Do Yall Think You Were Robbed of...

Nursing Students General Students

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Just curious,

I am a 19 year old sophomore nursing major (going for my BSN) and I know that nursing is demanding-a close friend of mine just graduated from SpringHill College in Mobile, AL. She never had time for anything except school. She worked part-time about 10 hours a week or so and had a boyfriend, but she was exhausted and had to study all the time late into the night. I am just a sophomore, I have a full load complete with my science courses I have to take to prepare me, I work about 30 hours a week, have a boyfriend, and am in a sorority. Okay, I feel like I am robbed from the "college experience" that others talk about. I know that when I look back, college is not going to be the best years of my life. I feel like it consumes me. I know it's just going to get worse when I get into actual nursing school. Do any of you feel like this?? I scoff at others who have easy majors like "marketing" and etc. 2 years is not really a long time, but I'm already anticipating my 2 years of nursing school to be filled with stress, pressure, anxiety, STRESS, etc!!!

I came back to college after a 25 year break. I wasted my youthful college time trying to "experience" college... while working and dating. The grades and W's on my transcripts show just how much fun I had!

Now my experience includes learning! I am really enjoying all of my prereq's and can hardly wait to start clinicals in the fall. I know that my load is much heavier than some majors... I just had a friend, an A student, drop her dietician major for english because she didn't want to hassle all the chemistry. She's pretty much skating this semester. My sis completed a Special Ed degree and can't believe what I have to take... her classes were so much easier.

But when it comes down to it, Nursing is what I have always wanted to do. I am willing to do the work that I need to do to achieve that goal. And I will enjoy myself doing it, even if that means that I miss a few extra-curricular activities!

Sandy

Specializes in MS Home Health.

College is not fun when you work and have kids. This I know. I guess your making the best of a hard situation. I commend you for your dedication.

renerian

I really enjoy school and keeping me busy. I am 21 and went to school around Mobile (Univ of Southern Mississippi) for two years. I feel you really have to put your heart into it and realize what you are doing with your life and really do it, not half way. Maybe take another semester to have fun and get a minor, but nursing school IS hard and very stressful.!

Best of luck

Specializes in NICU.

I think some of the people saw this post and got defensive. I do not party. I have no interest in it. My question was mostly don't you agree that people who major in things like nsg, or engineering, or biology etc. have it harder than others? Oh well. I am not going to take time off from school. The main objective is to get done with school so I can feel free from all this stress it seems to bring. Maybe I should have never moved away from home. I get down a lot and this website is the place where I throw my feelings and insecurities out there. I don't know, maybe I am just wanting a pat on the back every now and then~

Specializes in NICU.

Personally, I don't give a crap about my "college experience". I am there to learn and to get my degree...meanwhile trying to make myself the best nurse that I can be.

Many of us here are juggling jobs, husbands, kids, extended families on top of all the demands of school. I went to nursing school when I was 18, and I wasn't mature enough. I was more interested in the "college experience". Now that I am paying for it myself, I am much more appreciative of what is being offered me.

I go to school full time, work 32-40 hours a week, have a 4 year old, husband, etc....

You sound like you aren't ready to make the leap into nursing school. If you are unsure, don't do it. Take some time, work, grow up and educate yourself with the world.

Kristy

:stone

Kristy,

I work 32 hours a week, have 16 semester hours, pay for my own education, live 2.5 hours away from my parents in an apartment with 2 roommates that I have to pay rent for, have a car payment, and etc. I am thankful for school. I was just having a bad day when I posted my last message. I think the hardest lesson I will ever have to learn will be to stay positive. When I'm under a lot of stress, I am the most negative, uptight person there is. I had 3 tests today. I feel like all that weight has been lifted off my shoulders now that they're over. Keep in mind that I am still in pre-reqs. I know I'm going to shine when I get in nursing school because it's something I'm really interested in. I think when people read my original post they will think I'm just this lazy chick that things everything should be handed to her. I'm not. I've not had the easiest life and have had to grow up very fast from the time I was 14, so a lot of things in my life feel like a chore to me and I'm still adjusting to the fact that I am all alone up here and away from home and what is familiar. Sorry for the *****y post I originally put on here. I'm thankful for school, I just can't wait to be done ~ :D

PS I'm going to try and be happier with my posts on here from now on.

Originally posted by tonicareer

I spoke to some local state colleges about this. Many colleges are trying to make a BSN a 5 year program rather that 4 year.

My university does this (not my program, I'm in the accelerated BSN). It's called a co-op program, it's 5 years, and the students get three paid working experiences as nurse interns.

And KK, you're working hard!! Yes I totally agree with you that nursing, chemistry, bio, and engineering are harder majors, but you know what, it is worth it in the end!! Work hard and get good grades, but don't forget how to let loose and party with your friends every now and then! ;)

Specializes in NICU.

I want to add something. ;>) Nursing school was horribly hard, and there were few days where I didn't shed a tear over something, whether it was because I couldn't decipher the doctor's handwriting (ARrgh!) and had no one to help me, or just relieving stress that had built up over the pressure of actually being responsible for my own life and future and graduation and career. Every single person who attends college is different, and does so under different circumstances (God knows I had it hard as hail, but so did other people for other reasons...likewise, some had it 'easy', and though I was a little envious that they had less responsibility, and therefore less pressure, I knew that they were not me). It is still possible to have the 'college experience' in nursing school! It will just be different. It may not be every college movie you've ever seen, or keggers, or road trips, or parties or dorm rooms or whatever naive impressions we ALL begin college with, but it can be the BEST part of your college years! I LOVE the students I graduated from nursing school with, and I am sad every day that we've been scattered to the winds but you can bet your butt that I'm right there as soon as they send me an email saying it's time to get together for a couple of rounds of margaritas. We grew up together, all of us, whether we were 22 or 58 years old, we were all growing up and learning, and that was a bond that couldn't have been gotten any other way. My clinical groups became my sisters! We sweated over those frigging care plans, and we lamented together about the teachers who seemed determined to drive us away from nursing altogether, but we also sat on the patio between classes and laughed our asses off. We took 'study retreats' every now and then and after studying (hey, we were responsible!) we kicked back and ran barefoot on the beach or through the woods and had a fabulous time sharing stories and jokes and words of advice. There were activities at nursing school- okay, no sororities at my particular school, but lots of us got together do to charitable things or make the school better, whether it was pep rallies or improving morale or starting a network of people to lean on when you're struggling, or whatever. You say that you know you're going to look back and see that college wasn't the best time of your life, but I think you're wrong. I do. Despite the load, you are still at a certain age and this is still a time of growth for you, and it's important! No matter what we're doing at the time, we still look back at 19 and say, 'Wow...look at all these things that influenced who I am today!'. Don't get too down about it. Nursing school is a commitment, certainly, and definitely a life changer, but who said those were ever bad things? You're going to graduate a smarter, stronger, wiser, more compassionate person, and that's nothing to be sad about. ;>) Not to mention you're goingt o have a job that makes you happy, is secure, is rewarding, and darn it (despite naysayers!) is respected. At least, that's how I see it. Good luck in school and don't let the negativity that can be found here or elsewhere in life control your perspective.

I am a 31 year old wife, mother, accountant and nursing student. Whew. Sounds like a lot but, for me, it is really quite manageable. I don't feel overworked or stressed and my grades are great. But everyone is different. School comes easier for some people.

This time around I am not concerned about the "college experience" but I certainly lived it 10 or 12 years ago when I was in college the first time. Back then, I was the traditional just-out-of-high-school college student. I took classes, worked part-time, had a boyfriend and quite the social life, fraternity parties and all that crazy stuff! I don't regret a single minute of it because I absolutely loved the college experience! But I was the right age for it back then. I have a degree in Accounting from that time around and I probably had to put the same amount of time and effort into it that I do now for nursing. I don't think your choice of major takes away from your college experience so follow your heart. A few years from now, you will probably look back on your college days and have some very fond memories. By the way, I'm a neighbor across the Alabama-Florida state line from you. :-)

In the beginning I felt robbed because I know of several other people in school but studying different majors and they have way more free time than I do. They use to call me on a regular basis and ask If I could go out and I would say the same thing time and time again, I can't I am working on a paper, studying for a test, working on a care plan something school related and now they don't even call anymore :devil: I guess in certain situations you find out who are really your true friends and who really aren't.

I eventually learned to look over and beyond that and once I did time flew by so quickly. I am graduating in May and I can begin to have more of a Social life again.

I was speaking to a professor about how busy it is this term...the phrase I used was "...I feel like I am being cheated out of the education I paid for...", or words very similar...I'm skipping classes, passing on assignments, not studying the material and notes I have, all because the workload being put on us in terms of reports, and writing assignments, etc, is too much...this may be the "weeding out" process people talk about...I'm very dissappointed with my program, lots of fluff in the first term, now too much of what I think is really important, practical nursing skills, physiological information, etc...as a mature student who was given much more leeway during admissions than regular students, I'm grateful for the opportunity I was given...now I am planning ahead to get pre-reqs for a better school in 2004

I guess you have to decide what your priorities are, and exactly what experience it is that you are missing. You're young and you don't have kids yet--it's easier now than it will ever be in the future. It's tough for all of us, nursing is a hard program. I'm so glad I have a previous degree and have my pre-reqs out of the way. I wouldn't want to be in your position--hang in there!

Kim

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