I need encouragement!

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Hey all, I am a first termer in my 3rd week of clinicals. I really do enjoy nursing school so far, but it is so challenging. I hear its normal to feel depressed, tired, and wanting to give up, but is it? I know I will not give up till i have my RN license, but this really is hard. I have been doing good so far, but i am borderline in 2 of my classes, even though I study really hard. But the think that I hate the most so far is clinical days. I love being with the patient, and giving them they help they need, thats why I got into nursing. But i hate the fact that a lot of the time i dont what in the world im doing. I really am kind of disapointed with the way it is set up to be honest. I guess I kind of figured there would be a teaache with us at all times to guide us. But really I just do an assessment and take vitals and do my careplans. I feel kind of worthless, and that im getting in the way of the actual nurse. I also feel bad doing assessments on the patient that arent even official. Is it normal to not really know what your doing? I mean I want to learn how to do the IV machines and how to change out the drains, but seems like all im doing is bedbaths and changing beds, and giving a subq here or there. When there is something I dont know how to do the nurse does it, but she just does it, and she isnt exactly teaching me and it goes by so fast that I didnt learn anything at all. Basically i haven't learned a real lot in my clinical experience so far, and I wanted to know if this is normal. I guess you pick it up after repetition but, im not even bein shown how to do stuff.

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It's very normal. Nursing school is hard, one of the hardest things you will ever do. It's exhausting. You have to make yourself get through it.

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And you're rushing things. Giving meds comes later, much later, and IV pumps probably not even this year. You have to start from the bottom to get to the top, and you get there one rung at a time.

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sorry to post this several times, my computer messed up and didnt think it went through :(. thank you so much for the replies though.

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3rd week?

You have lots of clinicals ahead of you!

Relax it will come soon enough!

God bless you!

Just concentrate on whatever is the focus for the week.

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Specializes in PICU.

Block 1 was the hardest. I wanted to quit. I was afraid I got into the wrong profession. But then as things started clicking between classes and clinical learning I realized that I am in the right area and I love it. The semesters will get better as you get used to the pace and mindset and the grades get better along with it. You won't covet the grades so much but you will appreciate that you understand a bit about what is going on (and that you are passing!). You still have to work hard but you figure out how to work and what it takes to get the work done and the knowledge to succeed. Stick it out. You will be so grateful and you will start to enjoy it as you get further. One day,test, assignment at a time. As I write this I am 3 weeks from being done with my semester. I take my finals in three weeks and then start preceptorships. I can't believe it is almost over. I never thought it would end but this last semester just flew by. Just think in the not so distant future you will be the one to encourage a newbie. I definitely don't feel like I am done though. Nursing school was just a warm up for the new grad training and working on my own. I am sure I will be humbled every day and surprised that I actually did learn a lot and know more than I give myself credit for. Keep it up!

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Specializes in PICU.

Block 1 was the hardest. I wanted to quit. I was afraid I got into the wrong profession. But then as things started clicking between classes and clinical learning I realized that I am in the right area and I love it. The semesters will get better as you get used to the pace and mindset and the grades get better along with it. You won't covet the grades so much but you will appreciate that you understand a bit about what is going on (and that you are passing!). You still have to work hard but you figure out how to work and what it takes to get the work done and the knowledge to succeed. Stick it out. You will be so grateful and you will start to enjoy it as you get further. One day,test, assignment at a time. As I write this I am 3 weeks from being done with my semester. I take my finals in three weeks and then start preceptorships. I can't believe it is almost over. I never thought it would end but this last semester just flew by. Just think in the not so distant future you will be the one to encourage a newbie. I definitely don't feel like I am done though. Nursing school was just a warm up for the new grad training and working on my own. I am sure I will be humbled every day and surprised that I actually did learn a lot and know more than I give myself credit for. Keep it up!

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glad to hear that you enjoy nursing school so far

thoughts of giving up?

you're doing good most of the time

keep studying

learn what you can during clinicals

good luck

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Specializes in L&D, PACU.

The first clinicals were the hardest...not in what you actually do, but in feeling like you're doing okay. (At least that's how it was for me.) Then each one got progressively better. I used to not be able to sleep before clinical, half sick with apprehension. Now...I do feel like I'm a help, like I'm actually doing some nursing. I know when I hit the floor as a real nurse, (no longer a student) I'll be back to the not sleeping and the apprehension. Then I'll start crawling up the learning curve again. And someday I'll look back and realize how far I've come.

So will you. You'll look back on those first few weeks and be amazed at how much more you know and how much more confident you are.

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I'm a 3/4 semester student and still don't know what I'm doing at clinical. During the first day of clinical of this semester, I couldn't even draw saline to flush the IV. I felt horrible and think that nursing is not right for me and should of stick with accounting. But during the 2nd week, I feel that I could learned any skills given the opportunity provided. When not learning skills, I learn to time management, interact with other pp i.e. PT, OT, Labs, X-Rays etc, and ways to become a better nurse. I always feel down during the 1st day of rotation but as it progress, I enjoy it more.

As the school progress, you'll learn ways to study for exam and you will get better. If current study technique is not working then try something else. The best thing I've done was in a study group. B/c of it, it boost a letter grade in all of my class. You will soon your best way of studying, just never give up if nursing is your calling.

Becky.

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Specializes in Cardiac, ER.

Hang in there,...nursing school is a lot of busy work!! But believe it or not,.doing all that repetitive stuff,.that isn't even "official",.is necessary,..all the assessments, careplans, looking up the same med over and over takes time,.often seems like a waste of time,..but one day in the future,.it will all click and be 2nd nature to you,.you will be thinking and doing all these things at once w/o consciously thinking about it!! While introducing yourself at the begining of your shift,.just chatting w/your pt,.you will note to yourself,.how is the pt breathing?,.is there any urine in the foley?,.what color is it?,.is the pt pale or pink?,.do they appear to be in pain?,..are they confused?,..are they lethargic?,.anxious?,......even though you don't have that "care plan" in front of you,.you will think,..do I need to get this pt up and walking around,.how much is the output related to the fluids going in,....it will all just fall together,..you will have the critical thinking skills you need to care for your pts,....you will be a nurse!! It will all come w/time,..watch what goes on around you,.ask questions,..why did we give med A?,..why is that pt on bedrest but this pt needs to walk?,..why did RT choose CPaP instead of BiPap?,...you can make the who day a learning experience by paying attention and ASK QUESTIONS!!!! Good luck to you,.hang in there,.we all had to start at the begining!!!!

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I had a heck of a time getting through nursing school. You know what got me through, I would say to myself (they may sound crazy) you can always quit. The last year I was saying that alot, but thats what got me through. Hang in there. It's worth it in the end. I also had two good friends going to school with me so that helped. Also I feel like I just started learning once I started working after graduation. Just take it a day at a time and do the best you can.

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