[WV Hillbilly RN]

I am in my last 6 months of nursing school..... I am completely worn out and I have forgotten what my husband and child look like. I am a complete grouch, and I fall asleep at the drop of a hat. I only have 6 months left and I KNOW I have come too far to quit, but I would love to have a few pointers on how to manage and cope with these last few excruciating months! It is getting rediculous! I am sleeping NONE. Literally, NONE. Going to bed at 4:30 and 5am only to get back up at 6am to be at school and getting up at 4am for clinical days..... Anyone with any advice whatsoever . . . . I appreciate it! God bless all nurses.......

[susanmary]

You need to make yourself a priority -- you are definitely not sleeping enough. Why are you going to bed at 4:30 a.m.? If you are working, is it possible you can take vacation time, leave of absence, etc. Once you get enough sleep, you should be able to reprioritize your studies/schedule. See your advisor or counselor at school to help you work up a realistic study schedule. Remember, quality not quantity with your notes. If you feel it is helpful, use a study group. But you really need to take some time also for yourself. Eliminate the extras -- don't worry if your house is not immaculate, or if your cookies are home-made this year. DO make certain to fit in some special time with your husband and child as a family AND for you and your hubby as a couple. BALANCE. You can do it.

[rdhdnrs]

Try to keep your eyes on your goal....when you get out and start working you'll feel like you're on vacation by comparison!!! Good luck!!!

[renerian]

Wow you need some time for you!!! Something needs to give......you need sleep........You have to make you a priority! You are so close don't neglect yourself. I remember what it is like to go without sleep, I have lots of kids and worked days and went to night school. Was horrible. I hated school as it was a killer. CAn you take half a day just to do nothing or do whatever you want. I don't want you to crash when your so close...

renerian

[WV Hillbilly RN]

Thanks guys for all the help....... sounds like I just need to chill out a little, and keep my priorities straight. I think my husband is wanting me to go out to dinner this weekend, and instead of telling him that I can't........ I'm going to go...... who knows, maybe we will find a nice hotel to stay in over the weekend.... It sounds good, but I hope I can stick to it. We need that time for us, thank you all for helping me to see that. ! ! !

[canoehead]

Take the whole weekend off and away from home and enjoy yourself-get some sleep!

Schedule your sleep and exercise and fsmily time, and make them just as important as study time. You want your health and family to still be there when you are finished this program. Make your goal a B, not an A, I am sure you will still get a job in this shortage, and no one asks you your grades after that first interview. Literally 6m from the end of your program they will not matter! So don't kill yourself over school, you will learn twice as much in your first year of practice.

[micro]

You need sleep. Read the definition of physical and mental fatigue. This is not healthy.
You are right, you have gone too far to quit.........so change something quick, so you are not forced to quit.
You have came this far. You will make it. Repeat it after me.
Relax, quit burning the midnight oil........or at least stop at midnight. So what if you get a b on a test, instead of an A.......
you have the knowledge, it truly doesn't matter in the "real world" what grades you got in school.............
talk to an instructor that you have grown to trust and tell them/ask them for hints on how to destress....you are not the first student that they have seen totally fatigued.........

balance
fatigue
burned out, stressed, 'dead'

my heart to you and all the nursing students out there,
hang in, it is worth it,
but it is in the balance, what to give up and what to keep

micro xoxoxoxoxxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

[Babe]

You have gotten some great advise here! My instructor told me about what you've read here, no time for yourself and no sleep sets you up for failing. It has been proven that to much time at the study table is as bad as no time so give yourself those badly needed breaks, get sleep to keep yourself sharp, your mind and body needs rest. You know that, maybe like myself you only need to hear it from others. Been there done that and waited to late to see the light, cost me dearly as I failed out my second semester and have had to sit out a year now . Take those study breaks about every hour or so, play with your child, talk to your husband, sit in a yoga position for 15 -20 mins. just do it !! Have a time to stop studying and make yourself stick to it so your get the rest your boby needs. Belive me when I go back in Jan. I'll take all the advise given here!!! Good luck to you ! Hope you and hubby had great time, you and I are lucky to have ones that put up with our craziness!

[Qwiigley]

I'm in CRNA school, you think you aren't getting sleep now....! But this year has taught me one very imporatnt thing that I couldn't possible have learned as an undergrad. It seems so simple, but it is true. I don't have to have an A. I don't have to have all of the right answers. Its ok to get a B.
Believe it or not, it took me all of this time to get it. 2 yrs of pre-requecs, 4 yrs of BSN, 5 years in a PICU and finally in graduate school... I have learned the following:
1. I study when I get home from school until dinner time. Stop.
2. i go to bed at 9:30. No other options. Sleep will help me critically think on all of the minor things I didn't memorize the night b4.
3. I get up at 5 am, go to school and study at my desk or in the cafe until class starts. Sometimes that is at 7 sometimes at 9.
4. Study time is priority. No interruptions. But when I'm done, I'm done and I don't look bck.

I find that the study time is more productive and I get sleep. Dinner is simple, but it is face to face with my husband.
Good luck, you can do this. You are smart enough, you have the desire.

[Furball]

When I was on the homestretch of nursing school I was very burnt out. I broke down and took out a student loan so I could pay my bills without working. Whew! What a relief THAT was. Without having to go to work I could concentrate on school, get the good grades, spend time with my family and not be so damn grouchy! It was great!