had it with nursing school already!

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I need some feedback on how to deal with some of the issues that I am facing now in week 5 of school. Its really gotten old. We have lots of instructors that do not communicate well with each other, countless hours of busy work, confusing assignments, and students who instead of supporting each other are contstantly trying to show each other up:( I can litterally feel the knots forming in my shoulders and neck right now. I manage time well and dont procrastinate.... so how do I learn to enjoy school again?

I just PASSED my boards and have finally got to see my name on my license as an LPN!!! The feeling you have when you have made it is incredible. I mean ....hey..IM A NURSE!!! .....

It takes a lotttttttt of dedication to go through the program. You can't just "think" you want to be a nurse...you have to "know" you want to be one. That drama that you are talking about is everywhere. TRUST ME!! The students in my school of nursing were also against each other at times..the school itself was so unorganized. We had one teacher that was a mess. She would often lose our work and tests and would time us on tests and we would work hard then when we turned in our work in the time allowed she would say..UH OH..you forgot the other sheet...WE WERE NEVER TOLD THERE WAS ANOTHER SHEET!!! this went on and on and on...I was soooooo tired of school....and clinicals..>OH GEEZ...sometimes the only thing ..NO LIE...that would get me through the day..is knowing the elevator was right down the hall and if I wanted to bolt...I could...! I would even think to myself ....I am not in prison..I can leave..I am not in prison and can just walk out...but you know what kept me there?? My heart! I came so close to quiting nursing school so many times...I actually failed 2 semesters while in nursing school and had to retake the same class (clinicals included) over....HA...girl..you just dont know....You are fortunate to have been chosen to even be there.....STAY!!!!!!!!! IT DOES PAY OFF.......Remember this email when you wanna give up....

I need some feedback on how to deal with some of the issues that I am facing now in week 5 of school. Its really gotten old. We have lots of instructors that do not communicate well with each other, countless hours of busy work, confusing assignments, and students who instead of supporting each other are contstantly trying to show each other up:( I can litterally feel the knots forming in my shoulders and neck right now. I manage time well and dont procrastinate.... so how do I learn to enjoy school again?

I think you may be going through the inevitable adjustment to nursing school. Its tough and I felt it was kind of like boot camp, and not at all like other college and university education experiences. The truth is that it doesn't really matter how much you like nursing school, just that you survive it. Just remember...nursing school will come to an end pretty quickly, but your nursing career is going to give you many career options for for many years to come. Hang in there!

I need some feedback on how to deal with some of the issues that I am facing now in week 5 of school. Its really gotten old. We have lots of instructors that do not communicate well with each other, countless hours of busy work, confusing assignments, and students who instead of supporting each other are contstantly trying to show each other up I can litterally feel the knots forming in my shoulders and neck right now. I manage time well and dont procrastinate.... so how do I learn to enjoy school again?

Hi there,

I'm almost halfway through in a BSN program...I've been there, done that with what you're describing. Nursing school can be a pain in the you-know-what! I think almost everyone who has gone/is going through nursing school knows where you're coming from. Anyway, here's a little list of how I keep my sanity:

1. Put it in perspective! Yeah, it's hard work, but the end result is the kicker. Each semester is different, and the further you go in the program, the more you'll learn how to better manage your time/energy.

2. Stay in touch with the professors. Make sure they're aware of problems that you're having so they can give you some help or clarify a concept. When in doubt--ASK!

3. While all of the classes kind of "go together," think of each as a little bite-sized chunk. If your instructors don't communicate well, just concentrate on giving each of them what he/she is asking for regarding assignments, papers, etc. Each professor I've had has been different. Some great, some good, some not so good. I've had to adapt my learning style a few times, but in the end it worked out fine.

4. Watch out for number one (while being considerate of others). Nursing school is about YOU. YOU paid the tuition, YOU are putting in the hours, and under most circumstances, YOU ultimately decide whether or not you will succeed. I've learned to be very competitive...with MYSELF that is. I try to beat my own best grade and better myself. If I can help someone else along the way, I definitely will. One last thing--there is always going to be competition, sniping, and the like. Inevitably there will be cliques (Lord knows I see them everyday). Find a few people you have things in common with and go with the flow. Be cordial to everyone, but don't try to be everybody's friend. I look at it this way--I don't like everyone I'm in school with, but if we have to work together at a future date, I want to have a good "working relationship" with them.

I'm sorry this is so long...I kind of got on a little rant there. I hope some of these suggestions (and the others made my different posters) help you. Best of luck!:nurse:

Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

1. At least you don't have to be the brunt of most of the "female-only" jokes. As a male, sometimes I have to speak up and remind the other students "Hey, I'm over here...."

2. You have to have a few classmates you can hang out with, and some that you can just vent with. I have 2 so far that we hang out and study for tests, and 4-5 that I go outside during class breaks when it's time to smoke(although I'm not a smoker myself, and tend to get a contact high....)

3. Know that instructors contradicting each other will happen throughout the program. Know which instructor taught what skill, and show them said skill the same way they taught you. It's why everyone but me in my clinical group failed taking BPs(one instructor said to show 2-step, but clinical instructor taught 1 step).

4. Keep your head up, stay on top of the work, ignore those negative students(Many of them will probably just get booted out, if they don't want to do the work).

I tend to make small talk with the classmates around me before/during/after class/breaks, and try to clarify things if someone's hazy or maybe someone has some good info that I'm unaware of. A good example is the woman who sits next to me who looked at me blankly when I was talking about return demos(Physical assessments, shots, caths, doppler, O2 mask, etc). I asked if she was aware that just because we saw something in class did NOT mean her demo was checked off. She thought that if we had an in-class demo we didn't have to go redo it. Tough to be her as there is no time before clinical starts and assessments have to be returned before the start! I told her to get her butt in there everyday and look for whited-out blanks.

Do something for YOU everyday, even if it's as small as 1 little 20 min break to enjoy a diet pepsi and a stick of cheese(I'm sitting at home doing online coursework today if you can't tell.) Good luck and keep your chin up!

Specializes in Emergency Department, Neuro ICU.

Hey there! I was wondering if you are in ASU's college of nursing? Just curious because you're user name is sundvl...anyways, if you are I am a senior I at east campus, so it is really fresh in my mind how horrible junior I is (assuming you are in ASU's program that is) although if you're not I am sure it is about the same anywhere. I can totally relate to your experience and how you must be feeling. Your first semester is going to be your worst and it is really easy to become frusterated. I know right now it seems like you are not getting a lot of support from classmates and professors, but it is normal for everybody to be at that point because of how new everyone and everything is. Just so you know, all your classmates are probably feeling just as bad. It is really hard at first because you are still getting adjusted to the schedule and the expectations and people just aren't comfortable with eachother yet. I can tell you right now I went home many of nights during that semester crying because of how stressed I was and because of rude classmates and because I felt like the professors weren't explaining anything and I was afraid I was going to fail. I even went as far as talking to one about dropping out...that was how bad I disliked it...and this was all within the first two months. It sucks because you are learning all the crappy stuff right now and I would imagine you are probably at a long term care facility and that you just got left by your professor and are expected to just kind of figure things out. Now let me tell you this...somehow, someway I hung in there...well I did have one very good friend I made in the program who just wouldn't let me drop out, so that kind of helped...and I am so happy I never did. After you get past this first semester things get so much better. The classmates I thought were rude are now some of my best friends. I love my classmates so much when a few months ago I thought such a thing would be impossible. Nursing is a beautiful thing. We are now learning things that are so interesting and fun that I actually wake in the mornings looking forward to class. The professors were a bit harsh at first, but I love most of them now and feel they would do anything to advocate for us as students. If you are really feeling poorly I would talk to one that you trust about how you feel and really try to get a study buddy. You will become close with your classmates soon enough, and although things really never become easier, you will become better at juggeling everything because you will get to know how things need to get done and formatted correctly and just knowing what to expect takes away a lot of stress. I really hope this helps. Hang in there and good luck to you! And if you are an ASU student, write me anytime if you have questions.

Specializes in ICU, ED.

Thanks!! I am a junior 1 at ASU... are you in the accelerated 16 month program? I have made some great friends and we support each other well... but some of the others in other groups seem so vindictive sometimes. We are about to begin injections :wink2: :wink2: so im excited for that but super overwhelmed by the Head eye ear nose throat neuro competency. Did it seem to you in Jr. 1 that they treated you like kindergartners sometimes? Maybe its a difference in instructors... i dunno

Welcome to nursing school...

Take heart! It's like that on the East Coast too!

Some of the things I have been taught in nursing school go completely against things I have been taught my whole life (like the proper way to write a paper for example!) Ahywho, it does get better. I am in semester 3 0f 3 in LPN & start semester 1 of 3 in January for RN. Unfortunately, one of the reasons it gets better... most of the negative people (but not all) are no longer with us for one reason or another. (Lost lots of cool people along the way too, though!) We started w/ 28, ended 1st semester w/ 15; semester #2 started w/ 19 (picked up 4 transfers) and actually ended w/ 19; but have already lost 2 more this semester. Keep your head up and muddle through - clinicals (for the most part) make all the unorganization of the theory time fade away because YOU'RE ACTUALLY DOING IT!!!! :monkeydance:

Good luck!

Best advice... stick in there! My nursing program was a complete disaster.... completely unorganized. We didnt even have an instructor for one of the clinical rotations. In the end I was happy I finished the program. Sometimes the toughtest obstacles are the ones that are most worth it.

My advice is to not buy into it. I see some units where the nurses act just like your classmates. I have seen more units that work as a team. Be the change you want to see and other people will join you. Nursing school is the hardest thing I have ever done, it takes a mental, physical, and emotional toll on you.

Specializes in Emergency Department, Neuro ICU.
Thanks!! I am a junior 1 at ASU... are you in the accelerated 16 month program? I have made some great friends and we support each other well... but some of the others in other groups seem so vindictive sometimes. We are about to begin injections :wink2: :wink2: so im excited for that but super overwhelmed by the Head eye ear nose throat neuro competency. Did it seem to you in Jr. 1 that they treated you like kindergartners sometimes? Maybe its a difference in instructors... i dunno

Yup...I am in the 16 month program at east (polytechnic) campus. I have a few friends over there at the Phoenix campus right now in Jr. 1...not sure if you would know any of them, but I do hear you have the Tricia for HA. I had her too for Jr. 1. Don't let her scare you...she tries to act like you should already know everything already and sometimes she seems like she takes pride in making others feel like an idiot. But she will start to loosen up halfway through...don't worry. Documentation is a joke w/ her...you learn all that stuff better when you get in the hospital and follow their format...just learn the main terms and stuff for now...and try not to stress too much over competencies as I am sure they tell you to memorize every word on the chart. Just get the concepts down and learn any terminology you aren't familiar with and then just go through the steps over and over again with your classmates. Go over a small section a night (like you really have time, I know) and I found that to be helpful for me. Injections are fun, but even I seemed to mess that up the first time I did it. My best friend in the program hates getting shots so much that she almost cries...and guess who was her lucky partner for the first injection I would ever give. Actually everything would have been fine if it weren't for those stupid vantage points. I had everything under control until I had to push to have the needle shoot back up into the syringe. I pushed and it didn't pop out of the skin and my friend started screaming OUCH! My FOR freaked and was like..."Take it out!" Everyone got quiet and stared at me...I thought I was going to die. That was another day I went home crying. But, ever since then injections have been good...I hope that story doesn't scare you, it really isn't so bad, I just felt retarded my entire Jr. 1 semester. And about the vindictive ones, I swear there always has be one (or in my case two) in the group. My learning community would probably be near perfect if it weren't for them...but it gets to the point where people like that become so ridiculous that they actually become entertaining to watch and I can pretty much put up with them when I have to. And yeah, I find that most professors will be one of two ways...either they treat you like a baby or they will throw you in, ditch you, and expect you to know everything...but then you will come across a few exceptional ones. They won't be quite as bad after Jr. 1, so there is hope.

Specializes in PACU/Cardiac/Nrsg. Mgmt./M/S.

Don't give up! Realize how far you have come and how difficult it was for you to get into school. That says something right there about your personality, your grades, and your ability to survive. The administration at nursing schools do NOT choose potential students from lists of students who will drop out or give up. They want winners; they do not look for quitters. So, in choosing you, they have faith in you that you will survive.

And survival is what its all about in school...Besides grades that it....Nursing instructers are notorious about 'pushing buttons' and trying to find out what makes a student tick, and they do so for a reason. They want you hang in there in a spirit of competitiveness, and in a spirit of thorough follow through and question. Why? Because you may take care of them or their loved one one day, and they want to be assured that you will know your job well. And the way to insure that YOU know your nursing is to be tough on you....

We have all been through it...there have been students drop by the wayside and flunk out in every class. When you see that happen, rest assured that you can try harder and survive and make it....don't let that quitter be you.

spoken by one who almost dropped out over the math many years ago......

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