Anxiety about making friends in NS

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Hello everyone,

So this may seem like a silly topic, but I'm starting my first year of NS at the end of this month. When I should technically be in my senior year this fall, I will be a junior year nursing student (so I'm a year late). At orientation before summer, it seemed like all of the sophomores (who will be juniors) knew each other and had friends in the program. If I had gotten in last year, this would have also been the case for me. But since I'm a year late, I don't know anyone. Maybe one person. And it makes me extremely nervous that I don't know anyone and don't have anyone to rely on. And the one person that I know, I don't want to make it seem like she has to stick with me and study with me all the time and be needy kinda thing. I don't want her to feel obligated just because she's the only person I know. She is two years behind, so maybe she is also in the same boat as me, I don't know. But anyway, what was everyone's experience with becoming close with fellow nursing students? I heard you spend all your time with them so you end up becoming good friends and stuff, but right now, I'm just so nervous!!! I'm the type of person where I can't be very independent and it brings me comfort knowing some people in my class, but I really don't. Any advice? Sorry for the vent :(

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Specializes in Oncology/hematology.

I knew no one in my class. A lot of them were either friends or had at least taken prereqs together. I only felt out of place the first day. I just sat in the very middle of the lecture hall and started chatting (what I do best). I now have some amazing friends that I think will survive well past nursing school. Just be yourself and don't worry.

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dont worry about it, youll be just fine!!! :) :) im on my 3rd wk of first semester NS and its going great! i didnt know anybody either. trust me, soon enough the more you talk to each other and buddy up with practicing skills, you will make friends in no time!

these are the people you will be with for the next 2 years and will go through everything you are dealing with! you will find good friends:)

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Specializes in psych/dementia.

I'm an introvert and mad friends by accident during the summer orientations. Then, once classes started a lot of people in our lab group, there is 12 of us, sort of bonded. And this is only week 2. It just happens. You're all going through the same thing, experiencing the same frustration and elation when you do well. It will happen automatically.

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My experience: you spend a lot of time with these people. You will find a couple you genuinely get along with (if you are willing to make friends) & will be fine. Don't worry. Just look out for people who want to be your "friend" but in actuality just want to copy your notes while they skip class, contribute nothing to study group, etc.

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I am the oldest (44 next week) in my cohort and 1 of only 3 men. I have a daughter older than at least half of my classmates. If I am invited to join a study fine, if not I am still going to work my butt off and make damn good grades in this class. My success does not depend on other people.

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I am the oldest (44 next week) in my cohort and 1 of only 3 men. I have a daughter older than at least half of my classmates. If I am invited to join a study fine if not I am still going to work my butt off and make damn good grades in this class. My success does not depend on other people.[/quote']

Exactly. This isn't like other majors where you have group projects and blah blah blah. Even though nursing school teaches about collaboration and such the school part is very independent. Don't try to make friends, let that happen organically. The last thing you want is to make friends with the complainers, the excuse makers, and the people who are clueless about life.

Do your stuff cause when you get that RN title you'll need to make new friends anyways at your job. But that's just me ;) some people on here are all about friends in nursing school.

I'm not. I have a couple but that's it. My grades and success in the program depend on no one but me. I'd rather have a nice support system outside of school.

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Specializes in Oncology/hematology.
The last thing you want is to make friends with the complainers, the excuse makers, and the people who are clueless about life.

Oh, you figure those people out pretty quickly.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

You are there for you, not them. If you make friends, great. But if not, just remember your goal is to get that license. You may never see these people again anyway

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Wow lucky for you guys In my program now most the girls are clicky caddy, rude and just plain mean. Ive made one friend. Its sad that these are grown women and they act worse than some of the people I went to high school with. I did make a few good friends in my LPN program though. I just don't think Im feeling it this time around.

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