First year student feeling down in the dumps

joanna73, BSN, RN · Feb 9, 2011

Try to be patient and remember the big picture. At the end of all of it, you will start working as a nurse. My program was different, and we started clinical in year one. However, there were various assignments and courses that I remember we all hated. But you have to still get the work done. If its any consolation, it took me 5 yrs to come to the end. I had to spend a year prior to entering my degree program completing the prerquisites. I HATE chemistry, but it had to be done. It will get better. Keep at it :)

Lio-RN · Feb 11, 2011

I was in the same boat with you, my first year was soooooooo overwelming that I had a terrible headache every day due to stress. At the first semester I had 7 classes, the second semester 6 classes. But reality is that, next year was more stressfull then the first, the third year was very boring with tons of dry, boring, and sometimes just stupid papers. I thought that the forth year would be better, but I was wrong. Now I can say that the fourth year was the most difficult from all four. My advise to you would be simple, just stop thinking it is stressfull, just do your classes, do your best.

RescueNinja · Feb 12, 2011

I'm kind of confused by you saying there are students in different "patterns," but I promise if you stick with it it'll eventually get better!

It is unfortunate that you only get to start clinicals in 2nd year, but it's not the end of the world. It just means you might have to work harder in your consolidation or when you graduate to make sure your nursing skills are sufficient.

Good luck!

lemidora · Feb 13, 2011

Ah thanks guys! I was having a bit of a bad day... I know I just have to buckle down and get through this year.

As for the different patterns- we just take our classes in a different order. Half of the people got to take all the general ed courses in the first semester while the other half takes a couple of general eds and a couple of nursing courses per semester. We all end up with the same amount of clinical hours in the end though.

nursingpr · Jul 31, 2011

Wow that is exactly how I'm feeling now. My teachers let us know how the other group is already in clinicals and all we do is go over the same material over and over again. Plus my situation at home is horrible and I'm a single mother with three children (their father was abusive) Sometimes I feel like I'm about to lose it.

ohhyeahh... · Jul 31, 2011

You can try volunteer opportunities.. there are some hospitals that accepts volunteers in the special area like ER and hemodialysis.. you might not assist all the time during the patient care but atleast you could start to feel the real world of this business

nursingpr · Aug 1, 2011

I wasn't aware that students could do that...Thanks for the info :)

Smith.C74 · Aug 3, 2011

I understand your frustration. Last semester at school, the nursing theory classes seemed to be focused on medicine and surgery units. My clinical placement was continuing care so there wasn't a lot of practical application of the theory being taught.

Another way to look at your situation is that you're getting the general courses done first so that you'll have more time to focus on the nursing courses later. Good luck and hang in there. You'll get there.

lemidora · Aug 4, 2011

I wasn't aware that students could do that...Thanks for the info :)

You can also ask your instructors if they know of any volunteer opportunities within hospitals because a lot of times they have way better insight into these kinds of things. Another thing you can do is talk to unit managers in a hospital about shadowing for a day. I haven't done this yet but a fourth year student I was talking to recently said she has done this on many units and it's been a great experience.

And an update on my situation- I officially finished all my general courses as of last week and starting my clinicals in a month! Woot! I'm definitely excited. Thanks everyone for the support :redpinkhe