Feeling overwhelmed..

I have been there and so has every other nurse. You are right, it might not be for you. But it might be you do not have the confidence yet to make the 1000 decisions you made today and now you are stressed to the max. I recommend you REST, ignore school for a day or two, then see if that makes a difference. I hope you find peace soon.

Take this opportunity to look back upon what you HAVE accomplished so far. You have made it through your pre-requisites, into nursing school, and into the hospital to learn to take care of patients. Only you have the ability to say if it is worth it, but my suspicion is that, deep down, you know it is.

I went through many a situation like you've described when I first began clinical rotations. But, you know what? Things got far better. I started to love being at the bedside, and found that each day taught me something fundamentally important, not just about being a nurse, but about myself. Nursing school taught me to be strong and resilient. When you look back at moments like this when you finish, you will be astounded at how much you have grown.

Remember to work hard, but to give yourself the opportunity to "play" hard as well. Have a hobby that has absolutely nothing to do with nursing, and relish in spending time just having fun. Spend time with people who have no idea about nursing, and give yourself that mental break from everything.

Good Luck!

I'm pretty sure we have all felt that way at one time or another. I just had the most overwhelming week I've ever had, and I am seriously so glad that this week is over. We just have to keep trudging on, and take it one day at a time. Give yourself a break, get some exercise, and then start chipping away at it again. Good luck to you.

Thanks everyone! Its just hard. This is the end of my 3rd week as a nursing student and i'm just so overwhelmed.

Thanks everyone! Its just hard. This is the end of my 3rd week as a nursing student and i'm just so overwhelmed.

Then a Netflix night is definitely needed! No reason to feel guilty for taking a break. Without a break you'll lose your mind, and your work tends to show that.

Do you have a good planner? Break things into small parts and REWARD yourself for the things you've done! I find myself overwhelmed when I'm spending too much time focusing on allllllll the things that need to be done in the future instead of celebrating what I've accomplished so far and taking care of the little part of the grand scheme that lives in today.

Last night I didn't even open a book. I put the kids to bed, put myself to bed, and spent hours watching Don't Trust the B---- From Apartment 23. I don't watch TV. I didn't even know what the show was about. But I just needed to focus on something else in solitude for the night. And today I was back on my game!

I have a planner that I use (and love). I write all my assignments and try to chip away at it little by little, but it seems like there is so much to do that I just can't get anything done.

What in specific is causing you to rethink your desire to be a nurse? Was it the patient care portion? I think I would have been bothered too if I was thrown at a pt within 3 weeks of starting school. We were in the lab for the first 6 months learning skills and hygiene and how to approach patients. By fundamentals of nursing 2, we were in the nursing home and cleaning up walking talking poop machines. Lol. Just take a deep breath and look at what you are willing to do. If you find that you are not willing to give up 110% of your personal life and live in books when not in the class then RN school may not be the place for you.

No, I was a CNA for 6 months and don't have a problem with patients. I just hate doing CNA work.

It is the all the assignments and reading and things to turn in, and they are "taking it easy on us"

No, I was a CNA for 6 months and don't have a problem with patients. I just hate doing CNA work.

It is the all the assignments and reading and things to turn in, and they are "taking it easy on us"

You are correct. They probably are taking it easy at first. As far as cna work goes, you will do that forever even as an RN. I am in there with my techs 98% of the time cleaning and bathing pts. It's only fair, and it helps me see 100% of the body for proper assessment. I can't tell how many little fentanyl or nitro patches I have discovered and added to the reconciliation and gotten orders for. Just take tonight off and breathe a little. It only gets harder as school rolls on, you have lots of decisions to make.

I have a planner that I use (and love). I write all my assignments and try to chip away at it little by little, but it seems like there is so much to do that I just can't get anything done.

If you're working steadily, you're getting things done, I promise. The workload IS manageable or no one would ever graduate from your program.

Are you breaking up your assignments into pieces in your planner? Read 50 pages tonight, do this assignment tomorrow, etc?

I'm sure your professors are indeed being easy on you for now, so now is the time to experiments and see what works for you, what motivates you, and what doesn't. Take a break and regroup tomorrow. :)