[ilovematt48]

I just started nursing school about 3 weeks ago and I am already lost.. I hate it!!!! I know that other people make it through, so why can't I? But it's not looking so good for me... I've even thought about dropping out and trying to get into PT or OT school which was what I always wanted to do anyway. The professors are so unorganized and they can't explain ANYTHING that you question them about... I have my first clinical on Wednesday... and I'm really dreading it because I don't really know what to do... like i said our professors can't teach!!! Anyone out there have any advice or encouraging words????

[Soup Turtle]

I wouldn't give up after three weeks!

I think you should start by realizing you're going to be teaching yourself a LOT. That's just kind of the way it is. Blaming the instructors when you don't do well is not productive...even if they are unorganized. (most are, from what I hear)

The first semeseter is the easiest, by far, so pull yourself together while you have the chance. If you don't decide that nursing school is for you and is what you want to do, you'll continue to have a difficult time.

[yadis572002]

I really think that every single nursing student has been on your shoes at some point. I just experienced what you are feeling about a week ago. I hated nursing school, not nursing, but nursing school. The stress and anxiety were so overwhelming....don't give up, IT IS POSSIBLE.

[jzzy88]

Don't let it psych you out. Try to trust yourself and that you can learn the stuff if you try. Wait a while, after you take your exams to see how you are really doing. Look inside your heart to find what inspires you,
J

[dusky1228]

This stress is the biggest preparation for a nursing career! We all go through it at some time or another, wondering if we are doing the right thing. Hang in there and gie it some time.

[beachbum3]

Don't give up! The hardest part of 1st semester is the "culture shock" imo. Nursing school is different than most programs. There is a ton of outside of class work required, beyond just studying for tests, you have to adjust to a new way of looking at things and thinking about things- its much more about critical thinking than anything.

1st things first- stop blaming the instructors. You may or may not have "good" teachers, but it is still your responsibility to learn. There is just too much material for the instructors to truly be able to "teach" all of it. You will spend countless hours reading. Do the questions at the end of the chapters, buy a good NCLEX-RN review book that is subdivided by topic so you can take the tests on the topics you are covering. There are a number of the "made easy" series books for nursing topics (fluid and electrolytes made incredibly easy, pharmacology made incredibly easy etc) as well as a series called "Straight A's in... " for many topics. Get in a study group. Make sure you are UNDERSTANDING concepts and not memorizing. One thing with nursing is that its more understanding and figuring things out that recalling memorized information. Get in the lab and practice your skills. Watch the videos that are offered (you can buy CD-roms or they are often available in the library) Record lectures and listen to them again.


Its hard to adjust to the demands of nursing school, but I can tell you that you get used to it, and you will figure out how you learn things best. For me I've learned to take things one day at a time and not get overwhelmed. I always felt like I was never going to get everything done, and stressed over it constantly. Now in the 3rd semester I know that even when it seems impossible, I always manage somehow to get things done, so I don't worry about it anymore. You will become more confident in time- but it takes just that- time. Don't give up yet!

[SAHStudent]

This might make it easy for you...

Many areas will not consider you a PT or OT without a master's degree. So you can go to school for PT and get your bachelor's but you will work as a PT assistant. Ew.

Does PT/OT not sound so wonderful now?

I can make it worse. My daughter receives PT. One of her old PTs told me that in school she was required to know EVERY bone. Now I needed to know bones for nursing school but she needed to know EVERY LITTLE STINKING bone and had tests just on that alone.

So my goal with this post is to point out PT/OT might not be the easy alternative. You may find that in the end you are stuck because you NEED that master's degree.

I will throw in there...nursing school has it's ups and downs. I'm in a down right now. I'm just so ready to be done. I graduate in July (if all goes well) and I'm just fried. There are other moments when I get excited. It's all up and down.

I think you need to get in the swing of things. Sometimes making this part of your life is hard and once you make it part of you life things change. Before you fall too far behind find somebody to talk to...instructor, mentor, another student, advisor. Sometimes the instructors make things worse because they are all over the place but there will be times when they clear things up and it all meshes.

[llg]

Why did you enroll in nursing school if what you really want to be when you grow up is a PT or OT? Nursing school is hard enough without the added burden of not really wanting to be a nurse in the end.

I think you need to re-think your decision. Think it through thoroughly. Then ... if you decide that your heart is really into nursing, then committ yourself to sticking with it even when the going gets tough. It will get tough

But if you can't put your heart into it because you really don't want to be a nurse, then it is best to withdraw now before you waste a lot of time, effort and money on an education you don't really want.

[allthingsbright]

Originally Posted by ilovematt48

I just started nursing school about 3 weeks ago and I am already lost.. I hate it!!!! I know that other people make it through, so why can't I? But it's not looking so good for me... I've even thought about dropping out and trying to get into PT or OT school which was what I always wanted to do anyway. The professors are so unorganized and they can't explain ANYTHING that you question them about... I have my first clinical on Wednesday... and I'm really dreading it because I don't really know what to do... like i said our professors can't teach!!! Anyone out there have any advice or encouraging words????

If you want to do PT or OT then why stay with nursing? This is too long and hard of a road to not have it as your first choice. If you already hate it, I would say its time to review your options. Sounds like you know what you REALLY want to do, so dont waste your (or anyone elses) time!

Best wishes!

[WDWpixieRN]

I agree with llg and allthingsbright....if OT or PT are truly your passion, then that's the road you need to be going down, not nursing school. You won't ever find any of it interesting or positive for you. You will end up miserable and unhappy and either taking it out on loved ones or your patients. No one wins in that situation. At 51 years old, I can only stress that life is entirely too short to be doing something you don't at least like a lot.

If your having issues with family support, about all you can do is try to sit down with them and explain. Have some very concrete reasons why you choose one over the other, but be prepared to stand firm if they're very insistent. If money is an issue, hopefully you'll be in a position to get student loans to get you through so they can't use that as a threat.

I truly wish you the best as you follow your heart.