Nursing Student needing ADVICE!

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Hello. This problem I am having may need quite a long introduction, but I will summarize as best as I can. What I need is genuine advice. Last year I was a very hard working student and I got a 4.0 GPA and go accepted into my university nursing program. Now this year, I ended up having to get paired up with a random roommate in a dorm room because I do not have a car. This first semester has been a downhill spiral for me. Last year, my roommate, who ended up having to transfer schools for her major, was perfect. She was never in the room really, and when she was, we were friends and she was quiet as could be, so I could STUDY. Now this year, I thought that getting assigned to a random roommate in a small dorm room would not be horrible, but it has been. My roommate is not that bad of a person. She initially started off watching TV all teh time in the room and it was hard for me to adapt to since last year I was able to study without any problems. We ended up working out it out where she uses headphones while watching TV now, but I still find way to get distracted, like when she is opening and closing drawers she is really loud and just kind of careless where my roommate last year was always courteous as can be and dead silent. Also, she does not care about school and it is hard for me to be in this environment. I have tried and tried to switch room and it has gotten to the point where I feel I NEED a single, but there is not a single room available on campus. I have no car, so I cannot go anywhere off campus. Now it is to the point that whenever I go and study in my room, or do anything, I just cannot do it. I get so much anxiety inside of me and I just have a panic attack. The library is a 10 minute walk from my dorm every single day, and I just fear that I will be unhappy there. My roommate snores each and every night too and it keeps me up and I have to use ear plugs and ti still does not blcok it out. What do you suggest I do to cope with this situation? I really need advice because I can see my grades and motivation slowly but surely slipping through the palm of my hand. Next year I have plans already to life with 3 people and I will have my own bedroom, but I just fear I will not be able to get through this one more semster with this girl and I feel that things will go downhill to the point where I have too many issues where I may have to just go home. Please, I need genuine advice here.

Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

I think you are being overly sensitive. Flipping her notebook pages? and you have your ears blocked? You are thinking too much about her actions. Some dorms have study rooms, or quiet areas; can you go there?

It is not unreasonable to go to the library to study. Good mental break at midnight, review what you have been studying during the walk. Does your roommate bang drawers after midnight? Keep studying when you get back.

This semester is almost over, is it possible you are stressing over exams and end of term, but blaming it on your living situation? What do you do to relieve your stress, because you really sound anxious and as though you need a bit of a break.

brown noise? isn't that like a south park joke?

you sound like you're nervous about everything. does your school have lounge areas that are quiet at night? can you get a different roommate after this semester? it's almost over. go to the library, do what you can. try to get an earlier start on things. can you record your lectures and play them back in your earphones late at night once the library closes?

I think you both are right. I just need to hear the truth of the matter and have somewhat of a reality check. I think it is a combination of the stress, how I have been somewhat up and down in regards to my hopes of getting a single room, and now that it isn't happening, it just adds to my anxiousness. My dorm has study spaces on three floors, but they are all really poorly lit and also they are right on the guy floors where people walk by all the time and yell and talk and and doors open and close and it is rather distracting. I feel that I will just have to try the library. The thing is, there a few girls I could try out as a roommate next semseter but it is because their roommates are leaving them this semester. Usually, there is a reason for that. I do not want to move into another place where I come across new problems or worse ones where I have now. Do you think I should take the gamble and move with someone else?

Specializes in Public Health, Women's Health.

I don't think it's weird to go to the library and I would go everyday if I was in your position. Sometimes I'd be lazy and just go to the lounge down the hall. I study best with my music blaring in my headphones so that helps if there's any noise. About her snoring- get a VERY loud small fan. Love those things, will make any noise less annoying and also soothe you to sleep. Don't let it get to you so much either, only stresses you out more.

Specializes in Public Health, Women's Health.
The thing is, there a few girls I could try out as a roommate next semseter but it is because their roommates are leaving them this semester. Usually, there is a reason for that. I do not want to move into another place where I come across new problems or worse ones where I have now. Do you think I should take the gamble and move with someone else?

I don't think that's always the case. That type of situation did happen to my old roommate though, but she was so happy to have gotten me :) Although the other person was the one that left, so maybe you will get lucky?

Yeah, if this really continues to be bad, I may consult my hall director and see what girls are looking for roommates. I just do not get what kind of girl who has a room to herself would want someone else. I mean if I had a room like that, I sure as hell would never have someone else live in it with me haha. You know? I guess my plan for now is to just go to the library and see how it works out. There is hopefully some spot I can find there where I can get things done. I am someone that makes nonstop flashcards and really just needs a big space to work, and my dorm desk is pretty great for that so it is a shame that I cannot do work here.

Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

If you don't like where you are now, change it. Possibly meet with some of the others and see what their expectations are of you. Could be they wanted to study and their roommates are leaving because of complaints about noise. Never know.

Take a reading light with you if there isn't decent lighting. Take your headphones. Surely it isn't that noisy after midnight in the study areas? Play some Chopin in your headphones while studying, it is supposed to help easily distractable kids.

Stop obessing about rooms, and concentrate on studying.

Okay, I will look into that. I tell myself to stop obsessing over it every day, and I just always end up in the same predicament. I don't get what has gotten into me. I usually am really on top of my game. I have over 100% in all of my classes right now and now that this is really starting to stress me out, I just don't know what is going to happen. I just hope the library is what saves me.

Specializes in Public Health, Women's Health.

I personally wouldn't want to live alone. I loved having my roommate an two suitemates. I hate being alone so that's maybe why. It was nice having the company!

Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

There are test taking anxiety techniques to break circular worrying type thoughts.

When you catch yourself thinking about it, say loudly and firmly to yourself (inside your head!) I will not think of this. I am going to concentrate on ___________. Read whatever you are studying slowly and word for word, out loud if you are where you can. Ask yourself, what does this paragraph mean? Explain it to yourself. You have then broken the chain of worrying thoughts. Do it as often as needed.

Thank you for all of your help. It really is good to hear advice from fellow nurses/nursing students. I needed to know how to best handle this and I appreciate all of the options you have all given me. I will try tomorrow for one last time to make this work in my room and try to just avoid even thinking about this girl being in the room, and if that does not work, I will be off to the library and hope that it works out for me there. This next semester will be a tough one, and even finishing off this one with my finals will not be the easiest for me since I am so used to just having my room as a set place to study, but I hope that I am able to push it through and make it through this semester so I can just have my place next year with my 3 bedrooms and one for me and be in peace.

Also, how many of you use music to study? I have tried to listen to "gray noise" on SimplyNoise.com and I just cannot seem to focus on what I'm reading.

Specializes in Cardio-Pulmonary; Med-Surg; Private Duty.

I listen to classical music without any vocals when I read or study. It blocks out distractions without being a distraction itself (for me, anything with vocals draws my attention, but the instrumental-only stuff I have is like elevator music -- just in the background). I mostly use Bach and Beethoven -- I downloaded an album of 99 different Beethoven items for $1.99 on Amazon, and then I went through and picked the ones that were the most soothing/least stimulating, made a playlist, and listen to them with my noise-canceling headphones.

I used to need absolute quiet to study, but with my classical music and my noise-canceling headphones, I can even study at my son's hockey practices!

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