First year nursing student

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Hi, I am a new nursing student. It is barely my second week of the program and I don't feel so enthusiastic. I feel like I don't know what I'm doing. I feel like I don't know what I should know. I also feel like I won't be able to learn everything I am required to learn. I don't know if what I'm feeling is normal or not? Did any of you nurses feel this way when you started out? These thoughts are leading me to think maybe nursing is not for me, although, I do want to become one. Please help me out!

I was discouraged, depressed, devastated and lower than a snake's belly throughout MUCH of nursing school, but I made it. And I have been an RN 15 years and went on to get a BSN along the way. YOU CAN DO IT.

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The teachers say that everything in the book, plus handouts is testable. The best advice I've ever had was in my first year of pathophysiology. Once the class ends: begin to review what was covered in that class. You have 24 hours after each class to gain the benefit of putting what you've learned during that day into memory. No matter how tired you are - you want to go home, you want to eat, you want to sleep, nap etc. - don't do it. Review AS SOON AS YOU CAN

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advice con't

Review again, what ever you've learned in class - take notes. You make think that the test will be hard but if you listen during class, the teacher will give hints, and it will not be nearly as hard as you imagined.

Also, sleep is very important during the whole program, but especially during the first couple of terms because of what I call "shell shock." Your mind can function more effectively if you get a good sleep rather than spend those precious hours you need for your mind and soul to rejuvenate with sleep rather than reading over and over what you may think might be on the test.

And, finally, one hour of study in the morning is worth three hours of study at night.

You can do it, "one day at a time" - and if need be, "one hour at a time."

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Aloha, 1st Year Nursing Student - and all the others who are new to your nursing programs:

That overwhelming feeling is quite natural. I returned back to school in 2002 to pursue a 2nd degree in nursing. Going through A&P and stuff was okay because I wasn't dealing with patients yet - it wasn't until I actually started clinicals that I had this overwhelming feeling of - "am I going to be able to do it". "Am I going to know everything I need to know to start working as a nurse"? Fortunately, I had some great teachers and one of them even admitted she was overwhelmed.

The good thing - you WON'T know everything. It's not possible. Get all the basics down and you'll learn a lot as you start working. I got to start working as an RN 4 months ago in a nursing home setting and was nervous as anything wondering if I was going to remember anything and I did. Still have to work on charting verbage, but don't have to worry too much since it's mostly narrative - no SOAPs or DARs-thank goodness!

Hang in there, take each day at a time and accept the fact now that you're not going to know everything by the time you graduate. You will continue to learn with each new patient since each patient is different. Give yourself some space.

And have fun!!!

:-)

Mindy

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The hardest thing is when you start working, because your schooling does not necessarily prepare you for employment. With so many specialties out there, schooling must adopt a generalist mentality. Once you graduate, find an employer with a Nurse Residency program or Internship program. Another option is to work as a "Nurse Tech" later on, after you have at least one year of MED/Surg class under your belt. These things will help it stick, not to mention make clinicals easier. Best wishes!

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Wow, do I know what you mean. I have about 7 months left in my nursing school and when I was about 3 months in I remember thinking to myself 'maybe nursing isn't for me' I felt so overwhelmed and out of my element that I second guessed myself hard. Then, about 7 months in I felt a different sense. It was almost like I was being pulled in so many directions that I wasn't sure I was going to get this straight. But, then at one point it does click and everything you learned earlier on comes back to you and you use it in your clinicals and then you step back and say 'Hey! I am a nurse!'. Now, with a short 7 months till graduation I know I have this! You will, too!

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EVERYONE FEELS THAT WAY THE FIRST MONTH! Eventually you slip into the routine. I'm a second year student and the first month of felt almost the same way as the first month of the 1st year!

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Specializes in Public Health Nurse.

Thanks for the tip. I am taking pharmacology and med surge. I am struggling in med surge though I love the class. I will be taking my first pharmacology exam next week and I do not know where to start. We just finished covering the insuling, oral diabetics meds and thryroid meds. So many to remember, peaks, duration and so on, especially insulins. We feel this is the break or make semester, I am praying to pass it. I am not sure how else to study as I work full time while go to school part time, but I am making every effort possible.

Thannks again for the tip.

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Specializes in LTC, MDS Cordnator, Mental Health.

Even if you are struggling in a class. stick with with it.... you paid for it. as an example, my 1st semester of LPN was brutal, I worked full time nights and i was taking a full credit load, and i started the class a week late. by mid semester I was at 75%. I kept on... by the end of the semester I was at a B... the moral of the story is show up for class, keep your eye on the goal, and never give up. Same thing happened in my second semester with Maternal Child. I figured I was just under the 80% at the middle of the semester. i pulled out a B by the end of the semester...

if you know your learning style it will help alot.

http://www.metamath.com/lsweb/fourls.htm#tk this a website that will help with Learning styles. If you know what your style is it will help you study!!

Here is a quiz http://www.petersons.com/education_planner/discovering_article.asp?sponsor=2859&articleName=Learning_Styles_Quiz

C's GET DEGREES!!!!!

DIANE LEE RN

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Specializes in Public Health Nurse.

I am all over the place, visual, auditory, etc... not just one....sigh...

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Specializes in LTC, MDS Cordnator, Mental Health.

I am as well BUT I did what I could that was best for me.... I used the work book. I used the ans key and filled in the chapter work sheets that pertained to the unit we were studing. and I usually re wrote the note sover. made my self flash cards. making the cards made me look at it at another angle. I honestly read very little. I graduated the LPN program with a 3.5 GPA.

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Yea I am also in my 2nd week and found all of us in my class feel the same way. I also was told by 2nd year students that it gets better. Its this way for everyone. It is learning how to answer the nursing questions is the hardest part as I have been told. The work book and cd's and companion web sites are VERY helpful as I see for myself.

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