Dropping out of Nursing

Hi,
I’m a first year student nurse and I’m currently on my first placement.

I’ve come to realise- very quickly- that the long hours and the work that I’m learning to do, isn’t suited to me at all. I’m really emotional and struggling with the long hours. I thought I was passionate enough about the course to get over the shifts but I’m not enjoying it at all.

I’m wanting to end my placement early and drop the course.

Does anyone know how I go about doing this?

Thank you 😭

Reply 1

Littleemma98

Original post

by Shan1109

Hi,
I’m a first year student nurse and I’m currently on my first placement.
I’ve come to realise- very quickly- that the long hours and the work that I’m learning to do, isn’t suited to me at all. I’m really emotional and struggling with the long hours. I thought I was passionate enough about the course to get over the shifts but I’m not enjoying it at all.
I’m wanting to end my placement early and drop the course.
Does anyone know how I go about doing this?
Thank you 😭

Hi Shannon 😌

I would recommend that you speak to your university course leader and also placement officer regarding your problem with your current placement.

Remember that every placement could be different for you as you may do your next placement in community and then perhaps you'll have outpatient department so you will be doing different shifts throughout your coursework until you qualify and then get a job that suits you best.

Do you know if your hospital trust has a split shift pattern ( example - 7am - 3pm, 3pm - 10pm and 10pm -7am ) as if so maybe discuss it with them but the only thing is with this shift pattern is you'll have to work 5 day's out of 7 compared to your current 3 days you are working with long hours with 4 days of. This might be better for you at the moment and perhaps work towards working the long hours.....( They may not do this shift pattern but it is a suggestion for you to discuss. ).

Getting use to working a 12/13 Hours shift pattern is difficult at first but you do get use to doing them after a few weeks or so. I think a lot of people think that nursing is a 9-5 job but unfortunately it's not especially on hospital ward's when you working a 12 or 13 hour shift. Community nursing is basically 8am - 6pm Monday to Friday but you get a day of during the week plus free weekends and outpatients department works similar to your community placement.

I bet you would make a brilliant nurse with what you said about being passionate enough to do nursing 💗.

I would not drop out without trying to resolve any problems with your university course leader and placement officer and perhaps talk to your university student union representative for further advice.

I work constant 12 hours shift ( dayshift, Nightshift as this is what I did throughout my time as a student adult nurse).

Registered adult nurse.

Reply 2

Emily_B

Original post

by Shan1109

Hi,
I’m a first year student nurse and I’m currently on my first placement.
I’ve come to realise- very quickly- that the long hours and the work that I’m learning to do, isn’t suited to me at all. I’m really emotional and struggling with the long hours. I thought I was passionate enough about the course to get over the shifts but I’m not enjoying it at all.
I’m wanting to end my placement early and drop the course.
Does anyone know how I go about doing this?
Thank you 😭

I'm really sorry to hear that you're having a tough time on placement.
If you're adamant on dropping out, then you need to speak to the university, more specifically your personal tutor.

However, I am also a registered nurse and I would echo a lot of what @Littleemma98 has said - there are options out there to help you.
I personally do 12-13 hour shifts - 730am-830pm days and 8pm-8am nights - however we do also do half days (730-230 mornings and 130-830 afternoons). This is definitely something for you to explore as this could really benefit you - please speak to the ward manager about trialling this before you go looking to drop out.
Not every placement is for everyone - I wasn't a fan of school nursing, day surgery, A&E, or nursing homes when I was on placement in those areas (although there is stuff I learned from those placements). I did much prefer inpatient wards and have been on a vascular surgery ward for a number of years. Other people I trained with thrived off A&E, or hated hospital placements but loved community.
I'd also highly recommend you talking to your practice assessor and supervisor about what you're learning; also to the PEFs (practice education facilitators - they exist in every NHS trust/heath board, sometimes under a different name, and are there to support students in practice and the ward team in supporting/educating students).

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