Post traumatic stress disorder from nursing school

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Anyone else feel like they are about to faint thinking about how many chapters we have to study for. I feel like Im going to develop some kind of anxiety disorder from nursing school. Chapters after chapters. And if you dont pass its like you dont even feel like going to class or clinical. If anyone is depressed out there and feeling anxiety like youve never felt before, your not alone.

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Specializes in Tele.

girl you are not alone, everyone feels that way. go through your class notes and use your reading to reinforce what you are learning. if you get a concept dont spend too much time reading those as you would for concepts you dont get or are shaky on.

I HAVE PTSD FROM NURSING SCHOOL.

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HA! I feel like I have PSTD tonight as I await our final exam grades.....ahhhhhh, the wait for grades is brutal. I have checked on line about 15 times tonight knowing the grades will not be posted until Friday afternoon OR EVENING.....:banghead:

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It started in 1992.I think I have had a form of ptsd,ever since lol!

Dont worry it will all pay off for you and you will learn how to deal with all the"punches" as they are thrown your way!Best of luck to you all!

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.

I'm fortunate that our instructors are very supportive. We're working like dogs and the pace and volume are unbelievable but the instructors are fabulous. If we had different instructors then I don't think I could do it.

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Specializes in neuro/ortho med surge 4.

Hi all,

I have PTSD from the clinical paperwork. I am in my 4th and final semester and I have one teacher who keeps giving me back one care plan to do over. She has given it back to me 4 times. This is the first time I have ever got clinical paperwork back since I have been in school. Why all of a sudden now? This teacher is known for singling out one student and giving them a hard time. I guess I am it this time around. Two more weeks with this woman and I am done forever with her.

I now have papewrwork anxiety because of this. When my class graduates we are going to take a poll and see who has had to go on anxiety and/or depression medication. I would say at least half of us. Even though there are only 28 original students from the 56 we started with. I am going to put a copy of an article a nursing school buddy sent me:

"Many nurse educators thrive on the feeling of superiority that comes from controlling students and junior faculty and their futures. This abuse of power is related to feelings of inadequacy, insecurity, discontent, and personal envy, often with a “Jekyll and Hyde” component. Individual educators are only part of the quandary. Some academic centers subscribe to the steadfast education philosophy that students need to suffer in order to learn. Nursing curricula, testing, and grading are exhausting and often based on minutiae. Clinical paperwork can be monumental, and unrealistic expectations of both students and junior faculty abound. A number of education institutions merely give “lip service” to adult

learning principles and place minimal value on students’ past experiences or their right to be treated as an adult. Some educators even go as far as to brag about their program’s

attrition rate as a correlation to the program's rigor and superiority."

This made me feel better as Nursing school is a well known self -esteem buster and anxiety provoker. Thank God not all clinical instructors are this way.

Take care,

H

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Yup....I had a major Pharm test (see my thread) that we thought we had a whole extra week to study for, and could take the exam at our convenience....with less than a 48 hour notice, we were told that option no longer existed and the exam would be scheduled.

Needless to say, the average was 2 points BELOW failing.

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100% yes, I have PTSD from nursing school, and I graduated in December 07.

I will not even go near the side of town that my school is located. It brings on the old feelings of fear and anxiety. No thanks!

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Specializes in hospice, ortho,clinical review.

Wow this is too funny....yep I'm having anxiety like never before.

I got so overwhelmed during my exam (#3 out of 5 that I had this week plus clinical :eek:) that I seriously thought I was losing it and/or having a stroke or something...I stuck out my tongue to make sure it was straight! :lol: nursing school is good for teaching us something!

I recently got some lavender that I'm taking into exams with me (took it in for exam #5 today on drugs) kinda looks like an eraser since it's a chunk form, however DH just got some actual oil that I'm going to put on a cotton ball and see if that's more potent...it actually did seem to help.

Anyway def going out tonight to decompress. *wine

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"Anyway def going out tonight to decompress. *wine "

:cheers::yeahthat::tbsk:YESSSSSSSS!!! Decompress baby! I am right behind you! I passed Psych nursing with an 87%!!! Hubby is almost home and we are going out.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Hospice.
I'm fortunate that our instructors are very supportive. We're working like dogs and the pace and volume are unbelievable but the instructors are fabulous. If we had different instructors then I don't think I could do it.

Ditto.

As far as chapter after chapter of reading, this is what I do:

  • Read the work guide before class (we have copies of all of the power points in our work guides.)
  • After class, read the relevant info in the book. It helps my reading comprehension to hear the lecture first.
  • While reading, take note of new information that wasn't given in lecture. Read tables and charts. Read the first and last sentence of each paragraph. If it makes sense, move on, if not, read the entire paragraph. Read the chapter summary.
  • Read any practice questions for that chapter
  • Re-write the notes in my own words, in as few words as possible, and adding in any new info from the book
  • Those re-written notes become my study guide. Read through it at bedtime. As it grows in length, read half one night and half the next

This method is working for me. I'm in my last semester and have an A average on my tests so far.

Another thing to consider is how you deal with stress. I've incorporated a lot of stress reduction techniques into my life:

  • I eat an extremely healthy diet rather than rely on junk like soda and candy to get me through each day
  • I exercise regularly: cardio and weight training 3 times a week, unless my week is packed with clinicals. Then, I just do what I can, even if it's just stretching and taking a short walk.
  • I do yoga and/or Pilates a few times a week
  • I listen to soothing music. I found some that is the sound of running water with some chimes and stuff. Totally mellows me.
  • I take long hot baths
  • I reward myself after each workout with a soak in the jacuzzi at the gym
  • I drink chamomile tea
  • I spend some time meditating every day and practicing thankfulness
  • I get outside as much as I possibly can.
  • I use aromatherapy to calm my nerves: scented oils, candles, etc

Hope that helps!

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Specializes in hospice, ortho,clinical review.
Ditto.

As far as chapter after chapter of reading, this is what I do:

  • Read the work guide before class (we have copies of all of the power points in our work guides.)
  • After class, read the relevant info in the book. It helps my reading comprehension to hear the lecture first.
  • While reading, take note of new information that wasn't given in lecture. Read tables and charts. Read the first and last sentence of each paragraph. If it makes sense, move on, if not, read the entire paragraph. Read the chapter summary.
  • Read any practice questions for that chapter
  • Re-write the notes in my own words, in as few words as possible, and adding in any new info from the book
  • Those re-written notes become my study guide. Read through it at bedtime. As it grows in length, read half one night and half the next

This method is working for me. I'm in my last semester and have an A average on my tests so far.

Another thing to consider is how you deal with stress. I've incorporated a lot of stress reduction techniques into my life:

  • I eat an extremely healthy diet rather than rely on junk like soda and candy to get me through each day
  • I exercise regularly: cardio and weight training 3 times a week, unless my week is packed with clinicals. Then, I just do what I can, even if it's just stretching and taking a short walk.
  • I do yoga and/or Pilates a few times a week
  • I listen to soothing music. I found some that is the sound of running water with some chimes and stuff. Totally mellows me.
  • I take long hot baths
  • I reward myself after each workout with a soak in the jacuzzi at the gym
  • I drink chamomile tea
  • I spend some time meditating every day and practicing thankfulness
  • I get outside as much as I possibly can.
  • I use aromatherapy to calm my nerves: scented oils, candles, etc

Hope that helps!

These are all great tips summarized nicely! I miss my workouts...I need to get back to them but with the extra classes...maybe in another 5 weeks, but thanks for the reminder.

I usually make up index cards with all the top points that I hole punch and carry, but this last section I didn't do that, and I think it added to my craziness, so I'm going back to that for this section.

One question...can you provide a link or a name for the music? I loved the description.

TIA

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