feeling overwhelmed?

jenrninmi, MSN, RN · Mar 13, 2004

for the students who are beyond their 1st semester......
was there ever a time you doubted yourself?

There were many many times that I was stressed, but still haven't doubted that nursing is what I want to do. I really enjoy it!

nurseshawna · Mar 13, 2004

well, i don't doubt that nursing is what i want to do at all...

it is the getting there!! can i do this, is what i keep questioning myself with.

i drive a long drive to get to school everyday, and i can feel that it is really beginning to take a toll already.

have 4 kids at home, it is like we never stop!

i so want to be a nurse, i really don't know what my problem is exactly, if you know what i mean, lol

thanks.

Catma63 · Mar 13, 2004

nurseshawna, sounds to me like you're just tired.

Look, one thing I've recently "learned" after half-killing myself struggling through this second semester...I was neglecting me. I had to be told, truthfully, that I needed to make some time for myself (a bubble bath, a movie, a dinner out) so I could be a better student. There really IS such a thing as over-studying. It's akin to overstruggling. When you do that, you get overwhelmed, exhausted.

Like you, I also have children. Two grown and two growing. I needed to wake up and see that I needed that time with the kids....for them and me!

Take one day at a time. Nursing school, as I'm sure you've learned, is an endurance test. Allow yourself time for rest so you can better handle the stress.

KimRN03 · Mar 13, 2004

I always doubted myself. I think that may be a good thing while you are learning. It's the people who think they know it all are the ones that get into trouble. Being cautious is good!

johnnrachel · Mar 13, 2004

I have to jump on this one, I am a first semester student and I was doing well until Friday. I heard that the graduating class this semester is only going to total 14 out of the 50 that started. If this isnt depressing I dont know what is. When you hear these stats you begin to ask yourself "Why bother with odds like that" I keep coming to this site and finding faith, Thank you all for your support, and congrats to all who have already been successful. :balloons: I can only hope Im one of the 14, (Sierra I hope you are as well) My friend reads this site daily!!! :)

mitchsmom · Mar 13, 2004

Yes, I totally wonder what the hell I'm doing sometimes :)

I am taking less classes than I originally planned and I'm thinking about taking the summer off.

I don't doubt my interest in nursing, but I just wonder if I should be doing this just now, especially since my husband is totally against it and wants me to wait until later. Thankfully I'm part-time and I think I'll be sticking with it, though it may take me some time to finish. At least this way I am able to actually enjoy it most of the time (I am second semester and I have a 110 mile commute, also part of the reason I'm part-time).

Best wishes

Lasoniamacaroni · Mar 14, 2004

14 OUT OF 50???? Whoa!!!! That is very sobering. I don't know what my school stats are, but I am certainly going to find out. That is just plain SCARY!!! I just started my first three classes (theory, fundamentals, and nursing skills) I swear, I am beginning to wonder if I am accidently in the physician program. I feel like I have just been thrown to the wolves. It is a H*** of alot of work. I am just praying and hoping that I get used to it. I just didn't think it would be like this.

belladelicious · Mar 15, 2004

Sometimes I feel very insecure. I failed my IV checkoff, and I went home that night and cried for hours and was extremely depressed. I got to recheck, but it made feel stupid, slow, and dumb. I feel slow and dumb sometimes, even though I'm doing okay in the class part, sometimes in clinical I feel like I'm not as good as the other students....even though we're probably just about the same. I"ll get over it though.

TweetiePieRN · Mar 15, 2004

Sometimes I feel very insecure. I failed my IV checkoff, and I went home that night and cried for hours and was extremely depressed. I got to recheck, but it made feel stupid, slow, and dumb. I feel slow and dumb sometimes, even though I'm doing okay in the class part, sometimes in clinical I feel like I'm not as good as the other students....even though we're probably just about the same. I"ll get over it though.

I would almost always fail my clinical check offs and have to do them over again. I passed them the 2nd time around. I get nervous when the instructor is watching me like a hawk!! However, I give the best shots, provide great patient care and i have great clinical thinking skills!! It takes practice for everything you do. To doubt yourself is soooo normal. YOU ARE NOT SLOW, STUPID OR DUMB...You are learning!! You will get over doubting yourself. I graduate this May and used to doubt EVERYTHING i would do. It gets better...I still sometimes doubt myself, but I know where to go for the answers or to get help now.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Mar 15, 2004

I'm not a student, but I had so many ups and downs in nursing school I felt like I was on a roller coaster. Then there was the ups and downs and doubts of being a new grad on the floor.

To this day I still have moments of doubtfulness that I'm in the right career, that I made the right decisions that day, that I might have done something wrong.

You just have to follow your guts and plow through those moments.

Good luck.

Rozhinitsy · Mar 15, 2004

for the students who are beyond their 1st semester......
was there ever a time you doubted yourself?

I have been a registered nurse for nearly a year now, and I can assure you you will get through your training. Everyone has doubts, I had doubts after I qualified!!! It's only now that I feel at peace with myself. Although I didn't have a very good time when I was a student, but.......! Believe in yourself and you will get through it.