Sooo discouraged after new student orientation

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I just heard that school will be so hard, many won't make it..those that do will probably barely pass..

I just heard that it will be near impossible to work...I won't have a choice unless I get enough aid to cover my living expenses. I won't know until very close to the first day of class, if I'll be able to quit my job because financial aid office keeps telling me they won't know anything until, etc. etc, so it's all being pushed back to the wire. I don't work with a supervisor who is very sincere or particularly empathetic.

I'm so happy and feel fortunate that I got in, but I can't see how I'll be able to make it with the above concerns looming over me. I am determined, I will be prepared and will study and stick to an organized schedule. And I guess the first concern will be alleviated if I can just get a handle on the second one.

Specializes in Emergency/Trauma/Charge Nurse.

I have a feeling that we may have been in the same orientation Survivorrn....Monday from 12 - 5.

IMHO, That it is their way of weeding out the students that do not have the drive and dedication for the program. Hence, there seem to be several alternates. If you show up after that, you kind of pass a test in my mind, showing that you really want it despite all of the negative aspects described in orientation.

Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I left feeling disgusted but even more determined to prove them wrong. It is a lie that you can't work and be successful in nursing school. I wouldn't have gone to school if I couldn't have done both. Congrats on getting in and don't let the politics etc. get to you.

I just graduated in May and remember this same speech that they gave us. There is some truth to it...if you are starting in a summer session I think it would be nearly impossible to work. Everything is so intense in the summer (at least at my school it was b/c they crammed 16 weeks into 11 weeks) and when you are first starting out everything takes you longer than it will later on in your program. Once you get going, though-I found that i had plenty of time to work if I wanted. It all depends on what type of job you are doing, also. I was lucky enough to find a job just on the weekends that allowed me to study during downtime. I would explore other money options if you can- maybe get a student loan? Another problem you may run into is that your clinical and class schedule will change every semester. Therefore, you will have to tell you employer and make adjustments. Many aspects of nursing school can be unpredictable so they recommend that students be as open as possible with their schedules.

Specializes in LTC/Rehab, Med Surg, Home Care.

I'll be 35 this year. I'm married, am a full time treatment foster parent, and at one point had 4 teenage boys in my home. All with tremendous needs. They've done very well, and I'll be graduating in December. I passed my LPN boards in Feb. and have also been working full time since. My GPA is 3.7.

My husband is a full time grad student, was working full time until I started working in Feb. and still works part time--his GPA is also very high. He finished his undergrad. (second degree) while working full time too.

You CAN work and do well in school, it depends on how you prioritize your study time, and how you manage your stress. I wouldn't say the last few years have been easy, but I've enjoyed the challenge. I wouldn't say it's for everyone to do it "my" way either but there is hope if you need to work!

Our kids have been inspired, are doing better in school, and have told us they are very proud of us. Since we have teens, they do work a lot, but since they are foster kids we have to drive them, they are not allowed to get their driver's license. DH and I use the time they are at work to study.

Just don't ask me what my house looks like! Someday it'll be clean again.

I remember my orientation. They did that look to the left and right, one of those studnents will not make it to graduation. I rolled my eyes at the time but overall it turned out to be true. I graduate in a week and it is due to hard work and learning how to take the test. They try to scare you, and you should be very aware that be on top of your game or you might not make it.

I hate scare tactics, but NS seems to love them. You will lose people along the way, you just need to put the time and effort in to make sure it isn't you.

All the best to you.

You know, we had the same speech and it's just silly. We did have a few people drop out and a couple fail out but that's with any college level program. They said "working full-time" is strongly discouraged. Hello? They never said that at the information meeting a year earlier! It's an evening-weekend program! The whole idea is so that people who work can go to school! There are a lot of stay-at-home moms who take care of the kids all day then come to class while Dad is home. Nice, but I really think it's for working people.

So I was freaked out too, I have a kid, and no husband, work full-time and have to; I finished my first year just fine and you can too if you have a good support system and the discipline to do it!!!!

Specializes in Utilization Review.
I have a feeling that we may have been in the same orientation Survivorrn....Monday from 12 - 5.

IMHO, That it is their way of weeding out the students that do not have the drive and dedication for the program. Hence, there seem to be several alternates. If you show up after that, you kind of pass a test in my mind, showing that you really want it despite all of the negative aspects described in orientation.

Yup, same one....my thing is....the academic and clinical performance of each student will weed out the bad ones, so why make it seem so insurmountable before we even start?....I guess I just expected encouragement and for them to show that they want us to do well....I will give it my all, I usually do very well in school...but I'm anxious because I feel like I'll be learning from someone who doesnt care if I pass or fail and they'll have the attitude: "Oh well *shrug*, next victim!"

I'm not into whining and being a baby or wanting to be bottle fed...and, I don't run from hard work...but why make people feel torn down before they start? I'll get over it and do well (I'm determined) but it was still discouraging all the same.

Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

School is hard, but must not be as impossible as you suppose or no one would graduate. You may have to sacrifice some personal time and your family/friends will have to understand your commitment. As for your boss - consider working in a hospital or some facility that will help you get your education and train you at the same time. I worked in a hospital that paid my tuition (most of it). They worked with my schedule as they had an investment in my education.

Reading your post is like reading my own mind just a few months ago! I'm in my second semester, so I still have my orientation pretty fresh in my mind. They did their absolute best to scare the pants off us! And boy did they succeed! "Don't try to hold a job! Forget tv and any kind of social life! Don't even think about getting married! And if you have a family, tell them goodbye and you'll see them in two years!"

Man oh man was I terrified! But honestly, it didn't take long for me to realize that their lovely speech was really just a way to weed out the students that were truly committed to the program, and who was just fooling around.

I'm not going to lie to you, nursing school is tough work, and you really have to want to do this or its a waste of your time. But if you want it, then you have nothing to worry about. Plenty of girls in my program hold jobs (definitely part time, but at least its a pay check!), girls are definitely getting married left and right, and yes I did have time to sit down and catch the finale of both Grey's Anatomy and LOST.

You're going to be fine! And here's the most important thing to remember: if you didn't have what it takes then you wouldn't have been admitted to the program.

Also, CONGRATULATIONS on getting in in the first place!!! You are in for one of the most exciting, challenging and REWARDING experiences of your lfie!:yeah:

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