To give up uni......

[Lostgirl27]

First time posting on AIBU but I need some tough love!

Back story is I'm separated with a 7 year old DS. After working in legal office industry for 7 years I decided on a career change. Spent 2 years laying the ground work for this and got myself into uni. (this alone I am amazed at!)

Anyway, half way through first year at uni I took some time out to get over a bereavement, I am now due back and the thought is making me ill. I just don't want to work in this industry anymore. The hours are completely inappropriate for a single parent, clearly I never thought it through properly in the first instance.

Am I crazy for throwing this away?? People keep telling me it'll be worth it in the end ect but my heart just isn't in it anymore.

The only thing keeping me there just now is the fact I don't have an alternative. (and the bursary is excellent)

Help, help, help!! I want to run away from this, which is my answer to everything but it doesn't work :(

[LadyMargolotta]

ALso, how many placements have you had so far? Is it just one or two? It's normal not to enjoy every ward you work on. There is a lot of variety in nursing jobs and it's quite possible that you will enjoy your next placement.

[MammaTJ]

Moving in with your mum sounds like a plan!! There are so many different avenues of nursing, you just may not have 'met' the one for you.

I am just over half way through an access course, so very jealous of where you are now.

I do have years of hospital and care experience behind me, so am sure this is what I want to do (despite being scared of having ultimate responsibilty).

[thepuddingchef]

I am studying Adult Nursing, returning after maternity leave in sept. I have had to drop back 6 months. I have ds 6, dd 4, ds 6months.
It is the toughest thing I have ever done, I won't get a high mark for my degee as I just can't give the essays the time, but for me Nursing is the job I desperatly want to do. I love it, but it's the hardest job if you don't want to be there.
Don't go into nursing if it's not what you really want. The learning never stops even when you qualify. You have to think about being a mentor, you have to take on extra roles within the ward/unit you work in. You have to do updates continuously.
The NHS is going through some tough times, moral is low. You need to be able to say you want to be there for the patients no matter what, if you can't it's the wrong job for you.
Sorry that you are finding things tough, going back to a new cohort, new friends etc is hard.

[guccigirl666]

Is there an option to study part time?

[Viviennemary]

If the thought of it is making you ill I think you should think of an alternative option. Could you change course. But on the other hand if you have 2 and a half years left and only half of that is placement it might be worth sticking it out if you do actually want to nurse and you will be able hopefully to get more flexible hours after you qualify. But if you have more or less decided nursing isn't for you then there really isn't any point in continuing.

[WhereYouLeftIt]

OP, if it's the working hours (on placement and once qualified) that are the problem, but you still want to be in healthcare, have you considered maybe switching to occupational therapy or physiotherapy? They still work approximately office hours, although this is changing; but night work is pretty much always going to be just call-outs for physio respiratory patients.

[WhereYouLeftIt]

Forgot to add, no bursary for these courses but your fees are paid.

[plus3]

Another nurse here saying if you don't love it, don't do it.

However, I find 12.5 hrs shifts are perfect - I work 2 days a week (over part time) & grandparents do the school run for me. In the school holidays - I only worked 5 days in 6 weeks with 3 days A/L.

My shift pattern is stopping me considering a community role because it seems so flexible.

How about nights - sleep whilst DS is at school...

But really, don't continue if you don't enjoy nursing. Patients and their families deserve someone who is happy to care for them, not someone who is going through the motions.

[longjane]

You don't have to nurse once you have your degree
and It can give in to loads of other jobs

keep at it
it is a good degree to do as you said you get money to do .

keep going

[LadyMargolotta]

Agree with longjane. Unless you can transfer to another course and keep the bursary, then stick with the nursing degree.

It looks a lot better on your CV to have completed a degree then to give it up (unless you have something really good to go to).

Speak to your course supervisors, maybe speak to your GP about anxiety and the bereavement you have suffered. See if it's possible to delay your next placement so that you have a chance to sort out child care and maybe move in with your mum temporarily.

Whatever you do, don't make any big decisions while you are feeling like this. Look into all options first.

[TeaBrick]

I think nursing is one of those things that you really shouldn't be doing if you don't love it. Just to clarify, do you like nursing but not like doing a degree? If this is the case then you should stick it out.
I am also doing an adult nursing degree, and I love nursing, love working with people, find A&P really fascinating etc. I am also a single parent, and haven't started placement yet, but already feel like ds is being passed from pillar to post to a certain extent, but feel it will be worth it when I qualify.
If you actually don't like nursing itself, then I would say you should re-think things, and consider doing something else instead.

[boomting]

Talk to your academic advisor (sometimes they're called personal tutors or similar).

They will be able to talk you through your options and help you think about careers that would use your nursing degree without the anti-social hours (dad's specialist oncology nurse, for instance, appears to only work Monday-Friday 9-5 and I don't think she does any hands-on clearing-up-poo type work either).

As you're still in your first year, the funding will still be there to switch to another degree (at the same uni or elsewhere) if that's something that might attract you. How about social work, for instance? Still some funny hours, but less so as far as I'm aware, and it's still a caring profession.