First week of nursing school and I am already freaking out...

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I just started nursing school this past week and I am already freaking out... We already have 10 chapters due for next week plus 2 handouts and I dont know what to do because it is alll overwhelming. They also notified us that we are going to have a calculations test on week five that we need to pass with 100% or they will kick us out of the program, the thing is we have to learn and study for the calculations test on our own, they will not teach us anything about calculations. I am so stressed out already I cannot sleep and cant eat... I really do want to become a nurse but honestly I am not sure if I will be able to make it. I knew nursing school was going to be hard but I had no idea it was going to be this difficult. And on top of that everyone kept telling me how extremely difficult nursing school is and how horrible it is and they left me scared to death. I am straight A student and everyone keeps telling me how smart I am and that I will finish the program and they are all counting on me but I feel dumb and I feel like I will never be able to become a nurse. I am just so depressed... I am also working about 25 hours a week and I think I am just going to have to quit my job. is anyone else feeling this way on their first week back to school?

Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

I often found it to be true that my fellow nursing students who did not wig out during their first semester, first clinical, first whatever, were the ones who did not survive. Complacency does not serve you well in nursing school.

A little bit of anxiety is sometimes a good thing. It motivates you. You just have to do what you need to do to keep it in check. You did good - you came here and found that you're not alone.

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You will get in your grove. I think we all feel that feeling of being overwhelmed. ... i am in an accelerated program so some days we are assinged 8 chapters in 1 day.... no joke. the key to survival is to plan ahead. I always start my weeks a little ahead so that if have room to fall behind.... You will do great!!!

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Hi lilbutterfly,

I graduated in May 2008, and worked a couple part time jobs and had a elementary school boy...what I found helped me the most was to google a lot of the "concepts" and to read it in plain english, then go back and skim over the texts and add in the medicalese lingo, once I had grasped the concept in regular people language.

Try it, it might work for you too.

Good luck!

moonjumper RN

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Specializes in acute rehab, med surg, LTC, peds, home c.

lilbut. Take it easy, we have all been there and lived to tell aout it. You sound determined and that is good, you will make it because failure is not an option for you. Just prioritize and study/work on whatevr is coming up next. Manage your time well, skip the tv and go straight for the books. Good luck, I am sure you will be fine.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

I think the fact that you're worrying about it means you'll be ok. I'm more concerned with the people who think they'll breeze through the program.

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Yep! I'm right there with you...I just finished my first week of nursing school and am overwhelmed by how much reading needs to be done. But.....this too shall pass!!!

Just like everyone else has said, I've been told to just read the key highlights out of the chapters instead of the ENTIRE chapter. Some people need to read every word, and that's fine, but for me...it's way too much information. My instructors do power point lectures for the chapters, which gives me a better idea of what really needs to be read. Do you have something like this from your instructors? Like objectives for the chapter?

Just take a big, deep breath and relax! You'll be fine! :D:heartbeat

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I know a lot of people are saying to only read the keypoints... and admittedly im a nerd but i feel a sense of responsibility to read that info... what if find is that if you do your work and trudge through your first few classes most of hte other classes are building on that knowledge. At this point in the game i feel like I have a good handle on key areas of pathophysiology ect..... but that is because i worked extra hard in the beginning.... I personally feel like every class is similar topics just looking at them at different angles... for me each class gets easier and easier.... but i took the harder road at the beginning and put the time and sweat into the understanding.

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Anything is manageable if you work on time management skills. Its not an issue of 25 hours of work or the class load. This is very manageable for you.

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