Quitting nursing school? - Not really.. just a rant

[manna]

I'm just really having a rough time this semester, and needed to rant somewhere. Figured who else could understand better than other nursing students, right? :)

I've been on the verge of quitting nursing school all semester - now bear in mind it's only been about 4 weeks, but still...

I'm so stressed out I don't know what to do. I've been missing class, and today I even missed a clinical seminar - unexcused clinical absence, plus docked points for responsibility and accountability.

Some of my clinicals this semester are 12h long, in a town that's about 110 miles from where I live. Last night, I didn't get home until 10pm and still had paperwork due this morning at 8:30am (at school, 70 miles from here).

My son gets 2-3 spankings a week at school, and comes home with tons of work he hasn't completed. His teachers say he's disrupting the other students....

My three year old is clingy, whiney, and having tantrums. I don't have enough time for either of my kids, and if I do I feel like I'm neglecting my schoolwork. I can't find enough time to be a good mom and a good student.

My husband's brother OD'd and is in a drug treatment facility (thank goodness he's okay).

My grandfather passed away and I had to play the piano at his funeral, at the last minute.

My husband left his job in another part of the state to move "home." I'm really glad to have him back, but it totally disrupted my routine of being on my own last semester. Plus, now we have no income and no health insurance (but I had an abnormal pap I'm supposed to get repeated...)

My house is a huge mess and I just can't get the energy to get/keep it clean.

I hit a deer and have to repair my truck, but oops! No income, right?

I failed my first test in my cultural competency class.

For class (5d/wk) I have to commute 70 miles one way to school.

I'm worried about my great-aunt (in her 80s) who is having to keep her great-grandkids (her son is disabled) who are 6wks and 3y - she often calls my husband and I and asks for help (that's why I missed class today).

My mother has been ill, can't sleep, looks terrible, and won't go to the doctor.

I come home crying 2-3 times a week, and while I'm normally anal about school/grades, now I'm just feeling plain apathetic.

Maybe I'm worrying too much about other people, and not enough about myself? I probably sound like a big, whiney brat, but I just had to get all this out somewhere. I'm so overwhelmed. Anyone have any advice at all? I'll take whatever I can get at this point...

[sabRN2b05, BSN, RN]

Hey girl!

I'm from Mississippi, too (Gulf Coast). I am on something called "Family Planning Medicaid" - it pays for pap smears, follow-ups, and birth control. Call your local health dept. and find out how to apply for it. I did not even know it existed (a lot of people don't). When I left my former job this past summer, I lost my benefits. Of course, this change happened right about the time that I had an abnormal pap smear myself . When I called the health dept. in my county to explain the situation and make an appt. for a pap smear, they told me about it. It takes a couple of months to get approved, but in the mean time, you should be able to get a pap smear at your local health dept. for little or NO $$ while you're waiting to get approved. The Medicaid office in Jackson told me that the only place that took that Medicaid was the health dept, but then I found out that a couple of local OB/GYN's took it, too. Again, it only pays for pap smears and birth control...nothing else. I had to pay $23 ($3.00 copay and $20 "lab" fee). And even if you don't need the birth control, just take it from them anyway (they usually have about 3 different kinds that they give that are free or they can write you a Rx for whatever kind you might be on, but you have to pay cash for that when you get the Rx filled.)

As far as insurance for your kids, we can't afford insurance thru my husband's job, so I applied for CHIPS (and got approved!) for my kids. If you want more info, send me a private message. I also applied for free meals for my kids at school and got that, too!! I only work one day a week and we're living off my husband's income, student loans, scholarships, etc. Have you gotten any financial aid??

You'd be surprised at the state assistance you can get when you have to go looking for it. Go apply for food stamps...don't be too proud. You are going to school to better yourself...not sitting at home just drawing welfare!! Let the government help you as much as you can!!

[sabrn2006]

I just want to send my support from afar. You have more stressors than most. Try to give yourself credit for all that you have accomplished.

A few suggestions, for whatever they are worth....

Like others have mentioned, get your husband to help out more (or give him the boot!) I know how that part is, as my dh is currently unemployed. He is now doing the majority of cooking, cleaning, & laundry.

Your son sounds like he is seeking attention from you. Kids usually act out when things are nutsy at home. How old is he? Also, be sure there is not an underlying physiological problem. I had to fight to have my son tested and found out he does have ADHD - inattentive type. He is very forgetful and always in his own world. PM me if you want more info on that aspect of this. I have a little insight into this from both a personal and professional perspective.

I also believe you need to set some boundaries for yourself. Tell everyone outside your little immediate family circle that you are simply unavailable at this time. If you need to prove this to yourself, write out your weekly time commitments and see just how little space there is for ANYthing else. I actually post my schedule in my kitchen for the family to know where I am at a given time (work, class, clinicals, lab). I am continually amazed at all that I am doing. You will be too.

Keep your chin up. You will look back on this time as crazy but worth it. (That's what the RNs I know keep saying to me. I'm starting to believe it)

[jenrninmi, MSN, RN]

(((Hugs))) You poor thing! I don't know how you do it! I don't have much advice for you...I do have a 7 and 6 year old and a husband that is gone quite a bit with work and/or national guard but right now I'm feeling really lucky. As I'm working on a project up in my room the kids and dh are watching a movie downstairs and cuddling. (He's the best dad in the world!) I spent the 1st half of my day in urgent care today because I thought I had the flu. Turns out it's Strep. (oops!)

I hope you were able to get some rest today! I'm thinking about you!

[happthearts]

OK don't give up the ship First off are you taking vitamians. You sound worn out and stressed out.Next I would tell Dear husband he has to help this is not an option that your kid need to help as well. Girl you need to take back your life .Your going to have a job chart and if it doesn't get done everyone stays home in there room .NO TV No nothing.

Hate to tell you what I did with my son I gave him one week to clean up his act.and told him anything would be tossed that wasn't put away.Well he didn't listen and I started tossing bagged it all up .He came home from school and said what happened .I said I told you. He started up again leaving a mess again I warned him .Oh so you want to lose your stuff again He started picking up right away. Make your dear husband in charge of your son have him help with home work and go to parent meetings with the teacher. Have a family meeting saying mom has to get through school you all have to help.

Resistance is futal YOU will be assimilated.Like the borg says.

Don't let dear hubby set on his backside watching Tv.

As for your other family this is hard! I would just say Mom your stressing me out. You need to stop fooling arround and take care of your selve Your going to cause me to fail school from worry.You are and adult so take care of your selve.Its blunt but don't enable them.

I made my own Mom mad as heck saying this one time. But she went to the hospitial She had a rattle snake bite she didn't take care of.She didn't know for sure so she was fooling arround on this .

I would go apply for medicail like every one else said Get that pap.

Its your life take it back! Don't set there and cry .So you have all this crap going on .so your car hit a deer fix what you can and so you have a dent no big deal as long as the engine can run that's all you need. So your house is out of control .You have a goal look towards it .You have to finsh school!

I personaly have lost everything in an earthquake in Califorina Loss my home my job ,my husbands bussness all in one day.I cried and baweled for awhile untill I took my life back.! I got mad and fought and didn't take crap anymore.Made others responsible for there own life.

I wished someone would have told me to wake up and get out of this distructive mode sooner.I don't mean to be un-feeling here .But If you don't get control .You'll be in a mental health unit and there be no one at home to take care of the house and kids the husband and your Mom.

Life gives you crap so use it for fertializer ,spread it arround so things can grow!