Does anyone ever feel this way?

[hTx87]

sometimes i wonder if i would make a good nurse. i look around my class and it seems like some people in my class are so devoted and sounds like they study 24/7 and know their stuff!..(maybe im exaggerating a lil lol)

because sometimes i wonder...."how am i gonna remember all of this they teach us in school?..what if i forget in real life?"

does anyone ever feel this way while in nursing school? or how else have you felt in this process of nursing school?

[peacelovestar]

I constantly worry I won't make a good nurse but I think that'll come with time.

My sister is in her 4th semester of a 6 semester BSN program and she does just fine and she does not study 24/7..or even close to it. She used to come home crying and those days are long gone. I think you should just keep with it and things will get better.

My point is,

You aren't the only person with those thoughts-believe me. I think we all get a little discouraged with the amount of stuff we have to learn.

:redpinkhe

[MnemonicFanatic]

No, you are not the only one who feels this way. I'm sure that some, if not all of the other students you consider to be 'smart' also feel the same as you do.

Sometimes what's being taught just seems to 'click' with you, and it feels like there was nothing to learning it. I loved cardiac, and had no trouble understanding it. Pediatrics, however, was a whole other ball game- I struggled through it. My friend, it was just the opposite for her.

I've been intimidated by nurses who have 8 or 9 patients and can remember a lab value or a blood pressure that was taken six hours ago. They've all said the same thing...it comes with time and experience. The more you are able to use the knowledge you gained in school, the more confident you will become with your skills. There are several nurses that I consider to be exceptional at what they do who have admitted to me that after years of being a nurse, they still don't feel like they know all they should, and its a constant learning experience.

Don't worry- one day, in clinical, you'll look at the situation and suddenly...all the pieces will fall into place and you'll amaze yourself with what you actually know. Hang in there! Like peacelovestar said, we all get discouraged now and then, but it will come together for you!

[justme1972]

I used to feel this way, until about two weeks ago in clinical, I walked into a room to assess a patient. He and I were just chatting and I was just going over his chart, discussing different aspects of his surgery that he had the week before, etc.

The charge nurse for that shift, walked in and then quickly walked out.

When I had completed my assessment, I went to find my clinical instructor to see what she wanted us to do next...and she was standing at the nurses station talking with the charge nurse.

The charge nurse looked up and said, "She's one of your students?"

The clinical instructor laughed and said, "Well yes, who did you think she was?"

The charge nurse said, "Well heck, I walked into the room, and she really looked like she knew what she was doing...I left because I thought she was one of the residents!"

We had a big laugh...and I had a HUGE boost to my ego.

[PEBBLES1]

You are not alone. I have less than 6 weeks left until I am finish nursing school and I feel lost sometimes. When I talk to other nurses, they say it's normal to feel that way. I remember when I 1st started nursing school, I thought this madness would never end and now that I am almost their, I feel scared to death. Once you get in the field and start working it will flow. Good luck

[rotteluvr31, ADN, RN]

I don't feel that way at clinicals -as much as I used too. But at work, well it is very different. Every day I see something that I don't know how to react to or how to do. This past weekend, my patient developed a systemic septic reaction and went from fine, alert, healthy looking, to confused, ferverish, very ill, within 20 minutes. When we finally got him settled a little - I was frustrated for feeling like I had no idea what to do for this very sick man, and asked my preceptor when will I know how to handle a situation like that as an RN. And she said you learn it over time. She reminds me constantly how 4 months ago I couldn't hang an IVPB, now I routinely hang several at a time, and know how to check what is compatable, what is the priority med to get in first, and how to do flushes, pushes, etc. All skills I did not have before.

Don't look at how far you have to go, but how far you have come. A year ago maybe you weren't in nursing school, hadn't taken A/P, etc. but, you are building the foundation to achieve your goal. Comparing yourself to others doesn't help you achieve your goal - to be a nurse. Keep your eyes focused on that, study hard, and you can become the nurse you want to be!

[rotteluvr31, ADN, RN]

.and I had a HUGE boost to my ego.

Good for you!

We all need a little boost once in awhile, and it sounds like you received a well-deserved one!

[LMRN10]

ABSOLUTELY!!!

But I do have a friend who graduated from the same program as me and she said it's going to seem like none of it makes sense, but once you start out in the real world, it all comes together. I'm going to take her word for it!!

Hang in there...that feeling will pass and then the next semester, when you retain the information from the previous semester, you'll know you can do it!!

Lori