I just started nursing school at a 2 year college and it is much more difficult that I anticipated. I haven't been failing, but definitely not the best either or not as good as I'd want to do. The last test I took just about killed me. Our teacher seems to be sort of scatter brained as well and isn't very helpful, either. I studied everything I could, tried as hard as I could, and still didn't know all the information and pretty sure I failed. Sometimes that feeling just makes me want to quit in the beginning while I'm not too deep into the course. I've tried making study groups but it just seems like most of my classmates are not into the idea of it. Or they're just too busy. I don't really feel a community in my group. It feels like it's all a huge competition, along with all the little cliques that makes it a bit lonely as well, going through it. I really had my mind set on nursing for a long time and I really wanted to become a CRNA eventually (yes, very far off future, I know). But now I'm just not sure what to make of it all, let alone if I'll even get the grades I need. I know it's too soon to maybe even draw a conclusion... I just don't know if I have what it takes.
I just started nursing school at a 2 year college and it is much more difficult that I anticipated. I haven't been failing, but definitely not the best either or not as good as I'd want to do. The last test I took just about killed me. Our teacher seems to be sort of scatter brained as well and isn't very helpful, either. I studied everything I could, tried as hard as I could, and still didn't know all the information and pretty sure I failed. Sometimes that feeling just makes me want to quit in the beginning while I'm not too deep into the course. I've tried making study groups but it just seems like most of my classmates are not into the idea of it. Or they're just too busy. I don't really feel a community in my group. It feels like it's all a huge competition, along with all the little cliques that makes it a bit lonely as well, going through it. I really had my mind set on nursing for a long time and I really wanted to become a CRNA eventually (yes, very far off future, I know). But now I'm just not sure what to make of it all, let alone if I'll even get the grades I need. I know it's too soon to maybe even draw a conclusion... I just don't know if I have what it takes.
Has anyone ever felt the same?
How did you get through it?
I'm hoping to become a crna eventually as well. I'm terrified of what's to come. My problem is that I doubt myself a lot. I've been figuring out different ways to study while I've been getting my medical assisting degree. Some help, some don't. I have to do a ton of flash cards or rewrite stuff a few times. I'm hoping this continues to help me on this long journey I'm about to start.
Learning how to taking nursing school tests in and of itself is a skill. Learning the content and knowing how to apply it is really what they are looking for. I had a professor tell us "it's nice that you know all this stuff, but how are you going to apply it."
I also failed my first test first term. I was so frustrated as I was use to just learning the material straight up and regurgitating it for the tests. I went in and did a test audit to see where I went wrong. Reading over the rationals really will help. You'll be able to see the thinking behind the questions, and what they are really asking you. I wouldn't recommend confronting your professor. That could come back to bite you. A group of us did not care for our last term's professor, but we banded together to study and made the best of the situation. None of us wanted to say anything for fear of backlash or getting pegged as a difficult student to work it. Maybe when we graduate, we'll say something as a group, but until then, we just keeping going forward.
I also recommend the Davis Success books. They are really helpful! Does your program have any tutors available to you? I used our program's tutors to help me though my first two terms of school. I found the help to be wonderful! Good luck with you studies!! It does get better!
"last test I took just about killed me". No need for drama..we all know nursing school is difficult.
"Teacher is sort of scatter brained". Ok? It doesn't matter. You are required to get a good grade. You will work with docs and nurses who are "scatter brained". You still need to accomplish the mission.
"I don't feel community in my group" Who said you are required to feel "community" from your classmates?
You are "lonely"? Then make friends.
You want to be a CRNA, but an ADN test almost "killed" you.
I have been a nurse for 10 years. Here is my advice. Quit nursing school and find a career with minimal challenges. And while you are at it quit blaming others for your inability to complete nursing school. EVERY single nursing student has been through it. You either do it or you don't do it. There isn't anything else to it. Quit or don't quit. Up to you.
Wow, there are really some rude people on this site. I always thought this site was for advice and to help others see what's coming in their future, or even some just struggling and needing a pick me up from some who understand.
Wow, there are really some rude people on this site. I always thought this site was for advice and to help others see what's coming in their future, or even some just struggling and needing a pick me up from some who understand.
You are mistaken.
This is not a support group for troubled persons seeking counseling.
The title "All Nurses" may imply this is a site just for nurses but there are allied health professionals, EMTs, CNAs, students and just interested folks that are not in health care at all. This is mostly professional nurses though, just talking with other professional nurses.
Even if the person responding to you is a nurse, there is no nurse-patient relationship that would require that person to place your interests ahead of their own. Persons on this site are not paid to respond and don't have a relationship to each other than being strangers on the internet.
On this site you will get personal opinions and advice in all manner of presentation.
A straight answer is not as sugar-coated as you may have expected but it's not necessarily rude.
Didn't say counseling, but okay. Also, this poster made their post in the nursing student location. The site is for many other people too, there's pre nursing student as well. I do believe this site is here for more than just nurses only.
This will echo what some other folks have said, but here's two things I recommend:
1. Do everything you can to improve your study habits. There are lots of things that are shown to be effective in improving studying efficiency including
*get plenty of sleep
*sit near the front of class if possible
*take notes by hand rather than on a computer
*remove distractions when studying
*get at least a little exercise during the day
*make studying an involving experience (write your own flashcards, practice saying things out loud, etc.)
2. Always keep in mind what nursing exams are about.
Some others have already touched on this, but nursing exams are about what a nurse should do. If, for instance, you have covered normal range of blood pressure in class, don't expect an exam question to just give you a number and ask if it is high/low/normal. The question will give you a mini scenario, possibly with extraneous information, and ask what the most appropriate course of action is for the nurse. Keep this in mind all the time when you are studying, and even during class. You want to know if you need to administer medications, or elevate the head of the bed, or call the physician, or just document your findings and move on.
Giving a straight forward asnwer is not "rude". This is an assumption in with people who often are looking for excuses to quit. Here is the deal..if you want to quit then quit. If it is to hard then either study more or quit. What is rude about that? It isn't just "going to be ok" or "it will get better". The poster gives about 10 different reasons why they cannot complete nursing school and want to quit. If a test "almost kills" a person then it isn't for them. Also the poster states they say they want to be a CRNA, but is already considering quitting their ADN program. "wanting" and "doing" are two different things.
Giving a straight forward asnwer is not "rude". This is an assumption in with people who often are looking for excuses to quit. Here is the deal..if you want to quit then quit. If it is to hard then either study more or quit. What is rude about that? It isn't just "going to be ok" or "it will get better". The poster gives about 10 different reasons why they cannot complete nursing school and want to quit. If a test "almost kills" a person then it isn't for them. Also the poster states they say they want to be a CRNA, but is already considering quitting their ADN program. "wanting" and "doing" are two different things.
I just didn't get the impression like you and the other poster, that they wanted to quit. As much as they were just expressing the difficulty of the nursing program for them.
This will echo what some other folks have said, but here's two things I recommend:
1. Do everything you can to improve your study habits. There are lots of things that are shown to be effective in improving studying efficiency including
*get plenty of sleep
*sit near the front of class if possible
*take notes by hand rather than on a computer
*remove distractions when studying
*get at least a little exercise during the day
*make studying an involving experience (write your own flashcards, practice saying things out loud, etc.)
2. Always keep in mind what nursing exams are about.
Some others have already touched on this, but nursing exams are about what a nurse should do. If, for instance, you have covered normal range of blood pressure in class, don't expect an exam question to just give you a number and ask if it is high/low/normal. The question will give you a mini scenario, possibly with extraneous information, and ask what the most appropriate course of action is for the nurse. Keep this in mind all the time when you are studying, and even during class. You want to know if you need to administer medications, or elevate the head of the bed, or call the physician, or just document your findings and move on.
This May be a dumb question to ask, I generally do written notes, but I'm curious why no typing notes. Just because writing retains more info or any particular reason?
This May be a dumb question to ask, I generally do written notes, but I'm curious why no typing notes. Just because writing retains more info or any particular reason?
Since writing by hand takes longer it allows more time for your brain to process the information. Also, there have been studies done showing that students who write their notes by hand outperform those who take notes on a computer.
I'm a big proponent of evidence based practice in education.
Since writing by hand takes longer it allows more time for your brain to process the information. Also, there have been studies done showing that students who write their notes by hand outperform those who take notes on a computer.
I'm a big proponent of evidence based practice in education.
It makes sense, I write all my notes and make flash cards for my classes Now (finishing my degree as a medical assistant) I always wondered if it's possible to keep up on notes in some of the classes in nursing school. Maybe record lectures and then write them at home?
amber0627
168 Posts
I'm hoping to become a crna eventually as well. I'm terrified of what's to come. My problem is that I doubt myself a lot. I've been figuring out different ways to study while I've been getting my medical assisting degree. Some help, some don't. I have to do a ton of flash cards or rewrite stuff a few times. I'm hoping this continues to help me on this long journey I'm about to start.