Emotional Rollercoaster of Nursing School!!!

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Am I the only person who is riding this ride? Because I sure do not like it, I am enjoying the experience, don't get me wrong, but the high's and lows of taking test, and studying your but off for 6 chapters yet having only 50 questions, or in clinicals trying to not make a mistake and because you are so nervous you make so many anyway......

Nursing school sure is a test of the will and will be so glad when it is over!!:yeah:

Yep, I feel exactly the same way. I am so ready to get off this ride! And the day after clinicals, I feel like I have been in a coma and just cannot fully wake up! I am totally exhausted.

I am in my 3rd semester of my 2 year program, and will graduate in May. Honestly if I wasn't this far into the program I would seriously consider quitting. Nursing school is hard enough, but I got into a program that is 2 hours away from my home and family, so I am renting a tiny house in a different town where I didn't know anyone, and I only commute home to see my family every other weekend. It has taken SO MUCH out of me, I feel like I have nothing left to give. But then I realize I only have 7 months to go, and I have come so far and learned so much. To quit now would be the biggest regret of my life. I will be turning 43 next week, and I know I can do this.

Hang in there everyone! We are all here for a reason, and even though it might not feel like it now, it will be all worth it in the end!

Vicky :yawn:

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I have been tired of the "roller coaster" since semester 1 and it did not ease up but got tougher as the semesters came and went. I am know about to finish my classes in 3 weeks and then start a 5 week preceptorship and then.....I am done. wow. The journey has been life changing and as tough as it has been, I am glad that I developed new coping mechanisms to handle all the new experiences in clinical and I feel that my family has come out stronger because of the intense stress. I must say that I feel fortunate, people have been failed from clinicals, failed from theory, and there have been several divorces and seperations. This roller coaster ride is the most important thing I have done for myself since the birth of my son. Enjoy the ride and I trully wish you all the best.

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I am also so tired & overwhelmed I am in my last semester - finish in Dec.

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everytime you feel that you're giving up..just imagine all the sacrifices and hardships you've been. are you going to throw it all away..you're almost there.just hang on! then you will get charge and ready to go again. & when you finish school, you will realize its worth all the wait. just be patient, you're almost there.

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Specializes in med surg home care PEDS.

I have to say I enjoyed my first semester, fundamentals etc, but it has been down hill since then. I will graduate in May maybe, who knows, my theory grades are great, clinical I feel all thumbs, and so incompetent and my clinical instructor just chews me up all the time, sometimes I just feel like quiting, but I will try to stick it out. so no I am not enjoying nursing school at all, i find it torture

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Specializes in CVICU, ER.

Yes, it is excruciating. I will be done in May 2009, and it can't come soon enough. We've lost 2 within the first month back for fall semester, and our roll will probably drop significantly by the drop date. Our next test is the day before the drop date. Fortunately I have been scared to death to fail this semester, so I have been studying like never before, and now have the best grades I've ever had in nursing!! I am stoked about that. Sad for the rest. In my case, there is this one girl that I have gotten close with over time. I never imagined her to be failing b/c she is a survivor, but she will have to make almost perfect on the next 2 tests, and do well on the final to make it. A final that caused 21 out of 53 to fail out of the program last semester. She will probably end up dropping. Trying to not focus on that, but it is always in the back of your mind. As bad as it sounds, I have actually pulled away from some of the nursing friends that I have, and had to make friends with some in my class that I barely know b/c we are the only ones passing. Stress is an understatement. I have had more chest pain and GI upset than I have ever had in my life during this venture. I will be glad when it's over. I couldn't imagine being one of the ones behind at this point. I just don't think I could take it.

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Specializes in EMS, ER, GI, PCU/Telemetry.

i just got off the ride. :)

i get pinned this week!

but yes, i remember vividly the rollercoaster of nursing school. i don't think i have ever been so tired, stressed or emotional in my entire life. but i have also never been so incredibly proud of myself.

the journey is worth the destination! hang in there and enjoy it! the end comes sooner then you know!

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Specializes in HH, Med/surg- liver & kidney transplant, ortho, ++.

I am only in my first term. I have major ups and downs.

Just before my first test I had a total melt down. Started crying, thinking I wasnt going to pass the test, I wasn't smart enough, I was going to fail right out of nursing school, etc..

I ended up with a 90.9, almost an A (91 is an A). I was so proud of myself.

I have had 2 other tests and a clinical worksheet/care plan. I scored above a 90 on all of those too!!

My test scores make me feel great. Now I am having one of those down days. I have to admit I haven't studied much for my next test, which is on Wednesday. I have a feeling I am getting a little overconfident.

We all have our moments. I am sure I have many more to go. Hang in there. The process of getting to the goal may be a bumpy ride but the rewards will be fantastic in the end!!!!

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Though i hate having to go through all the emotions and anxiety, I am glad to know Its not just me or a regional thing. As i look over all the replys i can honestly say that i could have been the one posting any of them. With such a shortage of nurses and the empathetic field we are going in, I don't understand why the program has to be this way. I have spoke to some of my friends that have been nurses more than 10 years and they say it was just like that when they went through the program. I dont understand why schools haven't been more accomidating to develop a program with possitive structure. I work now in a home health role with a client that goes to college. I feel the other professions don't have like this. I maybe to general in saying that but sometimes the anxiety is over the top. In our program you have to get an Eighty to pass at a C. All that said, I have to agree with so many of you, and try to keep my eye on the finish line.

Best of luck to all. :[anb]:

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I feel the same way....sometimes it's so hard to sleep at night thinking that in the morning you have to go to school or clinical and be humiliated and tortured again. I even had to go to the doctor to get anti-anxiety and anti-depression pills, isn't that sad? I'm an LPN, but when I went to LPN school, all my instructors were very supportive. You can go to them when you have problems or even just go to them to talk. At my new school (LPN to RN), they treat you like crap. You're invisible to their eyes, they just see their favorites. It's half way to the semester and 2 people got kicked out already and I know both of them....they got good grades, but were people that "just got picked on" by the instructors. I feel soooo sad, sometimes I don't even want to go on; but I know I have to because I have family to support. Sometimes I just feel so degraded. I used to get all A's in everything (even in the LPN program), now I'm a C student. I'm not giving up though....I have to try to at least get a B, just to feel better. I just wish instructors at my new school would be supportive and not put you down esp when they could already see that you feel like the lowest of the low.

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Specializes in Telemetry.

This was exactly what I needed to read today. I've been feeling so overwhelmed by the lack of free time. This week I'll spend every single day at the hospital. Two days of clinicals, two days of lecture (my program is at the hospital we're affiliated with), two days of work and today I'm going to pick my patient to start the whole thing over again for another week tomorrow.

You're definitely not alone. I'm not having a good time right now. I like the advice to keep my eye on the prize.

Good luck. If you get it all figured out how to get through this happily, let me know.

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The one thing that i have figured out is that my pride gets in the way. For some reason that helps.... Like many of you i was an A student until nursing. I have gotten B's but at great cost. I think if somehow you can assess yourself to why are you feeling this way and make it self focused..... you may find the answer. This clinical weekend i came to the realization that for me it was a pride issue. I don't accept criticism well,,,,, especially after i studied every angel possible to prepare for clinics and when it comes to give the info i go completely blank....most likely d/t no matter what i never seem to have the right answer.....lol. Hours of studying all that information to be asked about ...."what is the one thing you need to know about insulin before you give it?" It has to be checked by two RN's...... (not anywhere that i worked before as an LPN). LOL most times i was the only evening nurse there. ...... So i have come to the conclusion for me..... its my pride. I'm not living up to my own standards no matter how much study or practice i put into it. Besides i think guys have it so much easier.....they don't have all the hormonal issues and things tend to roll off them better. I have a guy in my clinics that i talk to alot and he says to me...."you know if i get a passing grade, thats all that counts." Which really is so true...i have seen some very very book smart nurses that struggled to pass boards and make terrible terrible nurses...... In saying that,,,, Those of you that are super super smart...i didnt say all... i said some. And i have seen others that struggle and make the best nurses once in practice. I was just talking to another classmate.... she told me about a co worker of hers that struggled through school....took boards 3 times ..... and has worked in the field for more than 7 years and is up for some national award..... so lets not be so hard on ourselves, the task ahead is hard, no doubt. Give ourselves a break and when you leave your clinics and feel like you have been hit by a mack truck, ask yourself...."What did i come away with from this hard experience?" Most times its alot of learning or new skill. Then say..... i deserve a ******** {fill in the blank}. I do get resentful of others that in my class that make it look so easy or are the teachers pet.....but then i realize.. what are they gaining by not being challenged .... So stay tough fellow students, and when the the giant stands in front of you....do like David did and get your slingshot..we can overcome.

WOW ...i feel better already.

:w00t::w00t::[anb]:

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