Do you ever find yourself comparing where you are to where other people are?

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HI ALL,

I have a question for you... Do you ever find yourself comparing yourself to others and where they are in their schooling or their nursing career? I find myself doing that constantly and then telling myself I should have not taken as long as I did to finish my pre-reqs for example. When I graduated high school I began my nursing pre-reqs, mid-way I switched to early childhood and took those classes because I did not think I was smart enough to be a nurse. I always has this burning sensation within me to continue nursing so I switched back and I just found out after taking about 3 years to do pre-reqs I got into my nursing program for Fall 2014. Although I know this is a great thing sometimes I just see where others are and I compare myself to them. Does anyone else ever deal with this issue? I hate that I do this and I should not com are myself but be happy for where I am within my journey.

Yes, I do this all the time and what discourages me the most, is that I'm older (35) and barely starting my journey into Nursing. I start my CNA program in September and plan to do the LVN program and then bridge to RN but I still have a lot of general ed and prerequisites to do. So I have a long road ahead of me. Another thing I compare myself to is the "genius" people. I also changed majors because I thought I wasn't smart enough. I believed that you have to be a genius to be a Nurse. But being a Nurse is all I can think of and dream about so I'm just going for it and going as far as I can possibly go. My dream is to be a Nurse practitioner in an OBGYN or Pediatrics clinic when I'm not longer able to work the floor, maybe around 60 years old. At least I hope I can work the floor that long. Ha :lol2:

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.

I do the same thing I'm class of 2010 (highschool) and I swear when I was going to finish is 4 years. But things happen. I did get my associates in 2 years but in liberal arts while I completed my pre reqs and now I'm waiting for acceptance in a BSN program for fall 2014 ... Everybody must follow their own path. But I do compare myself to other because they did graduate "on time" but I know everyone's time is different! :)

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Comparison is the thief of joy. Eyes on your own journey! I graduated high school 20+ years ago and went off to college in a non-nursing major. Dropped out, got married, had four kids, got divorced, went back to school, graduated in January and passed NCLEX in March. Would it be great if I'd started nursing school in 1993? Sure. I'd have a ton of experience. But I wouldn't be here, now, likely wouldn't have these four amazing kids, and likely wouldn't be as resilient as I am now. My life experiences have made me a better student, better person, and likely a better nurse. Comparison doesn't advance, it slows you down and bogs you down in things that make you feel badly. I try very hard not to do it.

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I do this all the time! I just found out I will be starting nursing school in Spring 2015. The floor I work on currently is full of young nurses. I'm 23 years old and I chose not to go to college right after high school because I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. Then when I was 21 I decided I wanted to be a nurse, and have been working on pre-reqs since.

When I first started working in a hospital, it was hard for me to see these nurses that were 20. I know I'm not that much older, but I feel like if I would have just figured out my goals in life earlier that would be me.

I've learned not to let it get to me. Yes, it took me longer to decide to go to nursing school, but I've also gained a lot of life experience in that time. At this point I've been working on a med/surg floor for over a year and have learned so much just from working with patients. I know this will make things so much easier once I start nursing school. We are all in this together! It doesn't matter how long it took you to make this decision, the important thing is that you have made the decision to go in to a field where you can help others everyday. That is what I think about when I am having a "down" day.

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I do! I graduated in 2004 and some of my classmates have been in nursing for years now. Some of my friends breeze right through there prereqs and are applying for nursing school. I went to work right after HS and didn't want to go to college right away. I started in Fall of 2010 and still doing prereqs with NEWBORN TWINS! I get discouraged that I am not done with my prereqs, but I have had a lot on my plate since then. Doing prereqs for both a CC and university, moving, having kids, moving in my grandparents, taking care of them, moving in my uncle and helping him, appointments, being a wife, dealing with deaths, and more. So, I can't be too hard on myself.

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I honestly think everyone goes through this stage and I think it's worst for those 28 and under. I don't think the older crowd really feels like this or should I say they seem more comfortable so I don't get that vibe. But I graduated 4 years ago and most of my classmates graduated this year with a bachelors and it's all over Facebook so of course I felt some type of way. And now that I think of it I was just venting to my friends mom the other day about this so you are not alone.

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I find myself being extremely competitive when it comes to my grades. It's my fear of not getting into a program.

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Specializes in Gerontology RN-BC and FNP MSN student.

Comparison is not healthy. ..unless it motivates you in a positive way. You are you and they are them. Enjoy who you are and how your doing it. You are unique! That is ok!

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I'm more so competitive with grades. This is my first pre-requisite and I can tell I won't take not being the best well... I know I need to hit everything out of the park to get into a program here. Very few programs work with my schedule.

On that note, I try not to compare in other ways.

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I started nursing school after high school ...close to finishing but had to drop out due to life circumstances beyond my control. tried several times to get back into school and life happened again..long story short, I completed this journey May 2013 when I graduated with my ADN. It took me 22 years from my original date I should have graduated with my BSN.

Suffice it to say, I always thought to myself, if I had done this, that or the other I would have 22 years of nursing under my belt. But then i think to myself....I was taken on this long journey for a reason. Life had other plans for me during those 22 years...getting married, raising children, buying a home, and all the wonderful things that transpired in that time.

I believe things happen in the order they do for a reason. Do I still compare myself to my friends who did finish nursing school way back when...sure...but I then wonder, would my life be as great as it is now if I had finished at the time I was supposed to...

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Comparison is the thief of joy. Eyes on your own journey! I graduated high school 20+ years ago and went off to college in a non-nursing major. Dropped out, got married, had four kids, got divorced, went back to school, graduated in January and passed NCLEX in March. Would it be great if I'd started nursing school in 1993? Sure. I'd have a ton of experience. But I wouldn't be here, now, likely wouldn't have these four amazing kids, and likely wouldn't be as resilient as I am now. My life experiences have made me a better student, better person, and likely a better nurse. Comparison doesn't advance, it slows you down and bogs you down in things that make you feel badly. I try very hard not to do it.

Wow! you are so inspiring!!! thank you for the words of encouragement and may you have a wonderful journey as a nurse:up:

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Stay off social media as much as possible! I have never had a Facebook and hopefully never have to. It seems so unhealthy to compare ourselves the way you cannot help but do as soon as you login to those sites. :/ I am just a regular, happy 26 year old not some freak of nature that is missing out terribly with no fb. No one is gonna go online and post "crap, it took me five and a half years to get an AA and now I'm just in LPN school" or "I am breaking out again today and there isn't one clean pair of jeans that look cute on me!" You mostly hear about how awesome everyone is and that's not all life entails obviously.

We all compare ourselves, it's human nature and it keeps us trying to work hard to do better but just realize it and move on just the way you are. You already answered your own question. You know you are doing quite well but I get where you are coming from. Rest at ease, confidence and comfort with yourself and your life goals will come with age also.

I heard a motivational speaker one time talk about how he was homeless for 2 1/2 years, living on the streets and doing drugs. He got his life together and went back to school without even having a GED he was able to eventually earn his bachelor's degree. He was 32 years old when he got it. He said when he applied for a job no one EVER asked him if it took him 12 years to get his 4 year degree. They simply noted that he had it and that's what got him his job making six figures. Keep plugging forward, you will do great. Best of luck to you.

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