Is it normal to feel overwhelmed?

Corvette Guy · Jan 23, 2006

Guys I was just wondering if you think it's normal to feel overwhelmed the first year of nursing school? I really am enjoying my classes and did well my first semester. However, I get nervous when I think about the fact that I'll be an RN in a year and a half (it's a two year RN program). Sometimes I wonder if I'm where I'm supposed to be? Am I behind? Am I ahead? Am I supposed to know that yet? My clinical instructor says I did a great job in clinicals etc. I guess it's just weird to think I'll be an RN i.e. a professional responsible for people's lives and well being a year and a half from now. As a graduate nurse do you just get thrown into a job and have to "figure" it out or do you get a little nurturing those first few months on the job?

Too much pressure on yourself needlessly is wasted energy. Although, your concerns are very reasonable & typical. If you have at least a "B" average, and your doing fine in clinicals, then RELAX!

GNs should always have a period of orientation/preceptorship before flying solo. Again, don't worry about that right now, just concentrate on your nursing studies... and try to enjoy yourself.

:)

Thunderwolf, MSN, RN · Jan 23, 2006

Most excellent advice.

jdturner · Jan 24, 2006

hey man...i know exactly how you feel. I have been going to school for four and a half years and finally i am a senior in my last year of nursing school. I can still remember those exact feelings that you are having. Trust me-stick with it and take all the time you can to learn because the further you get, the more comfortable you get. In the end I feel that nursing is a good profession for me and I feel as though I will be good at it. Stay focused and be confident-you will get through it!

K98 · Jan 27, 2006

I felt the same way back at the beginning of nursing school. Graduation is in June of this year, and we are all in "survival mode" now.

RollingThunder · Jan 27, 2006

Damn straight I felt overwhelmed until my final semester and things just fell into place. I graduated in December 2005 and everyone that I graduated felt the same way. We actually felt like we knew less than when we were beginning our second semester, but we were wrong. Twenty-one have taken the NCLEX and 21 have passed (it only took three people more than the 75 questions). We all have lengthy orientations ahead of us at our new jobs. Remember that nursing school is really just jumping through hoops to get to that NCLEX and your real education begins when you go to work. Best of Luck.:)

AC439 · Jan 28, 2006

Yeah man, I felt the same way when I was in school. But, IMHO, I believe this is largely due to the traditional teaching style of nursing school - dump massive amount of information and let the students get as much as they can. So, my struggle was, without establishing a good foundation knowledge, it was hard to understand things at a higher level. Sometimes, I had to reference to few other resources to get to understand things better. No offence here but when I referred to other resources, I usually read those books written by a MD; they can always explain things better and in a way that I can understand. I found the nursing books mandated by my school was poorly written, lots of words but not straight to the point.

I may be the unlucky one but I was thrown into a job my 2nd day of work and pretty much figure things out on my own. Of course, when things go wrong, they started to point fingers.