First year nursing student

Wulfie · Aug 30, 2009

You are feeling the way almost everyone feels when they start out. If you knew all there was to know, there would be no reason to be in school would there? Learning is different for everyone. Sometimes it is difficult to put things together to relate them to the real world. This is especially true in nursing. After my first semester, I was absolutely confused about what I had learned and how it would be applied. It seemed as though I was missing huge parts of the puzzle. It was very different than other things I learned. Then, slowly, the pieces came together. Each part that seemed unconnected before was used in different ways for many different "big pictures"

You have chosen a career that is very difficult because it is ever changing. Evidence based nursing is an enormous field where no one can truly master it all.

Nursing school will allow you to develop many different skills that can be used in many diferent ways. Depending on the field you choose.

Hang in there, read your assignments, ask a lot of questions, ask them again if you still don't get it, post the questions here if you need to.

Don't be discouraged for not knowing. That is why they call it learning.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Aug 30, 2009

I think some of us felt that way at one time or another, especially if the instructors come into the first days of class talking to us like we've been nurses for years and we haven't a clue what they mean. I don't know if some instructors do this because they have some low self-esteem issues and are using students to help them feel better about themselves or what. We all start out knowing absolutely nothing. Little by little you will begin to add nursing knowledge to a "bag of tricks" that you will graduate with and go out into the world with. You will learn what you are required to learn because like in every other course of study you have had you will re-visit these subjects again and again before graduation. You will talk about these subjects with your fellow students, you will have patients with these issues, you will see them in the hospital and you will probably see a number of them discussed on allnurses if you have time to spend here. And your learning won't stop when school is over. Even after graduation you will still be opening a book or two to learn things.

getting2work · Aug 30, 2009

I think every nursing student feels this way to some degree. Once you learn the nursing process and you go through the next semesters things will begin to come together. There is so much to learn, from pathophys, and skills, to meds. With some repetition and some effort you will feel better. I felt really good my 4th semester. Now that I am going to graduate in a few months I am feeling a new kindof..... well not really panic, but apprehension I guess, just thinking about doing all this on my own. I think most new grads feel this way. I feel that most of my classmates are having the same feeling. At least you realize there is a challenge there and now you can put in the effort and you can do this. It is so normal to feel completely overwhelmed. It will get better and it feels really good when things come together.

munozg23 · Aug 31, 2009

thank you so much. this has really helped me and boosted my confidence!

Dianacabana · Aug 31, 2009

I really felt like it came together for me once I entered a clinical setting (6 weeks after classes started in my program). I think for most students I know it seems to click at one particular event, when you feel a purpose and your goals become much clearer. I miss it and can't wait to get back!

I wish you all the best.

Do-over, ASN, RN · Aug 31, 2009

I felt just the same at the start of nursing school. Felt much better the second semester.

kajeso · Sep 2, 2009

Totally agree with you. We must be twins! It is crazy all of the stuff you need to learn and it is hard to get used to it but it WILL become easier the more you do it. Practice makes perfect. The thing that saved me was having a small group of friends that kicked my butt into gear when I wanted to slack and asking my teacher lots of questions. I have confidence that you will do well.

seasoned hopeful · Sep 3, 2009

thank you for starting this thread. i am halfway through my third week and feeling the same way. i just wonder if i will ever manage to learn all this stuff........excitment goes to overwhelmed in a hurry. however, it feels so good to study so hard then make a good grade on the tests. hang in there, we are all on the same path....:heartbeat:heartbeat:heartbeat

treasureu4eva · Sep 3, 2009

ADD ME TO THE LIST!!!! I'm in my second week and have my first test next week and I feel knee deep in information not sure how to narrow it to a frame of focus; Teachers say study the handout and "everything" in the book....Well....H-E-L-L-O, the book is about a gazillion pages. Not sure what I'm doing and how to study! I feel very very afraid! Not used to a teacher not narrowing down to a frame of focus on which to study.....My brain can only absorb and memorize but so much!!!!!!!!!!!! lol!

Bug Out, BSN · Sep 3, 2009

Funny thing is that feeling does not go away once you become a Nurse.

bellyfish · Sep 3, 2009

I too am in that boat of wonder, amazement, and shock! I love it, I love staying up late, getting up early. I love every minute of what I have waited soooooo long for. However, it is not the easiest thing in the world, but nothing I have accomplished has ever been easy and I guess that's the satisfaction.

Hang in there guys! We will get through it like those before us and then we can spread our knowledge and advice too! Thanks to all of you that help us climb this mountain!