HELP!!!! im in nursing school! i need serious help!

Anjann, RN · Jan 22, 2007

everybody freaks the first semester. At our school it was designed to be the "weeder" semester to see who would quit. After catching a patient attempting to hang themselves from the ceiling of the day room, I thought I was going to throw in the towel. But you have to dig deep and attack your fears instead of letting them control you. It's the same with anything in life.

I don't know if this is an option at all schools, because I went to a private uni, but I had to drop down to half-speed to make it through. (2 classes instead of 4, etc.) If that's not an option at your school, staying well organized and keeping ahead of reading, etc will take alot of pressure off.

The study groups, and making index/flash cards I also found to be extremely helpful. The 8 hours of sleep is a must, or you will be like a zombie by the 10th week. Get one of those big monthly calendars and write down all of your test dates for that month so you can see them laid out before you. Then structure your studying around the tests coming up first.

I know it's not an option for alot of people, but if you can get away with it, I would say you probably shouldn't work while trying to get through NS. I don't know how the people who had to do that made it! I guess it's about how bad you wan't it! so stay strong and believe in yourself. The school admitted you, so they obviously believe you can do it! That's a huge compliment right there.

L&DRN08, RN · Jan 22, 2007

Ahhhh the joys of Nursing school! Everything that you are experiencing seems to be pretty standard for us Nursing Students! I felt the same way.....I breezed through school my whole life with minimal studying and always got excellent grades........then came Level 1 nursing! YES the classes are TOTALLY different, the method of teaching, testing & studying are all totally different.

I am in level 3 now!! (YEY) and I hate to tell you this but for me Level 2 was the most overwhelming and exhausting semester EVER..... but it was also the semester where I actually felt like I started to "get it" meaning, how to study & how to approach test questions. So even though it gets harder, at the same time it gets easier.

I work full time and go to school 4 nights a week so, tired, is an understatement! I am exhausted at all times, but I know its worth it and in a way I think I just am kind of used to being chronically exhausted! As for overwhelmed, I think what was once overwhelming is now just part of what comes with the territory of being a Nursing Student, you feel like there's never enough time to get it all done.....but somehow, you'll get it all done!

Just tough it out, if you now its what you want. It is grueling, there are days you just don't want to do it anymore....but if you're like me, you find yourself dragging your butt to that lecture or clinical. I just take it day by day, because if I thought months down the road (especially in lev1) it would overwhelm me of how much longer I had to do this!!! So take it day by day, buddy up with someone in your class whether it be to vent, study, or just to have a companion who is in the same boat! The good news is you will get used to it, figure things out, and be OK......but chances are you will always feel a little stressed! I think its part of the challenge.

I know how you feel, I was there not too long ago (like last semester!) and I thought I would lose my mind....but I made it and it feels really good. Now as a level 3 student, I know the end is near & I know I'm going to be just fine......exhausted, but fine, and certainly a damn good RN!

HEY! ok well i just started my first semester of nursing school about 3 weeks ago and seriously I FEEL TIREd! :angryfire i feel more overwhelmed:banghead: than by the end of last semester and i had 5 classes! now i have 4 (nursing) i know they are harder but i never thought this hard, guys i really need suggestions on how to keep going i know i want to be a nurse and i know i can but its just that sometimes i feel so tired that i can even lift my eyes up, what got you guys thorugh nursing school? energy drinks:biere: ? study tips? anything that can help me to learn the material and get energy and dont fall asleep. please help this future nurse:mortarboard: !!!!!! ooo if u guys ever want to e-mail suggestiong [email protected]!
everything is very mych apreciated!

L&DRN08, RN · Jan 22, 2007

The study groups, and making index/flash cards I also found to be extremely helpful. The 8 hours of sleep is a must, or you will be like a zombie by the 10th week.

This is absolutely true, however not possible in my case EVER! I have been sleep deprived every semester and it definitely takes a toll on you. The problem for me is that I am in an evening program so by the time I get home its somewhere between 10-11pm, so by the time I get home studying or classwork done, most nights I am not able to get to bed until atleast 2am

I know it's not an option for alot of people, but if you can get away with it, I would say you probably shouldn't work while trying to get through NS. I don't know how the people who had to do that made it! I guess it's about how bad you wan't it!

Once again, SO TRUE. If I could change one thing while going to school it would be to not work! It would make things so much easier, allow much more time to manage schoolwork. So I completely agree that if you can work it out.....DON'T WORK!!!!!!!

Sandra124 · Jan 22, 2007

What helped me alot was a good nutrition and exercise program. If you can fit in at least 20-30 min of exercise a few days a week, you should feel the results. Also, keep positive people by your side. You'll amazed how negative people who do want you to succeed can drain all of your energy. As mentioned by others, develop good sleeping habits with little cat naps throughout the day. Believe in yourself. You can definitely make it.

:roll

futgirl · Jan 22, 2007

awwwww thankss!

everybody freaks the first semester. At our school it was designed to be the "weeder" semester to see who would quit. After catching a patient attempting to hang themselves from the ceiling of the day room, I thought I was going to throw in the towel. But you have to dig deep and attack your fears instead of letting them control you. It's the same with anything in life.
I don't know if this is an option at all schools, because I went to a private uni, but I had to drop down to half-speed to make it through. (2 classes instead of 4, etc.) If that's not an option at your school, staying well organized and keeping ahead of reading, etc will take alot of pressure off.
The study groups, and making index/flash cards I also found to be extremely helpful. The 8 hours of sleep is a must, or you will be like a zombie by the 10th week. Get one of those big monthly calendars and write down all of your test dates for that month so you can see them laid out before you. Then structure your studying around the tests coming up first.
I know it's not an option for alot of people, but if you can get away with it, I would say you probably shouldn't work while trying to get through NS. I don't know how the people who had to do that made it! I guess it's about how bad you wan't it! so stay strong and believe in yourself. The school admitted you, so they obviously believe you can do it! That's a huge compliment right there.

futgirl · Jan 22, 2007

jajajaj thats how i feel right \now i wish i could just do something to wake up! :I(

One instructor told us you have to have "non-negotiables". Meaning that regardless of what is going on in school - you WILL do these certain things. For some, time with family is #1 and gives them more energy than an extra couple of hours. For me it is sleep. On any non-test night 8 hours is my non-negotiable. On the nights before tests I can pull 6-7 without suffering for it because any other night I get my 8. I NEVER go less than 6 hours or I am a zombie and would flunk the test anyway! On days after those 6 hour nights I take a nice cat nap, usually 30 minutes, and I feel like a new woman!

futgirl · Jan 22, 2007

I wish i could do that! i just cant seem to do it i want to study all the time but i always end up sleeping ( !!!!!!!!!! i think my body is so exausted

Make sure you have one thing you do for yourself - I'm in a performing wind ensemble, and that's my outlet. I also set aside one night a week - usually Friday - that homework is forbidden. We order pizza, rent a movie, and snuggle on the couch with the kids. Also, I usually don't study at home; I used to, but have found I can get much more productive studying done if I'm in a quiet place with no distractions, which my house with three kids definitely is not! I try not to work too much, and didn't work at all in my first two semesters. Lastly, I have to admit that I don't think I could have made it this far without lots of Benadryl for sleep and antidepressants. Not that I'm advocating the use of either, but it has helped.

futgirl · Jan 22, 2007

you guys i seee that everybody has mentioned the study groups, recorders and flash cards and SLEEEP! i see those are very imporat facts. My friend has reading all your replies and about the positive person she is one very positibe friend ! and we have decided to form a study group read all the material b4 study days and then make a study group. i just started making note cards for my class. and me and my friend bought our selves some good recorder. about the sleep ,yeah, i must definetly will drag my self to bed at around 9! at least!. i dont know how, but i will, i have to if not i am not going to get through it! with God's help i will!

lauralassie · Jan 22, 2007

welcome to nursing. like everyone said, get rest, eat healthy, walks in fresh air, and the best stress buster i've found is laughter.:rotfl: it's tough but we've all been there. hang in there, you'll manage , if you really want to do it.

Anjann, RN · Jan 22, 2007

Sounds like a good start to a good plan! :)

If you guys want it bad enough, you'll make it! I can remember crying all the way to a test one morning out of shear exhaustion and just being sick of school and then calling my husband and saying "What am I doing to myself? This school invited me here, and turned away 500 people. and that alone says that I can do it!"

When you study in a group, somebody ALWAYS end up talking about something that will be on your test that you would not have studied by yourself. And those cards you will use over and over right up until NCLEX.

I will give you guys one more piece of really good advice, Go out NOW and get the Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN. If you study that, it will cut down on your study time ALOT. and it's the book alot of teachers get their questions from, and it is the book that you will need to study for the NCLEX. I used mine for 2 years all through school and I used Saunders more than the texts. you still have to read your assignments! :)

I will add one thing, (which might get me a couple frowny faces, but....)

DIET COKE AND MOCHA LATTE'S WERE MY BEST FRIEND! LOL!

Word to the wise on the tape recorder, get permission from the teacher, but keep what you are doing to yourself. AT our school so many people started doing it that they banned recorders from the classroom.

Good Luck and get some sleep!

PM me if you need anything!