How did you get through nursing school?

Student2017555 · Mar 14, 2016

Thank you !!! I was having a very rough day and the stress of studying gets to me very easily so I am going to seek helpor coping mechanisms . I very much appreciate the support I know I can get through it I just have those days sometimes

awsumsaus · Mar 14, 2016

I probably should have read some of the other comments before I left mine but I have a tidbit more to add:

I was first officially dx w/depression in 2009, and had been suffering for a couple of years before that. That is the only reason I am just pushing my way through...this is the first time I have felt like I am doing something that I should be doing and even though I'm still mentally struggling I recognize it and am figuring out ways to safely practice and take care of others. Please take the advice of some of the others and figure out if this is a temporary phase for you or if you will be able to do the same.

Also ignore all the crap about "just study more". We have a test a week, and last week we had 3 tests, our second mental health test, an ATI med-surg final and the med-surg lecture final. Studying until you're cross-eyed isn't going to make you more successful with handling this. I am still managing to pull low A's and high B's but I feel as though every test may be my last.

That's just what anxiety is.

Let us know how you're doing, I've realized by joining this career I've gained a huge new family online, if this thread is anything to go by. :)

Nurse Leigh · Mar 14, 2016

Thank you !!! I was having a very rough day and the stress of studying gets to me very easily so I am going to seek helpor coping mechanisms . I very much appreciate the support I know I can get through it I just have those days sometimes

Good to hear. Also, if you stay in the nursing program, do try to strike a balance between school life and social life. Yes, studying is important, but it's also important to relax with friends and destress every so often.

If it is difficult to get with old friends for some reason, try and make friends with some fellow students. I found a group of friends I really liked and we would get together and study but also vent and talk about other things and have a little fun.

Good luck to you!

Soon_2_be_RN · Mar 14, 2016

I will be finishing nursing school in a few months, and yes, it can be/has been VERY stressful at times. I was extremely stressed out during my first semester of clinicals because I had to adopt new study habits. Once you develop a system of studying that works for you, it will take away the stress that you may be feeling.

- The first thing I would suggest is to meet with your instructor(s). Sit down with them and discuss your situation. Sometimes just letting them know how you feel can make you feel better. They may make some suggestions that are really helpful and beneficial for you.

- Do not cut your friends out at all. You need to find a balance between studying and spending time with friends. Even if it is having a meal with them or watching a movie once a week. It'll give you something to look forward to and a can be used as a "de-stressor" after a long week.

- Adopt effective study habits. I say this because studying is what stressed me out the most during my first semester of clinicals. I would sit and study for hours upon hours every single day, yet barely pass my courses. I would become discouraged when I would get my exam back and not make the score that I felt I earned with the amount of time I put in. Which would just put more stress on me for the next test. I changed my study habits and, boom, things became so much easier. I went from studying 7-8 hours a day making the minimum score to pass, to studying 3-4 hours a day and making high B's and A's. I know that you didn't ask for different study techniques, but studying does put a lot of stress on someone.

So basically what I am trying to say is to reach out to your instructors for help. They will help you. Make time for your friends because they are an important part of getting through the stressful times. Nursing school is stressful, but shouldn't be to the point you pull your hair out. If you have a passion for nursing and truly love it, you will get through this, don't quit. I'm not an experienced nurse, but I am a student that was close to the point you are at. You can do it.

wannabeny · Mar 14, 2016

Hugs OP. Focus on your health as well, not just school. Reach out to advisors, a therapist (they do work wonders).

And honest to god friends are ALWAYS there no matter where you are in life. Even if it is just a 15 minute conversation, they are there. Family too. Lean on them.

they_see_me_rollin · Mar 15, 2016

Hello OP. I truly feel you. It's good you tried to vent out here on AN, and good to hear you are getting some support.

I am wondering if you are also working. Working with many hours plus nursing school can be very stressful at times.

I would also go with one of the suggestions that you need to de-stress once in a while. Have fun and do something you enjoyed like once a week. You need to have some kind of "outlet".

I hope you are not stressed out because you are behind of your school works. If so, you need to work on your time management.

Wish you all the best! Pls keep us informed and hope your situation will be better soon!

leibunny · Mar 15, 2016

Hi,

I'm sorry that you have been having such a hard time. Please consider what others have said regarding seeking help and bringing your issues to the attention of your instructor. Nursing school is difficult, and I recall my family saying that I wasn't always a joy to be around--especially around exam dates. I have had a few classmates who confided to me that they needed to consult with their GP for prescription anxiolytics or anti-insomnia medication during our program's most intense semester. My classmates were wonderful, compassionate nurses who realized that they needed help. It's ok to need help sometimes. Disregard the posters who are sending only negativity your way-- you have every bit as much potential to be a compassionate nurse someday. If need be, talk to your instuctors about taking a pause, and resume when you are in a good head-space.

Wishing you the best! :)

pmabraham, BSN, RN · Mar 15, 2016

Our graduating class just started the second half (our school uses a mini-semester system where there are two mini-semesters in one semester) of our third semester. The majority of us (I know I went through it) were extremely nervous during the first semester.

Failing a skill test off deducted precious points (clinicals - 100 points; 75 to pass), and also involved receiving an academic deficiency (two in one mini-semester, and you are pulled out of the clinical and any corresponding theory class). Theory classes also required 75% to pass, and rarely had more than 120 points.

Most of us who dealt with anxiety (that includes myself) mainly had it turn on a day or two before the test or the day of skill checks. I could be wrong, but I don't believe any of us had panic attacks. At most the anxiety level was moderate on a scale of none, mild, moderate, severe, panic attack.

Therefore, I would recommend seeing someone if the anxiety is more than moderate or moderate for more than a few days on a consistent basis. Six months into my prerequisites (before getting into the program), I was having moderate to severe anxiety on a regular basis. I had my neurotransmitters tested, and my "fight or flight" system was out of wack. Basically, I was in constant fight-or-flight mode until exhaustion; rest, and start over.

In my case, I dealt with a natural-based doctor who recommended specific supplements to work on my neurotransmitter levels. One year later, get another NT test, and then I was off the supplements; and have been since.

That plus consistently working on changing my though process (positive reframing, positive reinforcement, getting rid of negative talk/speech) has helped tremendously to the point where I'm happy almost every day with minimal anxiety (mild at most).

OP, please consider getting help.

Illuminati · Mar 15, 2016

While I agree with a lot of your study strategies (and use them myself), I think telling someone who is experiencing severe anxiety to study 6-12 hours *minimum* is poor advice. Encouraging quality (like the first half of your post), not quantity would be of more benefit.
I see a lot of classmates follow and fail by this logic, hence my concern.

I get that... But as someone who struggles like OP with anxiety, studying more helped me so much with confidence, and THAT killed my anxiety.

Repetition breeds confidence.

Confidence breeds success.

FranEMTnurse, CNA, LPN, EMT-I · Mar 15, 2016

I had a very stressful job before attending nursing school, along with raising 2 children on my own, and doing my own home and car maintenance, and losing a loved one at age 22. In fact, the stress got so bad it caused uncontrolled hypertension, and I was hospitalized for a week. So I do understand. That experience strengthened me for nursing school in the future. That is why I gave such a short answer. I wasn't trying to give you a snide answer. We are all here to support one another. ((((((HUGS)))))))

promeza · Mar 15, 2016

What is your "Why"?

There I said it and please don't disregard this question it will always serve you in life. Let me explain.

Nursing school sucks!! It's hard, the sacrifices are real and great. The price is paid not only by you but by your family also. I know, I know that I preaching to the choir. Yet,, Once you are a nurse your life WILL change.

It is not by accident that you decided to be a nurse. Nursing is not a profession where all you do is give, it is also a profession where you get to receive. Not many fields offer that and "no" I am not using a cliche.

I have been a nurse for over 24 years and almost all of it in critical care. Yes I give a lot but nursing has been so good to me not only emotionally, but also economically. I can work ANYWHERE because of my skill set and my experience. That job security is priceless especially because I am a husband father of four kids.

My dream of providing for my family with better things than I had was my "WHY". Why I went to school, why I worked so hard, why studied so late while I had a full time job, why I put up with the stress-pressure and why I kept picking up my books even after throwing them against the wall in frustration.

You see I was the first person ever in my family to go to college. That came with a cost and real barriers. But my "why" was so important, so strong that no matter how bad it got (and yes at times it got really bad and I know you are there right now) but I still showed up the next day.

So what do you do? You keep showing up, you keep breathing and like "Dori" from finding Nemo said, "just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming". Why? because your graduation, your reward is just around the corner. These next couple of years or semester WILL PASS and you have a choice about what you will be when that happens. You will either be a nurse or something else because you dropped out.

Be a Nurse.

I have NEVER regretted the price I paid for going to nursing school.

Be a Nurse :)

Purple_roses · Mar 15, 2016

I get that... But as someone who struggles like OP with anxiety, studying more helped me so much with confidence, and THAT killed my anxiety.
Repetition breeds confidence.
Confidence breeds success.

I think her point was more that we should be giving advice on coping with anxiety (and we're not talking mild anxiety here--the poor dear is pulling out her hair) instead of giving advice on studying. The level of anxiety that the OP is experiencing is dangerous and we don't want to do anything to add onto that anxiety. Telling someone that they need to put even more study time in when they already feel like they've lost all their friends due to studying is poor advice in my opinion.