Any tip of dealing with stress please?

lidleanjel · Sep 5, 2011

The best thing that has helped me with stress of nursing school so far...breaking down and crying...then think about why I am in school again...take a deep deep breath and breathe. then i give myself one day a week off for myself. no studying...just being lazy...and usually a pedicure for me...

windmill182 · Sep 5, 2011

Sounds like you are stressed because you aren't making time for yourself. Studying in Nursing school is important, but so is making time for yourself. By not giving yourself time to relax, you could actually be setting yourself up for something bad. Even if its just 30 minutes to run, watch a show, or something along those lines. I personally would recommend finding small amounts of time to exert your stress through exercise. Even if its just walking. You can take notes with you!

emtmom66 · Sep 5, 2011

My olny advice to you is to tackle 1 task at a time. I am also a fulltime nursing student and a single mom. I spent many nights at my diniingroom table doing homework long after my 10 year old was done with his. Last semester was by far the hardest for me. I spent weekends studying and giving up everything. Keep thinking about graduation and why you are going to school. That is what I do everytime I am feeling overwhelmed. Good luck to you.

chulada77, ADN, BSN, MSN, APRN · Sep 5, 2011

Study smarter not longer. I set timelines for myself (ex: monday reviewing nephrology issues/ch 3) and setting time limits(I will only study until 6:30) otherwise you will study till midnight and forget about the rest of your life!! I also would go to a nice dinner including happy hour with my family the night before a test; my rationale for this was "if I don't know if by now, i'll never know it and the more stuff I put in my brain, the more falls out the other side".

You are going to nursing school for a better life and happiness in your career but your life is NOT nursing school. Don't overdo it. A=RN, B=RN, C=RN.....

emtmom66 · Sep 5, 2011

I agree with you as well. I did set aside time for myself on Friday nights. That was my relax night. I am in a program that you have to have a 76 or better to pass. So yes you are correct about the a passing grade = rn. I have always had to study hard to do average, better with hands on learning than textbook. I made it though and just missed getting and A in advanced adult health. I am very happy with that. Graduation in December, then NCLEX. woohoo

OB-nurse2013, BSN, RN · Sep 6, 2011

I feel better when I try to get everything organized or write a list of tasks for the week. I also discovered yoga and I love it. If I find the time to do it it's really worth it because I feel like a million dollars the rest of the day as well as having more energy.

allnurses Guide · Sep 6, 2011

Staying clean and having clean, organized surroundings are part of dealing with stress. I would suggest you start there. How can you feel competent when you see the whole of your life falling apart due to intense studying?

It sounds like anxiety is really getting to you. Here are my suggestions:

Shower daily and put on clean clothes

Make your bed daily and have no dishes in the sink at night

Declutter your study area

Get out in the sun for brief (10-15 minutes if nothing else) walks - the exercise and endorphins released will lower your stress level and the Vitamin D will improve your health

Eat healthy - get rid of any and all junk food

Get 7-8 hours sleep each night with getting less than that more the exception than the rule

Once every couple of weeks put the books side and reconnect with friends/family

If you find the above overwhelming on top of studying, go see the guidance counselor at your school for ideas on how to get this under control. Nursing school IS stressful, but it sounds like your reaction to the stress is going pretty far to the extreme.

Best of luck and hang in there. Remember, every time you do something basic for yourself like washing your body and hair, decluttering your surroundings, getting dressed, choosing an apple over chips etc, you are sending yourself the message that you are in control and can handle this. And your brain then agrees and takes in more information than all the cramming and self neglect will ever be able to provide.

bluemushroom · Sep 6, 2011

As others have said, the most important thing you need to do is make time for yourself. You should not be neglecting yourself, your house, and your social life for school. It's not good, and you need to have a life. Take some time every day to just relax and do something enjoyable. Don't put a time limit on your breaks. You can't relax if you're watcing a clock as it gets closer to the time your break ends. Just go back to studying when you feel up to it. Do not feel guilty for taking breaks. Also, don't take your notes with you during breaks. You can't enjoy yourself if your notes are right there with you as a constant reminder of school. It's even ok to have one day a week when you decide that you will not do any studying at all. No matter how much you study, you can't know everything. When you study too much, you begin to overthink everything and just confuse yourself. Remember, A's and B's on tests are great, but C=RN too.

I went through short periods of time in school where I was stressed about everything, but I quickly remembered that I am what's most important, not school. School cannot be your life. Passing is important, but your happiness and health are most important. I hope you're able to find a way to balance everything. Good luck.

jaimeandjules · Sep 7, 2011

You have to take care of yourself first if you are going to take care of others! Be a role model for your patients (or future patients)! Taking time for yourself is essential to human health! It's right there in the Fundamentals book! Best wishes