I don't think I'm smart enough for the nursing program

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Hi everyone! I've been having some issues lately. Growing up I was not the smartest or most outgoing. When I was in elementary school I was pretty smart but after middle school everything just fell off. I started getting bullied and lost 90% of the confidence I had. When I made it to college I flunked a lot of classes. Although the high school I went to didn't prepare us for anything outside of school I still felt like an idiot. So now I'm here. I worked hard to get into the LPN program. I made all A's and B's and did my best to try to be more confident. Since I've been in this program though that has changed. I've been making D's on every test save one or two. And I always feel down and stupid. Everyone else in my class are making A's and B's. While I'm making D's.I envy them.I feel like an idiot for studying and still feeling like I don't know anything, especially in pharmacology. I've never been a wiz at math but the last test we had,I literally had to sit there and pray I didn't cry in front of everyone cause I truly did not know what I was doing on that test. Granted I probably need to study more but I've tried that.all I could get was a 76 or 77. This is mostly a rant because nobody understands how I feel. They always say oh it's not that bad. You can do it. You're smart enough for this. If I van do it so can you. But how do they know that? Because it is bad. I've been very depressed. I try not to talk about it so I don't bring any one's mood down. But lord knows this has taken a toll on me mentally. I love clinical though. I love working with the patients and I wish I could do that instead of class. I know I want to do this but where do I get my motivation from? I feel so alone in this. Like I'm a failure. I don't know what to do from here. If I fail anything else I won't make it and will have to sit out for a year. And I'll just be another person who couldn't make it. I have four classes. Two of which I'm failing. Nursing fundamentals with a 65 and pharmacology with probably an F after that last test. I really don't know what I'm going to do at this point. My depression has caused my to sit and sulk and study somewhat but not much. It's almost like I know I'm going to fail. But I still hope for some kinda change. I'm tired of feeling like this and feeling like I have no one to stand by me. Everyone has everything going on. I know I shouldn't rely on others for anything. Especially motivation. But I do. It helps me. Cause I have a hard time motivating myself. I'm trying not to cry now while typing this. Thank you to anyone who reads this. I hope I get some replies. Maybe someone can tell me something to give me the motivation for myself so that I can get out of this.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

Are you getting some counseling? I think you need some help. Do you have a counselor or tutor at the school to help guide you through your academic problems? Such a person could probably help you study more effectively and improve your grades. That would help you succeed and feel better about yourself.

It also sounds as if you need some help with your depression. Please talk to health care provider or seek help from a counseling center of some kind. Getting help for your depression would not only help you feel better, it would probably improve your ability to do well in school.

So you see ... getting either kind of help would improve both aspects of your situation, your academic woes and your depression. Do don't delay. Get some help now. And if that means you have to take a break from school to get your emotional state back on track, that's OK. You want to give yourself the best chance possible to succeed -- and you are not doing that by wallowing in depression.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Maybe someone can tell me something to give me the motivation for myself so that I can get out of this.
I think this issue reaches far beyond the topic of motivation. After all, you cannot motivate a truly depressed person by telling them to "cheer up" or "snap out of it."

This is a self-fulfilling prophecy. You think you are not smart enough; therefore, you are performing as if you are not smart enough. I think some counseling might be warranted. Good luck to you.

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Specializes in ICU.

OP, this is a depression problem. YOU are depressed. This is not something that can be blamed on other people or situations. You need to realize YOU need counseling or a doctor now.

I'm saying that as a wake up call to you. As long as you continue to blame other people, you won't get the help that you need. There are many of us out there that have suffered from depression currently or in the past. I am one. I had severe depression for many years.

But I needed to realize tha I needed help and I needed to take care of myself. If I didn't, I wouldn't be where I am now. I did therapy and medications. I do a lot of things now and I no longer need meds. But only I was responsible for getting myself help, just as you can only help yourself.

If you won't fight for you, who will?

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Specializes in Allergy/ENT, Occ Health, LTC/Skilled.

You need to change the way you talk to yourself and the way you studied. I graduated high school with a 2 point something, so no genius here right? I just started my RN bridge program this month, I had a 3.96 science and pre-req GPA. I aced every single pre-req I took, including stats and chem, all subjects I would have failed before. I didn't gain IQ points, I changed my strategy. First, I had to find my learning style. After all those frustrating years in high school I didn't understand squat really amounted to my inept studying skills. Once I understood that I didn't need to memorize but I needed to understand the big picture and work down to the smaller concepts, everything started clicking, seriously. Its like the light bulb went off that made my brain work. I also have to be able to "teach it" to someone else in order to fully comprehend it. This took the form of explaining concepts to my dog and infant lol! I play to the strengths I have always had which is actually memorization but I use it wisely now. I do not memorize concepts, I memorize mnemonics to trigger memory and lab values to help me eliminate answers on questions I may not full know the answer. I also realized, I have to study, like a lot. I need repetition and reinforcement. I no longer spend a lot of study time on concepts that are common sense to me for example nurse/client relations and communication. Lastly, you have got to stop talking to yourself in the negative way you are in your post. Ask yourself, have you given it 100% effort, truely? My guess is no. If you can answer that and know you gave it all you had and are still failing then you know nursing isn't for you. I always thought I was not smart enough, turns out I just wasn't working hard enough. I had to fake confidence in school until I actually had it because downing myself just made it worse. Good luck to you!!

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Specializes in Allergy/ENT, Occ Health, LTC/Skilled.

Oh and one more tip, do not let anything get in your way if you truly want this. I used to give up so easily. But not now, I have three small kids, a husband, and up until last year worked FT but I didn't let those things become barriers. I've had to give up a lot for this but its worth it to me so it doesn't ever feel like I'm sacrificing anything (well other than spending quality time with my babies, which is very hard) kwim?

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Thank you so much. I have no idea where to start with help cause in all honestly I don't like asking. I know I have a depression problem it would feel weird talking to someone about it.

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Thank you!

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I appreciate everything you all have said. Truly. Thank you.

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