Do you think that making friends in your classes is important? Do you think it gives you an "edge" over those who do not make friends in class? What are the advantages/disadvantages (if any)?
I have never really sought out friendships in college. I've just focused on the class and studied alone (unless I had a friend from outside of school who was also taking the class, which has happened). I have been sort of jumping around in college, first pursuing dental hygiene, then computer science, now pre-nursing. Is the need to develop relationships in class greater in nursing school than in other classes? In dental hygiene, I had many of my classes with the same people but still never really formed any friendships. I don't think it affected my success in any way and did not contribute to my choice to pursue something different.
Even though I'm pre-nursing, I posted in this section because I want to hear from those of you who are already in nursing school.
There are a few people that I really like in my nursing program, but I doubt we will stay close after graduation. I have a few very close friends that I've had for years before I ever started the nursing program, and to be honest, I didn't go to nursing school to make new friends.
I mostly just keep my head down, do my own work, and try to be friendly and respectful to everyone else.
Study groups and review sessions may help some people, but they've never really helped me.
I think making friends is extremely important. The friends I made in nursing school will be friends for a lifetime. While in school, though, they provided a way to destress from nursing school, which is very demanding and therefore stressful. Also they provide another great resource for questions. We all have strengths and weaknesses and who better than a friend to help you with your weaknesses?
I think that making friends was the best thing! Im in Ireland and when we start nursing school, the majority of us are straight out of high school and are aged between 17-19. So our case my be a little different to those that are older. When I started in first year I made some great friends, my best friends and I hope to be friends with them for life, of course we will go our separate ways but I can't imagine ever losing contact with them. We share notes and help each other study, say Im having difficulty with anatomy, my friend would help me but if she is finding pharmacology hard, I'd help her. We want each other to pass exams so that we will stay in college together. We go on nights out together and on those nights out we even share clothes sometimes and we do each others hair and make up. We talk about boys and we are there for each other when break ups happen. We are there for each other through the simple things such as my friend getting caught out and needing a tampon to another friend being petrifed that shes pregnant and wants me to go with her to get a pregnancy test. With regards to actual nursing school though clinicals are tough, hopefully your parents or partner or family will be there to support you and help you but they don't know exactly what your going through . Like when a patient passes away, or you give your first injection or you get told off or (like me didnt know what DNR was and was practically in shock when the RN explained it to me) Your nursing friends do though, they know what your going through because they are going through it too and you can help each other through and cry on each others shoulders and laugh too! and get excited by things like the first time you give an injection or do vitals and its their first time too and ye can be happy together! Making friends shouldn't be about having an edge or listing pros and cons, it should be about making yourself happy and having a support group where you support them too and make them happy! I think my life in nursing school would be very miserable without my friends
I'm an older, second degree, non-traditional student and went in with the attitude that I didn't need friends, even though I'm alone and far away from my family and friends and boyfriend. I don't make friends easily.
I can honestly say I wouldn't have made it through my program without my classmates. It's a small group- just 14 of us- in an extremely intensive program. I find it hard to make friends, but everyone's in the same boat- scared & stressed. I've texted every single one of my classmates at one a.m. with some sort of freak out (and they've done the same in return)- and they've responded with sympathy, help and no judgement.
I'm sure I get on their nerves like they get on mine at times, but you'll never be able to call your non-nursing school friends at 2 a.m. with a dosage calculation question, or commiserate with them the week before you have to take an ATI.
In nursing school, you'll find friends in the unlikeliness of places. Some girls I'd never have fit in with in my first degree are now my closest friends. Don't worry about it and don't try too hard. When you're in clinical together and have to do you first postmortem care together, or give a bed bath for the first time, or take care of your first c-diff patient, you'll all become part of a special sisterhood/sorority together.
Nothing wrong with being friendly. But the truth is that I've seen friendships come and go throughout my program, mine included. I've mainly hung out with whoever I have clinicals with and don't tend to get attached to anyone. I had an awesome study partner/friend who failed and had to repeat our third semester, so she's graduating with the class behind. I didn't connect with anyone as well as her.
If the time is right, I'll talk to anyone and am extremely helpful. If I see a classmate out in public, I'll say hi if they're looking my way. However, I don't try to get in face time with every single person in my class while I'm in class with them for 3 hours. I do have friends outside of the program that support me and understand rigorous academic programs. I think a support system is necessary regardless of the source.
I was friendly with everyone in my small class (44) but made some close friendships with about 5 girls in my class. We studied together, worked on projects together, car pooled, were emotional support, ect...I am still friends with these girls and we get together every few months. One that I am closest with, we have even gone on trips together since graduating over 2 years ago; one trip which involved going to see one of our other nursing school friend who got a job out of town. Nursing school can be so stressful, I can not imagine going through it without a friend that knows just what you are going through. They saw me cry and I saw them cry and we each gave one another support and encouragement. I do not see any disadvantage to making friends in nursing school; unless you make them with the wrong kind of person.
I think having a small group of friends that you can depend on and turn to is important because nursing school is tough. Sometimes its nice to have a group of people that understand what you're going through because I went through an accelerated program and let me tell you without my friends to lean on, I don't know if I could emotionally make it out. And til its day, my nursing friends are the people who I continue to keep in contact with because I've grown very close to them. Also I had a great study partner when I was studying for NCLEX, and we pushed each other to do well. And guess what we both passed on our first time :)
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ErinRN2B
315 Posts
There are a few people that I really like in my nursing program, but I doubt we will stay close after graduation. I have a few very close friends that I've had for years before I ever started the nursing program, and to be honest, I didn't go to nursing school to make new friends.
I mostly just keep my head down, do my own work, and try to be friendly and respectful to everyone else.
Study groups and review sessions may help some people, but they've never really helped me.