I'm scared

First of all, you have to stop with the negative attitude! Just because your not scoring 100% doesn't make you "slow". As long as you do your best to understand the material (this includes getting help if needed either from your instructor or a tutor) and keep an attitude that you CAN do this then you should be fine! What concerns me after reading your post is your lack of confidence - without that you are defeated before you start!

hi sckooshy! im a fresh board passer of june 2007 and now on my 1st job as a nurse..still on my 1st month..i never planned to take nursing before because im better with math but i still made it through oltho my grades were not impressive..and now that im working in the real field of nursing..it is scarier from the "school days" where clinical instructors were still on my side..my tip is for you to conquer your fears..as early as now, volunteer to do procedures during area duties..experience is the best teacher..keep in my mind you have your CI on your side..study hard and have faith

And I feel stupid. I am a student and just taking Chemistry right now. It is so difficult for me and I get anxiety about it all. I really want to become a nurse and feel that I might do better in Biology (if I ever get there), but I feel like everyone is smarter than me, and no matter how much I want to be a nurse, I feel like I am just fooling myself... that I'll never be able to pass the classes because I'm slower and stupider than the rest of the world. Did anybody feel like this? Any slower moving people out there who still made it though?

I had a tough time with chem as well. Just take your time, study often and take advantage of on campus tutoring. You can do this!!

Blee

We all feel like dorks from time to time when we're in school. I remember showing up for clinicals and chemistry labs and people just went about their business while I stood around "duh......how did you know what to do? Did I miss something?".

Somehow we all get through those times and make it.

I guarantee one thing and that's if you don't change your self-talk you're going to become paralyzed by your irrational fears and fail. Guaranteed that you will have a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Change your thinking and change your life. You can do this. You made it this far. You have the brains, the discipline and the willpower to make it through one day at a time, doing what you have to do to succeed. Go out there and do it!

I often feel exactly how you feel that I am "stupider" than everyone else.

I ended up getting a 'D' in chem, and had to take the class over again, I chose a different teacher, .... same book, same material... and the second time I applied myself, and got an 'A'

I was not accepted to the nursing school of my choice (the one closest to home), but I did end up going to a school at least 1 hour drive away from home, but I did it, I studied hard and made it to be an RN

Even now that I am a new grad nurse I feel that other nurses are smarter than me....... idk why but I always feel like that.

I tell myself that I am smart.... but my feelings never seem to change.

My preceptor told me that i should not have a problem being on my own because I am a "quick learner"...... but to me, I am not a quick learner. I passed my boards with 75Q....... I always get 100% in my CPR tests........

But regardless, you will do it and make it as an RN, I think that if other people can, then anyone can.

there was this airhead in my class, that would always ask the dumbest questions. One time at the end of the program, the instructor was telling us about the "bibliography" of the project, and she asked "does anyone know what a bibliography is? " and the airhead answered "yes! that is when you write something about yourself!" she said it very loudly and everyone laughed including me. because it was so funny.

she took boards before me, so when I found out that she passed. then I said to myself "If that airhead can do it, then so can I"

and I did!!

I don''t like to compete with others or compare myself with others, but when I think of that classmate, I think that I am smart!!

so think high of yourself. not everything is easy. and BTW chem is not needed when you become an RN, you need to know what the meds are for and a little of how they work in the body, but not as detailed how chem class is.

so hang in there, and tell yourself that you can do it.

All I can say is think positive, study well, get a tutor for your chemistry. Chemistry is a HARD subject for most of us. It was for me and it made me doubt my worth too. But a tutor helped me tremendously. I passed the class. You can too. When I got to the biology classes, I loved them and got great grades.

Just keep moving ahead one day at a time. Visualize success daily. You can do it!

GO PATTY:yeah:

Why not just get a tutor. Doesn't your school offer free tutoring? So you have to work harder to get chemistry. Don't give up. I don't think being stupid is the case. You can do it!!!

I'm mentally retarded when it comes to chemistry. I can't even grasp simple concepts and formulas, so don't feel bad. What I did was hire a tutor and I made a B in the course, but the only reason I did that was because the teacher lowered his grading standards quite a bit.

I am ashamed to admit it but that's the way it is', so don't feel bad. I felt like such a loser but I still earned the title of RN and you can do it, too!

If you keep telling yourself your stupid, you are going to start believing that you are. You have to learn to build confidence and tell yourself, if anyone human being can do, so can you. I am not from this country. When I came here, I did not speak English. Every subject was difficult for me. Look at me now, 4th semester of nursing and doing well. I am a member of the honor society. If I can do it, so can you. I did well in Chemistry. I convinced myself that I have the mind of Christ and can do all things. So far in nursing school, the lowest grade I received was a B last semester.

Chemistry was short term memory to me. You won't need all that they teach you for bedside care. You will learn your basics all over again as you nurse. We focus on basics of eletrolytes and gases probably more than anything. So take a deep breath. You won't need to carry the chemistry with you to your career and just passing will do you just fine.

As far as nursing. Don't stress over 100% on your grades. Focus on learning your anatomy and systems. Understanding those will give you enough common sense to answer a question based on what you feel is the right answer and not by memorizing anything they teach you. Don't try to do any memorization. Instead try to understand. Focus on basics of medical terminology because a medical term will also help you to decide what system or disease you are dealing with which will also help you pick a common sense answer. Forget memory and focus on understanding.

Most of what they teach you will not be supplied in a test in a way that memory or "flash card" type learning will work.

Stress and concern is part of nursing. Work at it now. Relax. Take a deep breath and remember the worst thing that can happen is that you do not pass a test or this course. If that is what is meant to be then you will deal with it. When I got my school peers to understand that and relax they did better on their tests. I graduated with honors. I can tell you that the best thing I did for myself was not stress about the fact that I might not pass because I would have had to deal with that when that time came. Instead I focused on understanding things. Don't waste time taking notes and trying to write everything in class. If you feel lost on something, make yourself a simple note that you will go home and research in privacy and quiet. Do not worry that you are missing it in lecture. Spend more time listening and less time writing. You will be surprised at what you learn.

Join study groups. Talking about your lessons will help you learn and you will impress yourself with what you know.

Relax. I had some friends that didn't make it the first year but passed the second. That may be the worse thing you face but it won't be all that bad if you really want to be a nurse.

Hope this helps.

Also, part time work as a tech will help you with your fears and knowledge. Even if it's just a couple days or so a month.

Thank you so much! These replies have been very helpful! I feel better after reading them. It really helps to know that others felt this way and had difficulty and still did it! Thanks for the encouragement! I need it all the time. I do need to try to be easier on myself mentally, but study harder too.