I am finishing up nursing school and will be done the end of the summer. I feel like nursing school just blown my confidence all away. I feel like it's all down the drain. I also feel that my personality is just not the same anymore, and I'm always stuck doing school work while all my other friends are out having a good time. I don't like myself right now, and I think it's because Nursing School has done it for me.
I am almost done, and am just wondering for those of you who ARE nurses, is it truely really worth it?? Will I get my confidence back again? I hear stories about nurses being mean to new nurses, and if so then that's not going to help with confidence at all. Will I like nursing even though nursing school was horrible?---Is that normal?? I'm just starting to feel like maybe this isn't for me, but I'm almost done, so I'm going to finish it...and see what happens.
I am so feeling this way, and so are many of my friends. We graduated a few years ago and new nursing would be hard, we did not expect anything to be easy. But, if we had known it would be like this, I doubt any of us would have went into nursing and worked so hard to get our BSN's. I really hope things get better and we find a place we at least enjoy somewhat. Good luck.
I almost quit between my first and second year of nursing school. It is so stressful, and honestly- you have no idea what is really going on in nursing school. You just try to keep your head above water. But I LOVE being a nurse. It is a gazillion times better than I would have imagined while in school. It keeps getting better. I do not ever doubt going into this profession, no matter what body fluid might be on me or how someone is treating me. It is a truly amazing profession, so hang in there. And don't worry about what your friends are doing. My friends were pretty jealous when I got out of nursing school and worked 3 shifts a week, skied 4 days a week, and made way more money than them!
I am finishing up nursing school and will be done the end of the summer. I feel like nursing school just blown my confidence all away. I feel like it's all down the drain. I also feel that my personality is just not the same anymore, and I'm always stuck doing school work while all my other friends are out having a good time. I don't like myself right now, and I think it's because Nursing School has done it for me.
I am almost done, and am just wondering for those of you who ARE nurses, is it truely really worth it?? Will I get my confidence back again? I hear stories about nurses being mean to new nurses, and if so then that's not going to help with confidence at all. Will I like nursing even though nursing school was horrible?---Is that normal?? I'm just starting to feel like maybe this isn't for me, but I'm almost done, so I'm going to finish it...and see what happens.
I just want to feel normal and happy again!
Being stuck doing class work is usually a normal part of nursing school; it was something I needed to do to ensure good grades and to pass the nursing program. If you peers are out having a good time, chances are, they may not pass. They may have bad grades, who knows. Don't worry about other people. Finish your course and you'll feel much better.
It was truly worth it for me although it was very hard the first year. Yes, there will be some nurses that will
"eat their young." But you just have to stand up for yourself in certain circumstances, you'll learn.
I thought nursing school was Horrible as well, but I thoroughly think it was all worth it. I enjoy the autonomy of being a nurse, the pay could be better but it's enough to be self sufficient. You'll have to give it some time, but in the meantime, try to have a positive outlook and be open-minded.
Wow, boy I just feel better by reading all of your responses. I feel like i'm the only one that feels this way most days, but now I know that there are others who are just like me and who are exactly in my shoes. I want to wish all of the nursing students good luck and that hopefully we will find our niche and like our jobs as new grads. Just hope and pray, that's all I have been doing besides nursing school work!
I hate that you have had such a rough time in nursing school...My experience was the exact opposite. I loved every second of school... I know, CRAZY..Try to focus on the fact that soon you'll be doing something you love for a living, you'll get your free time back. It will be over before you know it .... you may even miss those late night study sessions! :)
I literally just graduated in May, and I just found out today that I passed my boards. I was the same way. Personality was different, unhappy in general. but let me tell you. I am my old self today!!! It will be okay. remember your goal, you can do it, accomplish it and get back to normal.
I just had a conversation about this with my boyfriend.
We have been together for 10 years since I was 17 years old. We have been best of friends since I can remember and nursing school almost ripped us, my life, my friends, and everything else apart. It was my 3rd college degree and most literally the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. I hated the stressed out, anxious, different person I was and aparently everyone else did too. Its hard for those around you to feel good about you when you dont feel good about yourself. I was no longer the happy go lucky girl that my friends and family knew. I worked and went to school full time. With the mood swings and horrible sleep patterns I often wondered if it was worth it. My mom said it was like a 2 year pregnancy. (thank goodness no elephant baby)
BUT...
Here I am!!! With a CAREER, not a job! My friends are slowly realizing that I am back in action and my boyfriend and I can not only afford a nice dinner out, but are back to enjoying each other and the time we now understand we are so lucky to have together.
Nursing school is hard because life is hard and saving it is harder! Things that are worth it dont come easy or they wouldnt be worth it. I smile every day I when I write RN after my name and, even though there are a few bad seeds out there, have felt a great sense of "sisterhood" or not to leave the guys out "fraternity" from being a nurse. It is a special thing to have achieved this. I can only hope that when you too achieve your degree you will smile when you write RN after your name and realize that its not just the smile, but the future you have made for yourself that has made it so very worth it...
I am finishing up nursing school and will be done the end of the summer. I feel like nursing school just blown my confidence all away. I feel like it's all down the drain. I also feel that my personality is just not the same anymore, and I'm always stuck doing school work while all my other friends are out having a good time. I don't like myself right now, and I think it's because Nursing School has done it for me.
I am almost done, and am just wondering for those of you who ARE nurses, is it truely really worth it?? Will I get my confidence back again? I hear stories about nurses being mean to new nurses, and if so then that's not going to help with confidence at all. Will I like nursing even though nursing school was horrible?---Is that normal?? I'm just starting to feel like maybe this isn't for me, but I'm almost done, so I'm going to finish it...and see what happens.
I just want to feel normal and happy again!
In my opinion its well worth it. You are always gone be tired, exhausted and ready for it to end, but when it do its well worth it. You have to put partying on hold until the breaks during school. Its only a couple years of your life. When u done u can party and be happy. You will be able to afford to hang and live a comfortable life. Just make sure u find a career choice u are comfortable with
Specializes in Labor/Delivery, Pediatrics, Peds ER.
I felt very similar during school. I'm a relic from the hospital school days. My mom was a nurse at the hospital whose school I attended. You'd think that would give me confidence, but hearing, "Oh, your mom is a wonderful nurse!" everywhere you go when you are already feeling like a failure is tough. You feel like they are silently thinking to themselves, "So, what happened to you?"
Things like ICU, L&D, Surgery were so stressful for me. I had read the Cherry Ames and Sue Barton student nurse series' as a kid, and did indeed expect everyone to make fun of me and treat me badly, so whenever that happened it was like a self-fulfilling prophecy. I think those books did more to tear down my self-esteem than just about anything else. However, I loved actually doing nursing work, despite the huge amount of stress I was under as both a perfectionist and a person with a lifelong lack of self confidence.
Everyone who is a newbie at any job will have the same experiences with feeling looked down upon. It doesn't matter if it's your first job or your tenth, you are a beginner to everyone around and they will treat you that way. There are usually a few who will try to take advantage of you, but there are always those who want to help you and enjoy teaching you.
It would be a great shame for you to give up at this point - you've come so far. Imagine yourself working an area you relatively liked, and that you are now confident with your knowledge and skills, and there are some nice people you are working with. Would you still feel you don't like nursing? If so, then you may want to consider change. If your fears are mostly centered around the insecurity and uncertainty instead of what nursing is actually all about, then you should be fine.
As I said, I was very fearful of things like L&D, but as a new grad, I lucked into a slot. At the time, it felt more like I had been condemned. I thought I would never be able to function there although I knew I loved it, but I was wrong. It was the most rewarding area I've ever worked. With time comes confidence, and with confidence comes reward.
It seems you are feeling very isolated. We used to have a lot of camaraderie in school, but those who didn't live in the dorms were isolated. It sounds like you could use some study buddies to give you a sense of belonging and to prove to yourself that you are not alone in your insecurities, as well as to help you learn. Reciting back and forth, reading to one another, and quizzing one another reinforce learning. I found when my roommate would read texts to me, I retained them much better than when I read them for myself - quite a surprise! She used to get aggravated at me because I would remember things she read to me better than she remembered them. :)
School is so very tough, but sharing the experience makes it bearable.
I literally just graduated in May, and I just found out today that I passed my boards. I was the same way. Personality was different, unhappy in general. but let me tell you. I am my old self today!!! It will be okay. remember your goal, you can do it, accomplish it and get back to normal.
ha!
i was just going to post that:
likely, 99%+ of you students, are burnt, stressed, anxious, moody, and depressed, and ready for it to be over.
this is a very common phenomenon in the last semester of nsg school.
you are soooo not alone.:hug:
and then, from hereonin, it's going to be the rollercoaster ride of your life...for around a yr.
when you pass your nclex, you will feel absolutely ecstatic, and feel ready to conquer the world.
when you get your first job, it'll probably be hell for you...up for around a yr.
you will once again, feel depressed, hopeless, inferior, stressed-to-the-max, and sometimes even paranoid...
that you're sure that everyone is talking about you...about what a stupid twit you are.
they're not.
and if 1 or 2 are, tell them to bite you and move on.
they're not worth your energy.
once you start getting that feeling of 'hmmm...i can do this', (and you will get that feeling), then it all falls into place, and you're good to go.
i highly encourage you to read our forum, 'the first yr of nsg', and you can see/feel the frustration of being a new grad.
but also, keep in mind, you did it and you'll continue to do it.
show yourself what you're made of.
while you don't feel it now, truly...it's your time to shine.:balloons:
Wow... did anybody have a positive experience in nursing school?!? I am supposed to start in August. I have finished my pre-reqs so will go almost immediately into clinicals. I was super excited but after reading some of these posts I am terrified!!! I have enough stress and drama in my life. I look at being a nurse as something positive for myself and it will also give me the opportunity to do something positive for others. Now I am having second thoughts : (
Will I like nursing even though nursing school was horrible?---Is that normal?? I'm just starting to feel like maybe this isn't for me, but I'm almost done, so I'm going to finish it...and see what happens.
elprup, BSN, RN
1,005 Posts
I am so feeling this way, and so are many of my friends. We graduated a few years ago and new nursing would be hard, we did not expect anything to be easy. But, if we had known it would be like this, I doubt any of us would have went into nursing and worked so hard to get our BSN's. I really hope things get better and we find a place we at least enjoy somewhat. Good luck.