Lacking motivation, help!

Nursing Students General Students

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Hi there!

I'm currently in my 2nd semester of nursing school. Up to this point, I have (somehow) been able to do minimal studying, aside from cramming the night before. I have never gotten below an 80% on exams this way, but this is not the kind of nurse I want to be.

I currently work about 30 hours a week between two jobs (quitting is not an option, as I'm on my own for rent, groceries, car, etc.), and all I want to do when I get home from work/school is sleep until the next thing I have on my schedule.

In recent months, I've stopped using my planner, doing homework, etc. just because when I get home from work, I'm exhausted and just want to relax. My grades aren't suffering, but as I said, I want to be a better nurse than what I'm setting myself up to be.

I'm looking for tips on how to be organized and motivated to study every single day!

Please help!!

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I don't mean to overstep, but is it possible that you're depressed? I know one of my "flags" is not wanting to do a single thing. That means it's time to make some changes before I slide down any further. Those changes are either meditation, medication adjustments, exercise, or even a few maintenance visits to my therapist.

It could be that you're burned out. Do you get a summer break? Are you in an accelerated program?

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.

When I was in nursing school, I was alone with 3 small children, a job, and like you was exhausted. This may not

be a lack of motivation- you are motivated, future nurse! but a matter of being in survival mode.

Thinking is studying. You can study in your head anywhere. Driving, at your job, before you drift off to sleep. Recall what your instructor said in lecture.

Record your instructor, or record your own voice reading key curriculum on your phone. Listen while grocery shopping, or doing laundry.

Use a free study app for NCLEX type study questions and compete with yourself to make it a game.

Look at how far you've come and your accomplishments. Your grades are good, and grades are not an indicator of what a great nurse you will be

Have you checked out all possible grants?

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I'm in an accelerated program, so we don't get summer breaks, we just do all 5 semesters in a row.

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