I am so overwhelmed..need advice!

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I am a pre-nursing student going through some tough times. Struggling with depression and basically burnout. I have been plugging through my nursing pre-reqs and working full time without vacation for over a year. It is all coming to bite me in the you know what now.

I have fallen behind in Anatomy & Phys. It is week 5, but I am about two labs behind, two more due Sat along with essays. We are studying the heart right now and because I am so overwhelmed I cannot even concentrate. I think this is compounded by the fact that I don't even know for sure that nursing is for me. If you don't really know if you *want* it, it is really freaking hard to keep the motivation to study.......especially when you just get so tired of it all.

So......I have applied for the RN program in the spring, but if I drop this class to work on my mental state and get a break it will push me a semester later on the wait list. But, if I have no motivation to study, how do I push thru it? I hate to put nursing school off some more, but I don't know why. I am not sure about anything! If I put off the class, my application will be sent back to me.:o

So..if you were going thru depression (diagnosed) and felt overwhelmed with school/family stress/deciding on a career, would you take a break? Or would you push thru it to get the class over with? It would require alot of effort on my part at this point to try to catch up and understand. On the flip side, when I think about actually coming home from work and NOT having to worry about school or nursing or whatever else I am going to do with my life it feels like a dream! I am thinking of going on a big hiatus for the next two months where I dont even allow myself to get on the computer at home. Not even for "fun". Not for work, not for school. Free my mind. I am always on here looking at how to figure out my life. Maybe I need to just relish in being alive right now and maybe seek direction elsewhere.

What do you think?

SmilingBluEyes

20,964 Posts

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I would NOT enter nursing school or increase my load until my depression is addressed and treated. Having suffered severe depression in the past, I can tell you this with strong conviction. I feel for you; but please, please get the depression cared for before you increase your responsibilities at all. Trust me on this. Best wishes.

lynn27

53 Posts

I agree with SmilingBluEyes...please don't increase your stress right now. Think of yourself as your first patient--and taking care of yourself needs to be your top priority. Please try to get some help for the depression and reduce your stress. If you really would like to go to nursing school, please give yourself the chance to be very healthy and happy before you enter. Nursing school itself is an incredible challenge--stress levels tend to go through the roof during some classes. I have other degrees and the nursing degree was by far the most challenging to my mental health. As far as being "behind" a semester or 2 or 3 or whatever you need--don't worry because the nursing school will still be there. And who knows, during this "break time", you may find another path that intrigues you. The most important thing is your health!

Specializes in cardiac/education.

Thank you guys for your words of wisdom. I feel so bad that I am dropping the class. I have worked hard to this point....giving up vacation days from my full time job to attend classes......but I still feel guilty. Even if I could slam out all the assingments due this weekend, I don't know how good I would do on the tests. (It is an online class). I just feel like my clock is ticking and I have no idea what I should do professionally for the rest of my life.

Taking a break could be positive though. Maybe I could find an actual direction that I would want to take. Right now I am just fumbling around hoping to like something.

I have not officially decided yet, we'll see............. Thanks again!!

Janice

carolynd

19 Posts

I am a nursing instructor and know what it will take for you to go through a nursing program. It sounds to me like starting nursing is not a really great idea for you at this time. Maybe I miss it but I was wondering if you are considering a two year program or a four year program? When we see students feeling much like you we encourage them to consider a short break - even a year. It will do little for you to ruin your health just to learn how to protect or improve the health of others. When you start nursing school you need to have all support courses completed and finances arranged. You need to have a support system in place and then you need to bond with your classmates. I would also encourage you to talk with your care provider and possibly receive some chemical support for your current situational depression. The bottom line of depression can be a terminal event so get the help you need, sooner than later.

I am a pre-nursing student going through some tough times. Struggling with depression and basically burnout. I have been plugging through my nursing pre-reqs and working full time without vacation for over a year. It is all coming to bite me in the you know what now.

I have fallen behind in Anatomy & Phys. It is week 5, but I am about two labs behind, two more due Sat along with essays. We are studying the heart right now and because I am so overwhelmed I cannot even concentrate. I think this is compounded by the fact that I don't even know for sure that nursing is for me. If you don't really know if you *want* it, it is really freaking hard to keep the motivation to study.......especially when you just get so tired of it all.

So......I have applied for the RN program in the spring, but if I drop this class to work on my mental state and get a break it will push me a semester later on the wait list. But, if I have no motivation to study, how do I push thru it? I hate to put nursing school off some more, but I don't know why. I am not sure about anything! If I put off the class, my application will be sent back to me.:o

So..if you were going thru depression (diagnosed) and felt overwhelmed with school/family stress/deciding on a career, would you take a break? Or would you push thru it to get the class over with? It would require alot of effort on my part at this point to try to catch up and understand. On the flip side, when I think about actually coming home from work and NOT having to worry about school or nursing or whatever else I am going to do with my life it feels like a dream! I am thinking of going on a big hiatus for the next two months where I dont even allow myself to get on the computer at home. Not even for "fun". Not for work, not for school. Free my mind. I am always on here looking at how to figure out my life. Maybe I need to just relish in being alive right now and maybe seek direction elsewhere.

What do you think?

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