Help!!!

[lost_student_nurse]

K so i'll give some background info before I ask my question. I am a first semster nursing student, I go to a good school with awesome and very helpful instructors. I have ADD and in the past i have had some issues with finding motivation to study and get school work done, but i have always managed to get my work done (B avg student w/ 3.3 GPA in pre-reqs). I started school about three months ago and for the past two months, ever scince i started clinicals, I have become a really negative/self-critical person. I can't or maybe won't find the motivation to study or get work done. I don't like clinicals (i am starting to think I just don't like working with people and I have never had this issue before). I am a shy person but friendly, I will admit i dont initiate conversations and have trouble comming up with things to talk about. I feel like i am going through some strange indentity crisis, and am starting to really doubt my major. Speaking truthfully I am not sure why i wanted to be a nurse (i feel like i just picked it becuase it didn't req courses like organic chem and calc). I really do want to help people! (or possibly animals...i know thats random)! I know there is something about nursing that i don't like but i cant pinpoint if its actually nursing or just something with school. If it is just school I dont want to leave and then regret it in a few years but if it is something else then i am not sure if i will aqquire the motivation to make it through school. I guess my question is, does every student nurse go through this self-doubt/questioning/indecisiveness or am i in the wrong major/profession. (there may be some aspect i have left out so feel free to ask me if you need clarification) Thanks in advance!

ps- i want any advice...good, bad, critisism, dont be afraid to tell me what you think i need to hear(even if i may not like it!)

[CrystalClear75, BSN, RN]

I think alot of nursing students(if not all) worry about what's to come so you are definitely not the only one who has these concerns.:) I know I myself had similar feelings(is this REALLY what I want to do? etc). Do your best and have a good studying plan...having time management and organizational skills is so important in my opinion. There is a good book out called Nursing Student Success by The Incredibly Made Easy series that I had found to be very helpful.

[nursing_rocks23]

With all honesty I think a lot of nursing students go through that phase. In my opinion its pretty normal. Do you have an advisor? Have you tried discussing this with him/her? Perhaps that would be helpful in you deciding whether or not nursing is something that you want to stick with. Whatever your decision I wish you the best! :)

[sh1901]

I agree that you should maybe speak with your advisor. Maybe they can help you to pinpoint what is making you feel this way. If it's the direct contact with the patients, then there are things that you can do (research comes to mind) where you would not necessarily need to have direct patient contact.

[chnc1024, ASN]

It's natural to have questions/doubts! Whether or not you go through NS, will empact your life long term! I believe strongly that God has a plan for everyone, and I feel confident that (at least for the time being) I am doing what he wants me to do. And that's probably the only reason I'm not freaking out about what to do or if I can!

There are any number of career paths that can alow you to help others (something that's very important to me also) but you'll have to decide HOW you want to help them, and who you want to help most. That alone might steer you in the right direction of where you should go.

I'm not too familiar with ADD, but would having a study-buddy help? Someone to keep you on track? Maybe do some excercise to help get the nearvous energy out so that you might be able to focus more. I know that helps me sometimes!

I wish you all the best!

Chancie

[matilda123]

Stop making excuses and make the commitment to nursing school. You are not a kid anymore. You can't let ADD or shynes take over or take you down. Nursing, or any new challenge will make you challenge and doubt and push yourself. Make the decision to buckle down and do this! You will gain so much more than the degree.

good luck

p.s.

I am not making light of add of shyness. I know how real and challenging they are. My intent is "kick in the pants" advice.

[RossayRN]

I think its totally normal. I am going into my 3rd semester and I am still nervous about the next semester and how I will do. I just tell myself that I can do it my grades are good, and as long as I stay focused I will be graduating may 2010 with my BSN, and a smile on my face!

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

You'll probably do well working in the OR, nursery or an ICU with people who are very ill, in comas or intubated and on ventilators who cannot speak. Nothing wrong with that. There's a place for everyone's skills and shortcomings. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Eventually you get to the end. Along the way you see all the different areas a nurse can work. One of them might appeal to you. You are not finished yet, so you haven't seen all there is to see yet.

[nurse901]

Oh my, you just completely described me. That is exactly what I have gone through in nursing school. There was one time where I was about ready to throw the towel in. My entire junior year I was negative, self-critical and so angry all the time. I felt that no matter how hard I worked, that I would not get through this thing called nursing school. Well I am here to shed some light on your situation. I fought through the really difficult times and I am now entering into my last semester:). I actually cannot even believe it. This last semester I had to take a reality check and think about why I really wanted to become a nurse. I realized that it was not nursing that I was not passionate about it was the overwhelming stress of school that made me feel like a failure. I encourage you to really think about your decision to become a nurse. Why did you go into nursing to begin with? Alot of nursing school is just trying to get through all the hoops, and there are alot of them as you probably know. Think about nursing and nursing school seperately. Is it the actual field of nursing that makes you frustrated or is it nursing school? Basically you have to have passion to be a nurse and if you find that you don't feel that way about nursing then that is not a bad thing. I always feel that it is better to find that out early on then go through the craziness of nursing school to find out later that you dislike nursing completely. Also I found that having a CNA job was helpful because it got me out into the field of nursing. I was able to get the true reality of nursing, and I really enjoyed it. Oh also I recently learned that I was not alone about how I felt. I started talking with more of my classmates this last semester and almost everyone had the same emotions. Know that you are not alone and that your classmates may be feeling the same way. You can do it. Hey if I can get through it, then anyone can. God Bless and good luck to you.

[nicolie1125]

I'm totally in your situation right now. Only I happen to be in a terrible program (me and the rest of my class agree with this). I just keep trying to figure out if it's just school, or if it's actually nursing as a whole that I am having the problem with. If it's just school.. you'll get through it! Just try to take some time out and just really think about what you want to do with your life! I know that's a lot, but sometimes some soul searching is what you need. Good luck with whatever you choose!