It is a Tuesday evening, and you are staring at a stack of pharmacology flashcards that feels more like a mountain than a study tool. Your back aches from a 10-hour clinical rotation where you felt less like a student and more like a ghost in the hallway, and the “withdrawal” tab on your student portal is already open in the background.
Sounds familiar?
You are not alone. You are not an outlier. Students quitting nursing schools is more common than you’d think. According to recent statistics, the dropout rate is around 20% in US nursing schools.
In an era of hyper-digitalized charting systems and a post-pandemic faculty shortage that has left many programs scrambling, the clinical gap is wider than ever. You are being asked to master high-acuity patient care while navigating a healthcare system that is still healing its own wounds.
So, before clicking “submit” on your withdrawal form, let’s talk about:
- How nursing school is hard
- How to decide if you should drop out of nursing school
- How to save your career—and your mental health!
What they don't tell you in nursing school orientation
Orientation in a nursing program often tells you that “nursing is a calling” and that “nurses are the hidden heroes in healthcare”. However, by your second semester, the gloss of those narratives wears off.
Why not be honest? Here are some harsh truths about the nursing climate today to help you decide if nursing is for you:
- Digital fatigue is real: Yes, you are learning nursing and medicine, but you are also learning about AI-driven diagnostics, complex EHR systems, and software at the same time. This can make the learning curve more difficult than expected.
- Faculty is overstretched: Many students feel the shortage of nurse educators and end up teaching themselves through YouTube and prep apps, instead of receiving hands-on mentorship.
- You may face high-acuity patients from the start: These days, hospital patients are sicker. Most stable patients are in outpatient care. If a patient is in a hospital bed, they are likely unstable.
- Confidence grows over time: You might feel imposter syndrome during clinicals and at the beginning of your nursing career. This is normal.
- There is a staffing shortage: You will likely see how the system struggles with staffing. You might feel like you’re joining a sinking ship rather than a noble profession.
Sounds bad, doesn’t it?
But that’s not the only truth, or there wouldn’t be any nurses left in hospitals. So let’s analyze if nursing is the right fit for you.
How do I know if nursing is right for me?
When you are crying in your car after a shift, it’s difficult to tell the difference between “this is hard” and “this is wrong for me.”
It’s essential to distinguish between temporary burnout and a career mismatch before you quit nursing school:
The 48-hour rule
How do I know when to quit nursing?
However, give yourself more time to consider before quitting.
- Never quit on a Monday.
- Never quit after a bad clinical.
- Never quit after a failed exam.
Give yourself 48 hours of sleep and hydration. If the desire to leave is just as strong when you are rested as it was when you were depleted, it may be time to pivot.
If you feel like you have temporary burnout, then keep going. But if you’re unsure if this career is for you, you should consider other options.
Alternatives to try before quitting nursing school
Instead of just quitting, you could consider these alternatives.
Take a leave of absence
There are options between running the program at full speed and quitting. Talk to your dean about a leave of absence or switching to a part-time track.
It is okay to slow down. Explain that the stress of the program is overwhelming and taking a toll on you.
Taking 6 months to breathe and rest isn’t failing; it is a way for you to regain your energy.
Try PRN work as a student
Rediscover why you chose nursing in the first place by working as a student.
Yes, nursing students can work PRN jobs as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) or patient care tech through platforms like Nursa. You will be in the clinical setting and see what nursing is really like, without the academic pressures.
Additionally, you can gain confidence interacting with patients and earning a paycheck at the same time.
Working PRN shifts works because, as a student, you get to remember why you fell in love with nursing in the first place. And it can make you a better nurse if you have previous bedside experience.
Finally, if nursing isn’t for you, you will discover it by truly working and being there.
Look beyond the bedside
What can I do if I no longer want to be a nurse?
Is your issue with nursing or bedside nursing? A nurse can work in many non-bedside nursing jobs. You can even find some non-bedside nursing jobs for new grads, such as:
- Utilization review or case management
- Public health or school nursing
- Aesthetic nursing
- Informatics
You can also look for ways to work from home as a nurse. However, remember that all of these jobs still require a registered nurse (RN) license.
Is nursing school worth it?
Ultimately, only you can answer this question as it applies specifically to your situation, character, and desires. If the cost to your mental health, your finances, and your happiness outweighs the future benefit, there is no shame in walking away.
However, if you find that you still love the work, but hate the school, then you don't have a career problem; you have a seasonal problem. Nursing school is a finite period of high-intensity stress. It is a means to an end, not the end itself.
Care for your mental health as a nursing student
Why do students drop out of nursing school?
Usually, students drop out not because they aren’t smart enough. It’s because they run out of gas.
Whether you are in your clinical rotations or struggling with NCLEX prep, make sure your decision comes from a place of clarity, not exhaustion.
Remember, you have options. You can take a break, and the future is bright, whether it includes an RN title behind your name or not.
Try these self-care tips for nurses; they may be just what you need to see you through to the end of your nursing program.
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