I am 5 weeks into school and I am so stressed out

BostonRN13 · Feb 17, 2014

Hello I started my RN program and I am so stressed out I go to Maui Community College, and I am not usre if its the school or all nursing programs. I have an anxiety attack once a week and my blood pressure went from 110/70 pre-school to 140/90 . I don't think that's a good sign. How can I know if its good to flight through. I cry a lot bc I just feel overwhelmed. I have really good pre-reqs and TEAS scores, its just the schedule and the tension in the classroom. Do you have any advice? I was perfectly happy and in shape, bf school, now I am exhausted and super stressed, and out of shape. Help![/quote']
You're in Hawaii, we can't feel bad. Kidding!! It's normal to feel stressed out, nursing school is not easy! Try to take some time for yourself that has nothing to do with school. Try meditation, yoga or even a good 'ol mani/pedi. Also do you have other students you study with? This def helped my anxiety level for test taking and even writing papers..

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Feb 17, 2014

I second Boston's post. Thing is, we can't possibly tell you if it's the nursing program, nursing in general, or what that has you this stressed out. NO ONE here can; it's a message board.

What we CAN do is offer suggestions on ways to decompress in between classes and clinicals; not everything works for everyone, but you'll hear of LOTS of options, I've no doubt.

And if nothing works for you? Then maybe it isn't right as a match....but you can't possibly know that until you've exhausted the possibilities for stress-reduction. Crying happens, anxiety happens, physical changes evidencing stress in the body happen. What you DO about it will determine your success.

Much good luck to you! :)

LoriRNCM, ADN, ASN, RN · Feb 18, 2014

That's because it's all new, everything is new first semester. Then comes second semester where you have finally found your groove on how to handle massive amounts of information and how to study and prioritize and the stress becomes different because now you have to know a lot more than you did in first semester. It's the same and it's different. No way you should give up yet. Hang in there.

SaraMC · Feb 18, 2014

I am also in my first semester of nursing school and it has definitely been overwhelming! I was just griping to my friend earlier about how I can't seem to find the time to workout like I used to and how frustrated I am with the amount of studying and things that ned to be done- if only there were more hours in the day! You're not the only one feeling this way in your program, trust me. It's going to be hard, you're going to cry, and you're going to have to give up doing things you loved doing before(I haven't worked-out in 2 weeks!) and you're probably going to eat junk more than you'd like to admit. But it's not going to be forever. You will get the hang of things. You will be able to find time for things you like to do, and you will start understanding the material better. ITS GOING TO BE WORTH IT. You got this, hang in there!

And don't beat yourself up if you take a nap or two each week. ;-)

UHMAUI · Dec 24, 2015

Hey MauiNurseLuv

Just wondering how you are doing now? I am applying for the RN program in Jan '16. I am super worried about getting into the program as so many students are also applying. Could you tell me how many points you had and what you scored on the TEAS? I am taking the TEAS for the second time the first week of January because I feel like a 3 isn't enough to get me in. Anyways I hope your doing better and find sometime to relax during winter break.

windsurfer8, BSN, RN · Dec 24, 2015

If you are getting sick and are crying all the time you may want to consider a major you feel more comfortable with. You are reporting quantifiable medical problems which you relate to nursing school.

It isn't going to magically get easy. If you want to be a nurse then you are required to complete nursing school. It is a pretty simple equation. If you are physically sick and miserable then you must determine if this is what you want to do for the next 40 years.