Dropped last semester before graduation

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · Feb 13, 2015

Has anyone ever felt the need to drop out a semester for a mental break? I am attending or was attending an ADN program and was in my last semester when first I had and accident and got burned to my face and arm. Thank God it was not serious but I did miss two days of lecture and a quiz because of this. After that I received a low score on another quiz and my midterm I failed miserably. I decided to take the whole semester off because I felt I was not focusing anymore. Im a single parent and was still working full time, I became overwhlemed and I was tired. Just wanted to know has anyone ever felt this way before and continued on?
Feeling like a punk

I would say that what I bolded is essentially the key. To me, it sounds like you were on the verge of burnout and when you had the added stress of the face & arm burn coupled with missing a couple days of class, a quiz, performing poorly on another quiz, and failing the mid-term... you pretty much are burnt.

From a different set of circumstances, I was very much approaching burnout myself. Because I was tired and was basically at the point of exhaustion all the time, I ended up having small errors here and there but I was at first able to work through them. The following semester, I did generally well until I hit the MedSurg rotation and just hit a wall (figuratively). I was doing quite well academically, but because I was so tired all the time, I just wasn't doing as well on the clinical side. I ended up failing that semester and had to repeat, ultimately repeating semesters 2 and 3 because I followed content moved from 3rd semester into 2nd semester.

Best thing that could have happened to me. I did some rearranging of schedules and priorities and ended up going from a struggling student to one that was essentially a peer-tutor throughout the rest of the program. I easily maintained my grades and excelled in clinical. I was working full-time throughout the entire program as I had no other option.

I went from being nearly burned out to being myself again. Sometimes all you need to do is take some time off to recharge and rekindle that fire within you. I think you might find that with that little bit of time off, you might just return a much better student than when you left.

TNT365 · Feb 13, 2015

Thanks so much for reply.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Feb 13, 2015

Your choice to take a breather was most likely a very good one. Every once in a while, it's important to take the time to re-group and clear away as much distracting and draining 'stuff' as possible in order to give yourself a fresh start with enough energy to charge ahead to the finish line.

I have found that there are very few things in life that have a hard and fast deadline. It's important to recognize your own limitations and stressors and take action to keep yourself mentally healthy as you move through life. You're off to a great start.

Best wishes as you move ahead. Keep us posted on your progress - we're cheering you on.

caliotter3 · Feb 13, 2015

I was forced to take a break for medical reasons. When I returned, I was met with a negative attitude which was clearly expressed by the Director when she told me in no uncertain words in a phone conversation what I was and wasn't going to do. Her threat was effective. I have no idea what gave this individual the reason or the right to act toward me that way. While I would expect that how I was treated was an abnormality, I would advise you to tread with caution when you return. Do not give the school any reason to emphasize a target on your back. Just be careful.

TNT365 · Feb 13, 2015

Thanks everyone for the advice. I figured I was doing the right thing but I still felt bad because I would not be graduating on time.

Whispera, MSN, RN · Feb 14, 2015

On time graduation is a rather nebulous concept. To me, graduating on time is graduating when you're ready, not some calendar date that's set in stone the minute you start nursing school.

Don't be hard on yourself for not graduating when you hoped you would. Years from now, it won't matter...gosh, you might not even remember the difference in timing!

LoriRNCM, ADN, ASN, RN · Feb 14, 2015

Every day. I thought third semester was hard, but final semester is about twice as hard. Burnout may be why it seems this way. I can relate. I came home from clinical today and crashed, fell asleep for two hours, and I never do that. But we have had peds clinical once a week as well as acute care clinical, plus three days of school (3 classes). So I am exhausted. At least my peds rotation is over. I feel like I gained an extra day a week to study now.

Farawyn · Feb 15, 2015

You WILL be graduating on time. YOUR TIME.

I'm sorry about the burn. Best of luck to you.