Feeling Frustrated with my PMHNP Program

[BlackBettyRN,OCN]

It's that time of the semester again, and I am feeling EXTREMELY frustrated and discouraged with my psychiatric NP program. I am only in my second semester, so I am still wading through the basics: research, general pharmacology, theory. I know that the stuff I am learning is foundational and I need to learn it, but I have all these wonderful, interesting psychiatry textbooks that I've purchased that I would give anything to read right now. However, I work two jobs and have a family, so I don't have the time to pursue the readings that I would actually enjoy because I am so burdened with "busy work." I love psychiatry, and I am sure that my program will get better once I finish the basic coursework and jump into my psych courses.

I'm just tired and frustrated and bored!

Does anyone else feel the way I do? Does anyone have any tips, advice, or words of wisdom for a frustrated NP student?

[Grumble88]

Stick it out, like you said all the things you're learning will be fundamental to your future practice of psychiatry. Learn them and understand that they will make the future psych information more understandable and will make you better able to discuss psychiatry with other professionals once you're practicing. Evidence based practice is what we do, research = evidence. You don't have to love but you dang well better be good at understanding it.