Any positive thoughts on nursing school?

jreneex2 · May 8, 2009

Are you someone who just got into school for nursing??? Congratulations if you did!! and if you did not...do not keep trying...The hardest thing to change in life is ourselves. We are also the hardest to please. It is obviously a field you have interest in and it is a field that has so many doors and opportunities that can open up to you. The begining of anything is always a struggle, the unknown, the what if's, etc...but you have to do what you think is right for you otherwise you will be saying these things to yourself later in life, wonder what if?, why didn't I? etc...As far as the nurses go and the work environments go, think of it like the military, if they are a little hard on you, that may be their way of teaching you (albeit wrong), but it does turn out to be effective. try to separate from any mental torture you may face, it will pass. You do not always have to work in that type of environment, there will be more opportunities once you learn what you need to pass that test. Hope that was not too much info, it is late at night...Honestly, go for it, do it now, you and your children will be the better for it.

JEN

prudence09 · May 8, 2009

I am getting my pin tomorrow and I can tell you I have made one of the best decisions of my life. Now with that said nursing school is probably one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life. It is not for the light hearted and it is really stressful. Most of the negative comments more than likely come from stress especially for me. I can tell you for the past 2 years I have had no more than 6 hrs of sleep a night. Yesterday was the first time I got a full nights sleep in 2 years. Nursing is something that you have to be dedicated to or you will not succeed and I'm not telling you this to discourage you I'm telling this to you because it is the truth. If you really believe you can to it and be dedicated to school than the first part is already done. Also remember that the decision is up to you and nobody else. I have meet some of the best people in nursing school and that includes instructors. I have many positive things to say about the people I have met and will continue to meet throughout my career.

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · May 8, 2009

I don't start NS until August, but I can tell you this, this is something I WANT. This is something I have been working my orifice off for, I have no doubt it will be tough and I have no doubt it will be grueling and I will be sooooo looking fwrd to summer and winter break. But it will be WORTH IT. I will be damned if I let ANYONE else determine my fate. I have 4 kids at home and I am doing it. Failure is not an option for me and I have come to far and done to much to get scared and give up.

If this is something YOU WANT than you go for it. No one on these boards knows you, so their venting shouldn't have any impact on your goals. People need a place to vent and let out their frustrations. It's most likely how they are able to go back to school the next morning. They come here, they vent, they get it out, they brush it off and they keep going.

It's human nature. Most people don't come to talk about all the good things, but they know the people here will understand their frustrations. You want positive. Look at all the "I am done, I have made it, I graduated, I am a nurse woohoo" threads. No matter how many negative posts those same people made, they obviously still felt it was worth it and were probably just as excited to graduate as they were the day they found out they were accepted into NS.

That's all I got. LOL

~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN · May 8, 2009

Oh and one last thing, if Nursing School was easy to get through, it wouldn't be near as rewarding in the end.

iHeartNICU · May 8, 2009

Hey Denise0815! I have been a nurse now for a year and a half and I have to say I LOVE my job. Nursing school was hard and time consuming but at the same time I learned sooo much and most of it was really interesting to me and it made me want to learn more. I also met some amazing people and now have friends that I will have for life. Don't let people get you down! I certainly did have a life during nursing school because I chose to make time for one. I saw my family, went on vacation, celebrated birthdays and holidays, went to lunch with friends, etc. Of course there were times when I was very busy and had to say no to different things going on but most of the time I was able to live my life. I think I would have gone crazy if I never made time for down time and things I wanted to do. It is possible!! Best of luck!!!!

HumorHeals22 · May 8, 2009

I am getting my pin tomorrow and I can tell you I have made one of the best decisions of my life. Now with that said nursing school is probably one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life. It is not for the light hearted and it is really stressful. Most of the negative comments more than likely come from stress especially for me. I can tell you for the past 2 years I have had no more than 6 hrs of sleep a night. Yesterday was the first time I got a full nights sleep in 2 years. Nursing is something that you have to be dedicated to or you will not succeed and I'm not telling you this to discourage you I'm telling this to you because it is the truth. If you really believe you can to it and be dedicated to school than the first part is already done. Also remember that the decision is up to you and nobody else. I have meet some of the best people in nursing school and that includes instructors. I have many positive things to say about the people I have met and will continue to meet throughout my career.

Congrats to you! :yeah: :yeah: :yeah:

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · May 8, 2009

We come on here to vent, so don't go by all of our posts. On another note, there is no place that I rather be than in nursing school... and I can't wait to be done and get my feet wet working in the nursing field.

Good luck and congrats for getting in !

NurseLoveJoy88, ASN, RN · May 8, 2009

I am getting my pin tomorrow and I can tell you I have made one of the best decisions of my life. Now with that said nursing school is probably one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life. It is not for the light hearted and it is really stressful. Most of the negative comments more than likely come from stress especially for me. I can tell you for the past 2 years I have had no more than 6 hrs of sleep a night. Yesterday was the first time I got a full nights sleep in 2 years. Nursing is something that you have to be dedicated to or you will not succeed and I'm not telling you this to discourage you I'm telling this to you because it is the truth. If you really believe you can to it and be dedicated to school than the first part is already done. Also remember that the decision is up to you and nobody else. I have meet some of the best people in nursing school and that includes instructors. I have many positive things to say about the people I have met and will continue to meet throughout my career.

Time management is also important. Now I'm the type that I can't function without sleep. I've worked full time while in nursing school and I still manage to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night. Sleep is very important it will even help you do better on nursing exams because your mind will be well rested and ready to work. Whatever you do, don't for go sleep. :yawn:

gillytook · May 8, 2009

I just got pinned two days ago. I can tell you that going to nursing school was the best decision I ever made. To see the look of pride on my son's face was worth every sleepless night, every nerve-wracking skill evaluation. To become a nurse requires more than just knowledge. You have to learn an entirely new way of think and then that has to become second nature. And yes the process can be grueling. Oh but the rewards are so great. I believe that at some point each of us had that "ah-ha" moment when it all clicked. Then it became easier to comprehend.

Yes it will be hard. You will have to make choices, set priorities, and manage your time effectively. You and everyone around you will have to make some sacrifices. Is it worth the price? Only you can decide that.

There will be days when you feel as if all the instructors are out to get you. There will be horrible instructors that can't teach and have the worse attitudes. There will be instructors that you will remember every word they say and they will be that little angel on your shoulder helping you through those dreaded NCLEX questions and, more importantly, caring for your patients. And then there will be those instructors that teach you to be a better person just from the examples they set.

Nursing is a calling. If nursing is what you really want, then go for it. When it gets tough, remember how proud your children will be when they can say "MY mom is a NURSE!" Think about all you will be able to offer them when you finally have your career.

deftonez188 · May 8, 2009

If you do well in nursing school, you are officially smart :)

momandstudent · May 8, 2009

Nursing school is tough and grueling but best of all...it is so rewarding. I am not going to fake it-there have been times when I questioned why I was doing this and what good is all of the stress that I am adding to myself and my family. Then I remember why-it is my dream to be a nurse. My dream-the dream that I have had since I was a mere 16 year old.

You will find the instructors who give you a hard time. But remember, this is their passion. Their love for the nursing profession and they have chosen to pass this passion on...or hoping to do so. They will hand you workload after workload and you will wonder how it will ever get done. It does. One day at a time is the motto I live by. I have had instructors that cannot teach worth a crap and then I have those that I have learned so much from..the art of passion, compassion, and the love I need for myself, my family, and my patients to make it as a nurse. You will probably experience the same thing.

I have worked full-time, have three children, and a husband during my years of NS (I still have one year left). It has been the biggest struggle because I feel that there are times when I nelgect them. It is then that I put school stuff away and wrap my arms around each and everyone of them. Sometimes you have to tell yourself "If I don't get an A on this test because I gave my family a few hours of my time, it will not break me." My family is what has driven me here and I thank them for that. Yes, there are times when the kids state they wish I would have never done or my husband asks when this will all be over.

Now, the classmates. I would like to call these my frienemies. We can be the best of friends (when things are going good) and we can be the worst of enemies (when the stress load skyrockets). They will be with you through one of the toughest times in your life. You will laugh, cry, and scream together. You will have the ones that will forever be stuck in your heart...the ones that have given you a shoulder to cry on and the ones that have made your stomach hurt so bad because they ake you laugh. Embrace your friends (classmates) because they need you and you need them.

Like one poster said...we come on here to vent. That's why I love this website and you will too. It has been my best friend ever since I have found it because I can cry, laugh, scream, and yell and nobody from my class knows about it. I hope you do not take what we all say on here into consideration for you to follow your dream...there are sometimes when lack of sleep, over-abundance of case studies, or hyperglycemia (gotta have all that Mt. Dew to get through the day) takes control over our minds and bodies.