some time out to decide what I want to do, I don't think it's good to make rash decisions! I'm going to leave the course because it's really not what I want to do but will take my time out to think about what I want to do properly, i'm not going to start a degree without a job in mind.

Thanks for your advice!!


You're welcome :smile: That sounds like a good decision! I appreciate that its hard to find a course that suits your interests and has good job prospects that you'll enjoy. I guess you could spend time reading through undergrad prospectuses and going to open days while you decide. Talk to students about their course and try and see what careers are open to you with each course and whether they sound interesting to you. I would perhaps suggest that if you like the sciences and want something practical have a look at other health care professional careers out there such as like occupational therapy, physiotherapy, midwifery ... have a read of such courses and see whether any of them suit you. I have a friend that does nursing and she says a lot of it is how to fill in paperwork but she enjoys it, so I guess it's not for everyone. Good luck :smile:
Original post by Marie456
I'm really jealous of the student doctors they get to get so much more involved than me


Meanwhile, in theatres, the medical student is spending four hours holding an abdomen open with two retractors (a job which can be performed better by table clamps) until his arms start to shake. The grass is always greener!
(edited 10 years ago)
Original post by Marie456
Hi there,


I want to do something different and am really interested in healthcare sciences, studying cardiac and sleep science.

Has anyone on here been feeling the same or have any insight into what the healthcare sciences course entails??

xxx


Keep the uniform and go into porn. Lots of cardiac in that, and you always sleep well after
Reply 12
Original post by Marie456
You shouldn't take my opinion on board i'm just one person.

Loads of my friends love the course, it's a lot of commitment and hard work so don't go into the course without any experience. Try and volunteer at your local hospital or get a job as a healthcare assistant before you apply for the course. Plus it will be easier to get onto the course if you have experience.

I think I would of preferred adult nursing because I have found there to not be much hands on care as they usually have parents with them who do all the cares I found alot of the time I would have a whole day where all I did was obs all day.

Working with children is great and I loved my time as a health visitor but not in the hospitals. I found alot of nurses to openly mock the fact I was doing a degree to be a nurse when they didn't have to, not all nurses are sugar and sweetness I can tell you that haha.

Just get some experience and you can make you're own mind up :smile:

Good luck x


You could always change branches. Us adult nurses aren't a bad bunch you know :smile:

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