How do you support yourself while in nursing school?

Is Nursing right for me? I don't know what to do :(?

• I'm 20 years old and in my second year of college, majoring in registered nursing. I'm so sick of spending all of my time writing papers and studying and getting ready for speeches. I want to have a life, not only later but now. I'm young, I want to get out and experience things, and have fun. I'm so stressed out, I'm loaded down with school work, and I'm just plain out tired and weak. I don't know what to do. I dread going to clinical, because I always feel like I'm being criticized. I don't actually hate the work, I just hate being evaluated all the time. Sometimes I just feel like quiting! I only entered the field to please my mother and because of the salary; shes an RN. She says it will good for me because there are many job opportunities and ill be able to support myself. The thing is if i considered dropping out, I don't know what other field to enter in...I find myself considering pharmacolgy, working with the skin or dentistry but i have absolutely no idea on what to choose or what im really interested in :( ..my parents planned for me to enter nursing since the beginning of high school so i feel like i have wasted all my time and MONEY. What should i do?

• Answer:

  I know that the Registered Nursing program can be quite demanding both physically and mentally. Although you're only 20, look at this as being a few years of your life. Nurses actually have a pretty good schedule with working. They a lot of times will have their 4 on 4 off, or 2 on 4 off, and so on. I know that it may seem like the time is wasting a way, but think positively. Try and look at the clinicals as an "opportunity" for feedback and constructive critcism of how you're able to define and establish your skills, and that will make you a better nurse when you're out in the working world. I know that you may feel this way about nursing with the fact that your mother made you do it, but really she is only looking out for your best interest in mind, and trying to help you whichever way she is able to. Use your mom as a good resource on questions that you may have for the clinicals, or for the examinations that you have to write to certifify and licence. There is still many years and time that you're able to party, and that you're able to have a good time, but many people who drop out of programs or school usually never really turn back and usually never really decide to take additional training. I can see where your parents are coming from, as they wanted to see you succeed, and to be able to continue along a lucrative pathway and be able to support yourself.