Help...Taking My Education for Granted

[Care4life]

Hello,

I realized I have taken my nursing education for granted. I have 4 1/2 months remaining in a Vocational Nursing program, yet I do not have a solid foundation of the nursing interventions that have been covered in school.

I entered this program having about 10 yrs experience as a CNA w/ rehab aide training. I was usually a C student in my science classes. I learn by doing things hands on and easily get distracted. I rarely stay in one area too long and reading is usually a chore.

My dilemma is how do I start a new page in my life where I decide for myself that I'm going to learn this material in school so I can be a competant nurse and still back track to the things I should have learned.

Your feedback will be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Care4life :redbeathe

[snowfreeze, BSN, RN]

Do some serious studying, flash cards and study groups. Online research for things that dont make sense. Put your social life on hold. eat healty and get adequate sleep and good luck.

[trmr]

well, its never too late to "get with the program". Maybe you should devote more of your time to study extra. Did you keep your previous notes and books? go back and look them over again. You'll get as much out of school, and nursing, as you put into it. If you are determined you will make it just fine. Don't worry yourself too much. Make it a conscious effort to stay as focused as you possibly can.

[Perpetual Student]

Are you incompetent to the extent that your fellow students or instructors have commented on it? The reason I ask is that it is normal to feel overwhelmed by the huge amount of information we're expected to know. If you're doing OK in clinicals (EVERYONE gets at least somewhat nervous at times) your knowledge deficit may not be as severe as you believe, though you should definitely learn as much as possible.

Start doing the assigned reading. Bone up on anything you've had trouble with in clinicals. Take responsibility for your own education and look up anything you encounter during clinicals that you don't know or understand. Focus on the real principles behind things and the reasoning more than the facts. Try to understand why things are the way they are or why they're done.

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

I feel the same, most students are overwhelmed and do not feel that they received a solid foundation, even with studying hard. It is the anxiety of leaving school to the real world. What is the feed back you are receiving from your professors? If they are saying it, or if your grades are reflecting this, then, I would worry. If you made it this far, with 4 months left, it can't be that bad.

Again, as others have said, you can turn this around if you really think you aren't applying yourself. What is important, however, is this...graduating will not make you a nurse...passing NCLEX will. If you need to really get a handle on the knowledge, you had better start, because the test is not the same for everyone. Most of us walk out of there bewildered, even with the total commitment to studying. If you are having a hard time connecting the dots now, it may be worse by the time you take the exam. Study harder, sleep well, make flash cards, practice NCLEX questions, ask questions while you are in school. You usually get out what you put in.

[hbgwan, LPN, LVN]

well, its never too late to "get with the program". Maybe you should devote more of your time to study extra. Did you keep your previous notes and books? go back and look them over again. You'll get as much out of school, and nursing, as you put into it. If you are determined you will make it just fine. Don't worry yourself too much. Make it a conscious effort to stay as focused as you possibly can.

:yeahthat:

[Care4life]

Thank you all for your helpful advice, feedback and encouragement. I am struggling to put to action your advice and enduring the remainding 4 months of this VN program.

Much appreciation,

Care4Life :-)