Anyone else feeling the stress/pressure of being a nursing student and want to talk?

[czarnec4]

Hey,

Having a really hard time lately. I have been in mental health for about 7 years and went back to school for nursing with the intention to stay in mental health. Now I'm almost to the end of my degree and have done lots of various clinicals. I think that I am being really hard on myself, feeling like I should excel at every specialty. I do not cope with trauma nursing very well. I do not like being in the ED. But part of me feels like if I do not overcome and excel in these weaker areas of mine, that somehow I am less of a nurse. I have worry that mental health nursing is viewed as a "cop out". I don't want people to say that I'm "not a real nurse". But mental health is what I'm good at. I think I just feel like I have to be good everything. Anyone else feeling the stress/pressure of being a nursing student and want to talk about it?

[barcode120x, RN, NP]

Don't beat yourself up on what others think. Mental health is simply another specialty and it just so happens it's not there. I don't think there is a reason to excel in each specialty (it's impossible too) because you can't be everywhere an every type of RN at once. Sure, it doesn't hurt to jump around areas, but stick to one first, get used to it, and then when you are ready for a change move onto something else. The last thing you want to do is be stuck in a field that makes you miserable.

[pmabraham, BSN, RN]

Hugs. As the previous poster (PP) shared, there is no need to be a master of every speciality. I would not view staying in mental health as a cop out, but a logical choice IF you enjoy being a behavioral health nurse.

Now, in terms of stress/pressure of being a nursing student... oh my, I've only five (5) weeks to go to cumulative finals with the sixth week (from now) being graduation. Weekly exams starting next week (two exams next week) until and including cumulative finals. I feel like my brain is already turning to mush from all of the studying as well as trying to make each clinical minute count when I'm on the floor, as well as put in job applications and try to prepare for interviews.