I'm going to acknowledge up front that this may be a stupid question, but I'm asking it anyway. I'm really struggling with my decision to attend nursing school. I memorized my way through my science prerequisites. Quite literally the professor had an accent that I'm pretty sure no one could understand, and her lecture was simply reading her PowerPoint to us, nothing more. She told us on day 1 that anything in "bold" on her PowerPoint would be what we would be tested on. I got two A's and two B's (A&P 1, 2 & 3 plus Microbiology) simply by relying on my short term memory. Any topic that was remotely difficult I just skipped or I memorized just enough to pick out the answer on the test, but I couldn't tell you anything about it now. Retaking the courses is not really something I'm interested in due to time and money constraints, not to mention I think I hated the majority of the material. I really think I hated so much of the science that I can't even imagine getting through nursing school. But it's strange because I know I don't hate all science (I really enjoyed a lot about micro); maybe I just hate the overwhelming amount of information. Having said all that my basic question is this: surely I can't just rely on my short term memory to get me through nursing school, right?? It frustrates me to know that everything I'm passionate about in life requires an RN license (L&D, lactation consultant, Neonates), yet I don't feel like a true nursing school candidate and I certainly have reservations about making it through nursing school. I used to think I was too dumb, now I know it's a lack of determination and a lot of fear. I am fairly certain that I will be accepted to the BSN program I'm applying to in the near future (I was already accepted once, but declined). These schools think I have knowledge that I just don't have. I know you might be tempted to say that I know more than I think, but I really don't, I didn't truly learn the material. Could I possibly learn/re-learn the material as I go through nursing school? I keep running from this career but it keeps chasing me, and the thought of giving up on the dream breaks my heart. Just how much science do I need to know to start nursing school? My one saving grace is that my school requires physiological chemistry before you begin nursing courses, so if I really apply myself maybe that will give me that foundation I'm lacking. I don't even think I realized what nurses did until my mom was in the ICU recently. I had no knowledge of the nursing process, and in reality, I still don't. Maybe a kind soul out there could summarize that for me too?! In case I haven't sounded foolish enough, I'll really hit it out of the park now...I know I have the compassion and diligence to advocate for my patients and deliver care using nursing skills, but I don't know if I will have the basic knowledge to assess and diagnose. I fear that I just can't/won't grasp the intricate processes (Krebs cycle, anything related to chemistry, and on and on) to ever know what I'm doing. I used to think that being a nurse meant you provided care based on what someone else (MD, policies, etc.) told you to do. Thanks for taking time to read this, I appreciate it!
I am not a nursing student yet but I used to not enoy learning the material until I began digging in and really figuring the concepts out. I go to YouTube frequently and look at several different sources until I get it. I enjoy it now.
Also as for memorization I'll never forget what my ap1 professor, who has a doctorate in neuroscience and a veterinarian degree, said to my lab partner who tried to really analyze and digest the info. She told her medical is memorization, and whether we know it or not our brains are forming pathways that will make it easier to later recall by memorizing. In the pre reqs, it should be a lot of memorization and over time maybe it will make more sense. Don't beat yourself up over it.
As for dreams since childhood,I followed what I thought was my dream and it didn't work out. That doesn't mean it's true for everyone but sometimes our vision is different than reality.
Maybe job shadow a few different nurses or volunteer if you haven't. Good luck!
Thanks for being kind with your reply, I was afraid people would be brutal with me :) Years ago (maybe 2005) our health council had nurse shadowing. I shadowed for 9 straight hours in a busy L&D unit. I will never forget the experience. I hung out with the float nurse and I saw so much, and it confirmed my love of L&D. Seriously, one of the most memorable days of my life to this day. I was supposed to be there for about four hours, but she told me I could stay as long as I wanted (the time flew by). I witnessed several lady partsl births, a c-section, a catheter insertion in a mom in preparation for a very pre-term induction (I forget her diagnosis), as well as newborn assessments. It was a whirlwird of activity and it was exhilerating! What I do recall is that the float nurse was simply extra help, meaning I didn't get to see her work through the nursing process. We literally went from patient to patient non-stop. It left me confused, because I knew in my heart that I wanted to work in that area, but still didn't know what a nurse did exactly (and I wasn't any closer to knowing if I could do it as a career). Not long after that I shadowed for a few hours in the Level III NICU at that same hospital. I love the idea of working NICU, but I didn't have anywhere near the same excitement as I did after my L&D experience. I also volunteered in the Mother/Baby unit at another hospital, but spent the majority of my time answering the call lights, so not much exposure to the nurses at work. One time I walked past a room and the mom asked me to come in. She proceeded to ask me for breastfeeding advice, and it was the highlight of my time spend on that floor, even though I had to tell her that I couldn't help her and would get her nurse for her! I wish I wasn't so afraid of failing, I would just attempt it and at least have no regrets for a missed opportunity!! Thanks for your help :)
LDRPHOPEFUL
9 Posts
Thanks for being kind with your reply, I was afraid people would be brutal with me :) Years ago (maybe 2005) our health council had nurse shadowing. I shadowed for 9 straight hours in a busy L&D unit. I will never forget the experience. I hung out with the float nurse and I saw so much, and it confirmed my love of L&D. Seriously, one of the most memorable days of my life to this day. I was supposed to be there for about four hours, but she told me I could stay as long as I wanted (the time flew by). I witnessed several lady partsl births, a c-section, a catheter insertion in a mom in preparation for a very pre-term induction (I forget her diagnosis), as well as newborn assessments. It was a whirlwird of activity and it was exhilerating! What I do recall is that the float nurse was simply extra help, meaning I didn't get to see her work through the nursing process. We literally went from patient to patient non-stop. It left me confused, because I knew in my heart that I wanted to work in that area, but still didn't know what a nurse did exactly (and I wasn't any closer to knowing if I could do it as a career). Not long after that I shadowed for a few hours in the Level III NICU at that same hospital. I love the idea of working NICU, but I didn't have anywhere near the same excitement as I did after my L&D experience. I also volunteered in the Mother/Baby unit at another hospital, but spent the majority of my time answering the call lights, so not much exposure to the nurses at work. One time I walked past a room and the mom asked me to come in. She proceeded to ask me for breastfeeding advice, and it was the highlight of my time spend on that floor, even though I had to tell her that I couldn't help her and would get her nurse for her! I wish I wasn't so afraid of failing, I would just attempt it and at least have no regrets for a missed opportunity!! Thanks for your help :)