3rd semester - school is impossible

NurseyBaby'05, BSN, RN · Sep 14, 2005

Hi fellow Elizabeth-

I too had a hard time 3rd semester, but for me it was the burnout factor. At some point I was ready to walk out and not ever look back. I kept saying "I don't care. I don't care." Hubby and a few good friends would reply "Yes you do!" I dragged myself through one day at a time until the semester ended and I passed by the skin of my teeth. When I was taking the final and realized there was a possibility I might not pass, I realized that I really wanted to do this. What helped also was to study with a few friends. We would each take turns explaining and questioning a topic until we all understood the nursing applications and patho inside and out.

Hang in there! It does get better!

Elizabeth:icon_hug:

dian57 · Sep 14, 2005

I'm a geriatric nurse and have been working my first love, LTC, since 1971 before most of you were born, I imagine.

The toughest part of the RN nursing program, for me, was 3rd semester Maternal/Child Health. I just couldn't get interested in it. I had no plans of ever doing maternity or pediatric nursing and it was a struggle for me each day. I remember thinking, "I never want to see another woman's lochia in my life."

My instructor knew how I felt and said, "One day someone will bring a small child in to visit one of your elders and that kid'll choke right in front of you. You can't choose your patients." Maternal/Child Health got a little more meaningful for me after that conversation. But I still didn't like it.

inspir8tion · Sep 15, 2005

Hi fellow Elizabeth-
I too had a hard time 3rd semester, but for me it was the burnout factor. At some point I was ready to walk out and not ever look back. I kept saying "I don't care. I don't care." Hubby and a few good friends would reply "Yes you do!" I dragged myself through one day at a time until the semester ended and I passed by the skin of my teeth. When I was taking the final and realized there was a possibility I might not pass, I realized that I really wanted to do this. What helped also was to study with a few friends. We would each take turns explaining and questioning a topic until we all understood the nursing applications and patho inside and out.
Hang in there! It does get better!
Elizabeth:icon_hug:

Thanks, Elizabeth - I appreciate your support!

inspir8tion · Sep 15, 2005

I'm a geriatric nurse and have been working my first love, LTC, since 1971 before most of you were born, I imagine.
The toughest part of the RN nursing program, for me, was 3rd semester Maternal/Child Health. I just couldn't get interested in it. I had no plans of ever doing maternity or pediatric nursing and it was a struggle for me each day. I remember thinking, "I never want to see another woman's lochia in my life."
My instructor knew how I felt and said, "One day someone will bring a small child in to visit one of your elders and that kid'll choke right in front of you. You can't choose your patients." Maternal/Child Health got a little more meaningful for me after that conversation. But I still didn't like it.

I had maternal/child in 2nd semester - I did not mind OB, but didn't like PEDs. Too hard for me to see sick kids I imagine.

JentheRN05, RN · Sep 15, 2005

When it came to critical thinking I was a mess the semester that needed it. Then I realized, all I needed to do was visualize the scenario and it would fall into place

inspir8tion · Sep 15, 2005

When it came to critical thinking I was a mess the semester that needed it. Then I realized, all I needed to do was visualize the scenario and it would fall into place

Thanks. I'll try that on my exam tomorrow.

crb613, BSN, RN · Sep 15, 2005

I think NCLEX books help. Keep doing questions & reading rationale.....and then you just seem to start thinking that way. I always use them & read what info they have pertinent to the subject we are on & this has really helped me. Good Luck :)

cardiacRN2006, ADN, RN · Sep 15, 2005

When it came to critical thinking I was a mess the semester that needed it. Then I realized, all I needed to do was visualize the scenario and it would fall into place

The semester that needed it??? Every one of my test questions on all of my tests every semester required critical thinking skills.

As far as learning critical thinking skills, I would recommend getting some NCLEX review cards. It is a question per card, and the rationals are on the back for why the right answer is correct, and why the wrong answers are wrong. I always write next to each answer when I test. I will say to myself, "yes, this answer is correct, but it is not what the question is asking" or "yes, this is a correct thing to do, but it isn't the first thing to do"...

Even though you may think you don't know some of the answers because you haven't covered it in class yet, the method will teach you how to answer them in spite of your lack of being exposed to the info.

inspir8tion · Sep 15, 2005

Yes, all my test questions require critical thinking as well.

I have an NCLEX book. Sometimes, I am studying so much (with all the reading and the lecture material) that I don't have time to go through the questions.

I did a few today. And will try my best to incorporate them into my study time. It does help when you're given the rationale for both the right answers and the wrong answers.

Thank you all so much. It helps to know that you all are out there. I feel really supported.

MIA-RN1, RN · Sep 15, 2005

Im not thrilled with my third semester either--its half maternal/newborn and the second half is psych. It seems disorganized to me and hard to get on board with the way the instructors have set it up. I don't plan on being a perinatal nurse either but I am just taking this as a chance to do some quality teaching and learning. It will end and then I will do my first love--psych.