...how did you "make" it this way? As in--how did you keep everything in check?
I want to know. Obviously--you are smart--that is a given. Some people do things with a lot more ease than others.
However, what baffles me is, I am still ALL over the place and I know I am "smart" per se. I scored in the 93rd/96th percentile for BOTH National Nursing Entrance Exams, and I have been in "gifted" classes since a wee child.
Now--I am NOT trying to brag at all. I'm "just sayin' ". And to be honest, I am pretty sure that most of us who are in the nursing program are pretty gifted. Not just any average joe can get in right ?
I am finding this nursing program manageable at times, and at other times--I believe I may be losing my head.
So let me be honest here--I struggle with ADHD, anxiety, and subsequently- depression. I am trying to go "natural" and have been off meds for quite a few years now. However, I am wondering it this just might be my culprit.
I am terrified to take more meds. I took Paxil and it worked like a DREAM--however--gained weight and no sex drive. I can fight the weight gain...but my dear sex drive? Hmmmm lol.
So this is why I am "here" asking you all for "tips". I have been taking/using as many tips as possible..but I really feel I am walking around like a zombie. It's like my brain goes on overload daily.. Not to be funny at all (even though it sounds funny) but my eyes start crossing on their own sometimes..when I am looking at a computer or driving. I sometimes run red lights because I am so zoned out. And these are on days when I am able to get 7 hours of sleep (even though most days I get about 5.5- boohoo). My brain feels fried.
I am ultimately frustrated with myself because I know this shouldn't be this hard. I look around at the "calm" people and envy them. Why do I short circuit so quickly? Academically, these nursing classes are something I should be able to fly through with at least around a 3.5-3.7 GPA without having to stress it. If I want to really stress...a 4.0 is definitely doable.
Ok--enough of that--see how crazy I am? I never stop thinking, talking, etc, etc, etc. Replies? :argue::chuckle:yawn:
Don't envy those "calm" people too much. I've had people comment in the past that I seem to be a relatively calm person when there's a crisis, but then one of my faults is that I tend to internalize a lot of stuff. I figure that this will help and be reassuring with my patients and co-workers but it sometimes comes at a price. I suffer from hypertension myself, and am under a doctor's care and advice for it.
Everything's easier in hindsight I always say..... I can look back on a lot of classes I've taken in my ongoing healthcare education and say to myself "gosh, that wasn't all that bad..." but at the time I was taking it, half the time I was actually sweating bullets.....
Not trying to push this on anyone by bringing it up - it's partly a way I cope with potentially stressful anxiety producing situations - my faith and reliance on God. Sometimes I have to remind myself of who is really in charge here (not me) and that God wouldn't help bring me this far just to let me fall flat on my face. No, it doesn't make a lot of things automatically easier, but it's comforting to know that someone a lot bigger than me has always got my back.....
I'm one of those "B" nurses. I am currently 3 classes away from my MSN with a 3.96 GPA....Nearly 18 years of experience is helping me be an "A" nurse built upon the "B' nurse foundation.
otessa
I'm just curious--how could you be a "B" nurse with a GPA of 3.96--just curious and congratulations on your MSN.
Lots of great suggestions! Top priorities are taking care of your physical and mental health. It can certainly feel like the entire future "success" of one's life rests entirely upon one's performance in this or that challenge (such as certain classes). If you can take your eyes off the people who illustrate how doing everything "right" = success, you'll see that *even more* people are successful and satisfied without having performed "perfectly" every step of the way. Lower grades do not permanently block you out of pursuing further roles and training in nursing. Can you *believe* it?
Next, it might also help to change the way you look at the classes and the tests. In previous classes, my goal had been thorough understanding of all that was presented in class, and be able to answer any test question thrown at me. Nursing school is different. There is WAY too much info covered for anyone to be able to have EVERYTHING down pat. And test questions often aren't a direct reflection of what was presented in lecture and text. Using NCLEX review books can help you strategize how to study for tests. It takes not only good study techniques but also some luck to get every test question correctly. NCLEX-style questions can leave some room for debate over what the "best" answer is and many times there is no absolutely clear by-the-book answer given as a choice. Sometimes, with limited study time, I'd do better to review common nursing concerns and interventions for the set of conditions we were focused on than to attempt to memorize and thoroughly understand certain labs or pathology or medical treatments.
Best wishes to you! Wherever you are is right where you need to be!
I have ADD too- evidence: I only skimmed your post
Anyway, I've been having trouble focusing, fighting eye crossing, figuring out the best study method, etc.
Running red lights is dangerous though. I can understand wanting to get fantastic grades, wanting to avoid medication, but if you're doing things like that, you need to find some sort of regimen that works for you. You say paxil killed your sex drive....maybe it'd be worth it for the length of the program? Maybe it'd be worth it until you can find something else that works so you don't kill yourself or someone else in the meantime?
If you take care of your health and safety, I think you'll find it's easier to concentrate on your nursing classes.
...how did you "make" it this way? As in--how did you keep everything in check?
:argue:
:chuckle:yawn:
AZ_LPN_8_26_13
462 Posts
Don't envy those "calm" people too much. I've had people comment in the past that I seem to be a relatively calm person when there's a crisis, but then one of my faults is that I tend to internalize a lot of stuff. I figure that this will help and be reassuring with my patients and co-workers but it sometimes comes at a price. I suffer from hypertension myself, and am under a doctor's care and advice for it.
Everything's easier in hindsight I always say..... I can look back on a lot of classes I've taken in my ongoing healthcare education and say to myself "gosh, that wasn't all that bad..." but at the time I was taking it, half the time I was actually sweating bullets.....
Not trying to push this on anyone by bringing it up - it's partly a way I cope with potentially stressful anxiety producing situations - my faith and reliance on God. Sometimes I have to remind myself of who is really in charge here (not me) and that God wouldn't help bring me this far just to let me fall flat on my face. No, it doesn't make a lot of things automatically easier, but it's comforting to know that someone a lot bigger than me has always got my back.....