I need to vent out, Please give me your advice..

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I first want to just thank anyone who is taking the time to read this. I have not really spoken about what I am about to write with family or friends because of the fear they will not understand. So here I go..

I am entering my community colleges Nursing program in JAN 2012. I am stuck currently working part-time at Costco working 24 hours a week (split over 5 days) i told them the other day that I am being called for nursing and my availability will be changing. they said ok but did not seem trilled about it. I explained that this fall semester i will be finishing up Microbiology and medical term before the spring semester. i go to school Mon, Wed, and Thursday. Monday is 10-11:15, Wednesday all day, and thursday 830-11:15. I am the type of student that can work during school but not a lot of hours because it takes me awhile to study. I am afraid that when Jan comes around i might not be able to handle even working part-time and do nursing school. I know some can, but also some cant. My fiance i do not think understands this and feels i will have 3-4 days to work and study the rest or when I get home.

I also suffer from anxiety and tried zoloft but felt it wasn't working. I had this for years but it is not out of control, i just get nervous when i go out to sometimes because the fear i will need to use the bathroom. This goes the same for when i go to class, work, or out one night. I feel when i enter nursing school, i am going to suffer with this and it will affect my learning. I also am scared that my confidence level is not high and when calculating drugs it will hinder me and i will mess up. I am also a terrible speller and can not pronounce big words.

I know this must sound all crazy but its what i feel. I live with my fiance and we pay rent, plus i have some bills to pay each month. so i know i have to work. As for the anxiety i want to know if anyone else has suffered through nursing school with it, does it get better? I know i can get through nursing school with hard work and i am willing to do it, and i always wanted to be a nurse but was afraid of giving meds, and having someones life in my hands.

I felt kinda like this when i started college 3 years ago. I felt i would not make it through AP I, AP 2, and all my other pre-reqs, but i received A's and B's in most of them, especially the 2 science courses. I held a 3.2 gpa which i never thought i would have in college, since HS I was a 70's student. Because of the wait and all that i mentioned about above, i had the chance to enter the nursing program back in Jan 2011 but decided switching to Radiology because of the fear factor, but always kept thinking about Nursing and having that RN at the end of my name. I kept going back and fourth back and fourth for most of the 3 years but i think finally said enough and this is what i want to do, boy im sure my school health science office must think im crazy! i tried entering for the Fall 2011 semester but the program is full, and they will invite me in in Jan.

I know this is all a lot and might not make perfect sense, but please give me any advice or experiences you guys may have, i could really use it!!

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I too am hopefully going to start in January, and I will be starting work full time in a week..... this will be a bit of an issue when January comes around. I will try to work it out with my job to work part time or a few days a week and see if that is manageable. If I find that it is too hard to balance the two, I will leave the job and focus on school because I am not taking out loans only to fail out of the program. Working a few days a week will probably not be that big of an issue, just don't dwell on it and get all stressed out about it. Cross that bridge when you come to it.

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Hi icu123!

I know it seems overwhelming right now but if nursing is truly what you want to do then nothing should stop you from achieving it. Some schools have contracts with hospitals to allow nursing students to work as nursing assistants and are flexible with their school schedules. The school I went to was similar to this. If that is something you are interested in. I think a lot of it has to do with time management skills. Nursing school helps you improve on those skills because without them it can be very difficult. A few of my classmates held two jobs to help pay for school and with good time management skills did just fine. I hope this helps and I wish you all the best. It truly is rewarding when you can call yourself an RN and know you are making a difference.

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Specializes in CNA Long Term Care.

I have anxiety too! I take Lexapro. It helps a lot and helps me concentrate better in class. As far as spelling and things like that a medical terminology class should help a great deal with that. And a lot of people will not understand not being able to work a lot or at all. Some just dont get that school can be a struggle for others. Most programs suggest you not work at all during school. Just try to explain that to your fiance. To get through nursing school you definitely need someone who can stick it out with you and be supportive even if they dont fully understand what you are going through. Hang in there! Youll do great!!!! :)

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Get the anxiety problem under control before you start. Nursing school increases it, not decreases it. We can't offer medical advice here. You need to see your physician.

Your entire post sounds like anxiety getting the best of you. Seek out treatment.

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Have you though about working as a CNA through school? It would give you great experience! I am currently working as CNA in hospital on a med/surg floor and I know it will help me immensely when I start school on Thursday. At least I feel like it will.

If you are working in a healthcare related field, they might work with you better than a non-health related field when it comes time to start nursing school. You could still work part time by working 2 12's instead of having part time hours spread over such a long period of time like at your current job. You would also have the option for working nights.

If you do not have CNA certification you might want to look into taking a class. They are usually inexpensive and do not take very long to complete.

Good luck and I wish you the best. :)

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Specializes in CNA/LPN.

Try your best to find a solution to your anxiety. You have from now until January to save money. Try to save what little you can save and see where that takes you. Maybe you guys could get a roommate? Maybe he could provide for the household/bills while you work towards your degree? After all, it's temporary, it's not like you would never work again. :) I understand how he isn't grasping the concept - my boyfriend isn't seeing the whole picture either...sometimes it's hard to make them see how demanding the nursing program is...but they need to open their eyes and see what we're trying to accomplish and conquer here. If we have significant others, we need their support through this, or it most likely will damage the relationship!

I'm going to give you advice on what I've experienced, and that's the entire job stress your going through right now. Actually, my last day at my job is this Sunday. I quit to focus solely on my last semester of pre-reqs - my job also wasn't thrilled with my request in decreased hours and I actually had co-workers that were jealous of me going towards NS, believe it or not. They went, but 10 years later, they still haven't finished and have quit going...so they wanted to try to crush my spirits. I began getting crap from people ever since I put SCHOOL first. I had no choice, but to quit. They made me miserable.

Our situation is slightly different though - I still live at home, my only obligations are gas, car insurance, and my cat! I've managed to put together enough savings to last me until I get my CNA License - then I can work in TLC on weekends through NS, making at least SOMETHING. You know?

There is a light at the end of this tunnel. You've just got to find out what it is you truly want to do and what is best for you. I'm certainly not one that can work and take on NS at the same time - but I praise those who can! I'm just not one of them. You're just like I was. I was stressing out about quitting my job, months back. I kept going back and forth with my decision. I gave myself headaches! I just had to take the plunge and whatever happens, happens!

Before I went into work this morning, I set in my car for a good 10 minutes, talking myself down. I had an anxiety attack coming on. It wasn't because I was quitting...it was because I was still WORKING there and the way they run my department...I knew I couldn't take many more days, so I had to decide 100% today. They were not going to work with my schooling, they were going to continue to leave me with a heavy workload. I fear my grades were going to reflect all of that.

You'll come face to face with a choice, and I have a quote for you! Maybe it'll make you feel a sense of relief as it did me.

"I've been thinking a lot lately about taking chances. And how it's really just about overcoming your fears. Because the truth is, every time you take a big risk in your life, no matter how it ends up, you're always glad you took it."

I have this as my signature now, and just changed it last night - because honestly, I love quotes...and this is what sealed the deal on my decision. It's hard to quit a job - but sometimes you have to take that fall, in order to gain that one inch closer your dream! Not to mention, I 100% agree with the CNA Certification! Pretty inexpensive, not too long to complete, and the experience is unbelievable. They will much more be willing to work with you, rather than the way a non-healthcare related job would!

Sorry, this post turned out to be horribly long, but I relate to you and hope I was able to make you feel some sort of comfort. Keep your head up.

Good luck! Message me if you ever need/want to talk! :)

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Specializes in Leadership, Psych, HomeCare, Amb. Care.

If the Zoloft isn't working, try something else; preferably someone expert in the treatment of anxiety disorders.

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