Do you ever wonder...

Nurses General Nursing

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Do you ever wonder how you managed to get a nursing license? Or how you managed to convince your teachers to let you graduate school in the first place? 

Sometimes I feel as if someone else went to school, but I somehow got credit. It's almost as if my license shouldn't be, well, mine.  

Anyone else relate? 

Specializes in Ortho, CMSRN.

I understand. I have a daughter who was just diagnosed with ADD. Pretty sure I have it too, as does my mother who is a nurse, but has a troubled job history. I failed as many classes as I could, but somehow managed to pass. I spoke with another nurse with ADD who called it "imposter syndrome". I did work my butt off, as others have said, but I'm not smart enough to be where I am. Still, I chair a comittee (evidence based practice) and I precept, and I think I'm pretty darned good at my job. Not sure how I managed to get here, but still grateful. I am a Christian, and I believe that what God calls you to, He will equip you for. Still, if I go back for a Masters, I'm gonna have to get diagnosed and medicated for ADD or I don't think I could do it. 

 

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

I worked very hard for my degree and know exactly how I got it and had made all A's (but for one B in OB...go figure).

However, like any new grad I fumbled around feeling like the biggest idiot nurse ever and probably had what is now coined "imposter syndrome".  After one year I switched jobs and moved to a new state with my ex and felt like an idiot fumbling around all over again in a new environment.  

Took a good couple of years before I got my confidence that this is what I'm good at and meant to do.  

 

 

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Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.
On 10/21/2021 at 8:25 PM, SilverBells said:

Do you ever wonder how you managed to get a nursing license? Or how you managed to convince your teachers to let you graduate school in the first place? 

Sometimes I feel as if someone else went to school, but I somehow got credit. It's almost as if my license shouldn't be, well, mine.  

Anyone else relate? 

I'm afraid I can not relate. Despite the fact that I'm sure I spent less time and money on my license than anyone else. I went to nursing school for a total of two semesters for a cost of $2,600 total.

    But I graduated feeling well prepared as an entry level RN ready to start learning how to be a practicing RN.

    One of the best things I did was apply and get accepted into a demanding nine month nurse residency for new grads going directly into critical care. It was a challenge but in less than a year I felt (and was) a competent ICU nurse. 

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"Work smarter, not harder". Isn't this administration's answer to everything??

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Specializes in Ortho, CMSRN.

Oh my. Yes. I've long known that my mom has undiagnosed ADD, and that my daughter did from third grade until now. We had to get my daughter a diagnosis and medical help this year because after repeated talk and punishment and taking things away, she was ignoring math class, although she knows how to do the work. Assignments were stuffed in a folder. 

After her getting her diagnosis and treating her ADD with medication and counseling) and the depression that the untreated ADD caused... (I'm ashamed I let it get so far.. I really thought she was OK) I've done a lot of reading and research and I have it too. 

I failed as many classes as I could to still pass nursing school. I had to wait a whole semester because of my poor academics. Like her, I know how to do it, but anxiety and coping let me to severe procrastination. That, among other things (I can't just listen to a lecture or sermon, I must be moving my hands... I crocheted in nursing school. I take notes at church. Sometimes just making loops. If my hands are not moving, I can't focus) 

The class failing makes me think I shouldn't be here. I know that God must want me here or I wouldn't have made it. Realizing that I have the SAME problem that my mom and daughter have that has help available gives me hope that maybe I AM smart enough to achieve a masters degree if I get help though. 

Not saying that you have ADD, but maybe it's something else. Talk with your doctor. This has been a huge eye opener for us. It's a relief in some way... knowing that help is out there if we'll just take it. Hopefully something is there for you as well. 

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Specializes in Community Health, Med/Surg, ICU Stepdown.

I know how I got through school and aced the NCLEX: I am book smart. I know exactly what to do in theoretical case scenarios and have an in depth knowledge of pathophysiology, but once I'm under pressure and trying to multi-task, everything leaves my brain! It would be easier for me to get through a PhD program than go back to a Med/Surg floor.

We all have our strengths and weaknesses. Some people struggle in school and then are amazing nurses in real life. Some are great at hands on skills, time management, stress management, etc. and others need a lower stress environment. Good thing there are so many types of nurses and all are in demand right now! If you find a job you are good at and not stressed, your confidence will increase = )

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Specializes in Pediatrics, NICU.

not really--tbh, I think a nursing degree does not prepare you well at all for the job we have. I can't believe I was 22 and taking care of people's health...I just don't think the training is adequate, enough, or in depth at all. I know that's controversial it's just how I feel

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

Most of nursing is common sense….

AND troubleshooting. The rest comes naturally. Empathy, support, and caring. If you are real and not fake, the job is not too bad. What gets you in the weeds is acting like it’s all OK when you have no clue. ASK FOR HELP IF YOU NEED IT. No shame in that. Shame comes from acting like you got it all figured out and falling on your face. 

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On 10/29/2021 at 3:57 AM, ClaraRedheart said:

Oh my. Yes. I've long known that my mom has undiagnosed ADD, and that my daughter did from third grade until now. We had to get my daughter a diagnosis and medical help this year because after repeated talk and punishment and taking things away, she was ignoring math class, although she knows how to do the work. Assignments were stuffed in a folder. 

After her getting her diagnosis and treating her ADD with medication and counseling) and the depression that the untreated ADD caused... (I'm ashamed I let it get so far.. I really thought she was OK) I've done a lot of reading and research and I have it too. 

I failed as many classes as I could to still pass nursing school. I had to wait a whole semester because of my poor academics. Like her, I know how to do it, but anxiety and coping let me to severe procrastination. That, among other things (I can't just listen to a lecture or sermon, I must be moving my hands... I crocheted in nursing school. I take notes at church. Sometimes just making loops. If my hands are not moving, I can't focus) 

The class failing makes me think I shouldn't be here. I know that God must want me here or I wouldn't have made it. Realizing that I have the SAME problem that my mom and daughter have that has help available gives me hope that maybe I AM smart enough to achieve a masters degree if I get help though. 

Not saying that you have ADD, but maybe it's something else. Talk with your doctor. This has been a huge eye opener for us. It's a relief in some way... knowing that help is out there if we'll just take it. Hopefully something is there for you as well. 

Your ADHD doesn’t make you “not smart.” It’s a neurotype, not a learning disability. There are plenty of symptoms that make it challenging, but smarts isn’t one of them. Especially being diagnosed as an adult like me, you’ve not doubt gotten the message that you are not smart. But it’s because our brains just don’t work the way neurotypical’s do. Example: say you’re taking a history class (totally not based off real life or anything LOL) and the teacher is giving lecture while having you take his specific notes along with your own which you have to turn in for a grade. You try your best to get the notes written, but you can’t hear his lecture bc you’re focusing on the notes. You turn in the notes done to the best of your ability, and you receive poor grades on them bc you didn’t write your own notes (and bc you have dysgraphia often co occurring) because you couldn’t focus on the lecture. Then you don’t do as well on exams bc you can’t answer the questions that came from lecture. You get a D, you get in trouble from your parents, your teacher thinks you are lazy and “not applying yourself.” You know you are trying so hard. The message you receive is that you’re stupid. 

My sophomore year in high school, I tried implementing techniques from the video lecture Where There’s a Will, There’s an A. One of them was a recommendation to get permission to record your lectures. This was in about ‘96 in high school so it wasn’t common. I asked my history teacher if I could record lecture. Jerk said no. I failed the class. Had to repeat my Senior year, and what do you know, I easily got an A bc my teacher wasn’t an idiot. If I had had a diagnosis, I could have received accommodations such as my teacher printing out the notes for me. Instead I gave up after a few months. Depressed and checked out with further negative labels attached to me. Of course I thought I was stupid and lazy. Throughout college I dropped class after class, thinking that. If I had a diagnosis, I could have received help in evaluating why I was doing so poorly. Things such as not going to class bc it was too early. I would have known that would NOT work for my brain and scheduled a different time. The only reason I stuck with nursing school was bc I knew how much *** I’d get from my Dad. He rolled his eyes when my mom (a nurse) announced to the family that I was going to nursing school. So in proper ADHD form, I suffered through out of a trauma response LOL. It did take me an extra year, bc, well, undiagnosed ADHD. But I hyper focused like hell on anatomy and physiology, making concepts in the disease process easy to understand the first time hearing it when the rest of the class struggled more. 

If you made it through this, you deserve a medal. 

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On 10/21/2021 at 8:25 PM, SilverBells said:

Do you ever wonder how you managed to get a nursing license? Or how you managed to convince your teachers to let you graduate school in the first place? 

Sometimes I feel as if someone else went to school, but I somehow got credit. It's almost as if my license shouldn't be, well, mine.  

Anyone else relate? 

I saw a Youtube  video about this very thing today. It was insightful.

No spoilers though.

Go watch this video: 

You can also go to Youtube and search "nurse imposter syndrome" for more informational videos.

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On 10/29/2021 at 4:50 PM, pinkdoves said:

not really--tbh, I think a nursing degree does not prepare you well at all for the job we have. I can't believe I was 22 and taking care of people's health...I just don't think the training is adequate, enough, or in depth at all. I know that's controversial it's just how I feel

Accurate and realistic comment. Not controversial at all. 

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Specializes in ER.

I've been nursing more than thirty years and still feel like I don't know enough.

I peaked in my "feel like I'm smart" knowledge at about six years in. I was a living example of the Dunning Kruger effect.

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