Hi everyone. The fall semester of 2016, I started out at Widener University. My major was nursing. Everything was great. I wasn’t far from home, around 45 minutes to an hour. About 4 weeks in to classes, I started to become depressed. I was never depressed in my life, I’m generally a really happy person. I would call my mom everyday and cry to her. I started dreading going to classes. I stopped going and about a week later, I moved out. I didn’t complete any classes obviously so no credits were given. I came home and just worked on myself for the rest of the fall semester. I started at my local community college in the spring semester of 2017. I completed that semester with a 3.91 GPA. Needless to say, I did way better than I expected. Currently, the fall semester of 2017, I’m still at the local community college. I love the atmosphere and my professors are awesome. But now, I seem to be a cross roads. I still want my major to be nursing. I don’t find any other majors interesting except for nursing. I plan on getting my Associates in Liberal Arts from the community college when I have completed all my courses. I’m just looking for some advice and guidance. My academic advisor is horrible and thinks that everyone who wants to do nursing should be in the associates program for nursing, at the community college. That’s not the route that I want to go down. Is it okay that I’m going to transfer with an associates in liberal arts, into a BSN program? I really struggle with sciences, I haven’t don’t one chemistry or bio class. I started chemistry but became so over whelmed with it I dropped it. My plan was to break my sciences up and do one every summer. I’ve come to the conclusion that I can’t handle a science on top of my other 3 courses I take a semester. I feel so discouraged all the time because I feel like it’s gonna take me more than 5 years to get my bachelors. I am clearly behind a semester which makes me feel bad as well. Am i dumb for feeling this way? I’m so lost at what to do & I feel like no one can relate to my story. Any advice will be greatly appreciated! This post isn’t for any sympathy. So don’t feel that way please!
Thank you so so so much in advance,
Marissa
Have you sought counseling? Talk with your parents about this. How did you do in high school science classes? If you struggle with science then nursing may not be the best profession for you.
Unfortunately, I agree that nursing may not be the right major. BSN is intense, and 3 courses a semester is not a normal load for a nursing student, each semester of which includes 1 or more science classes. Counseling is a good idea.
A good chunk of BSN is composed of science courses. So, I’m sorry to say, but BSN is definitely not a good option for you.
What’s important is that you finish at your CC in good shape. So far you’re excelling, which is fantastic. When looking at majors, focus on the career opportunities that they offer. Not every major is as narrow as BSN, and there are plenty of majors which offer a plethora of opportunities.
“I really struggle with sciences, I haven’t don’t one chemistry or bio class. I started chemistry but became so over whelmed with it I dropped it.”
If you really want a nursing career, you will have to get through the sciences. So you probably need to stop trying to finish your BSN within a particular time frame. Change your goal to finishing, period. Take one biology or chemistry class this summer, so you can concentrate on it fully. Get any tutoring help that you need. See how that goes for you. If it does go well, take the other science class - maybe in the fall with a light load rather than a full load.
Meanwhile, do re-think the ASN program that your community college offers. If you do complete an ASN and get your RN license, you will be working sooner than with a BSN, and you can probably get your employer to help cover the cost of finishing your BSN.
And, think carefully about nursing. What is it that you like about that work? What other jobs are there that would let you do some of the same sorts of things - hospital/medical administration? social worker? Certified Nursing Assistant? There could be another career that is a better choice for you.
Thank you!! I feel like there’s such a stigma that if you go to get your RN instead of your BSN then its just pointless. I hate how I feel that way. Thank you so much though, your insight helped a lot!
I’m definitely gonna try and find someone that has a better insight, than my academic advisor. Than you!
Find a good counsellor to discuss your depression.
Take a biology class in the spring, and chemistry over the summer. If that goes well, transfer into the associate in nursing. For there, use the RN/LN to BSN route (realize they are similar, except more science and gen eds in BSN, which you’d have completed through your liberal arts associate and your associates in nursing).
Nursing is very intense with lots of science classes. So, it’s crucial you hang on and prove to yourself you can handle that.