Is there such a thing as postgrad depression syndrome?

[I RN A]

Tonight is my pinning ceremony. I've graduated the nursing school. I wanted to graduate so bad!!! So, here I'm. I love nursing and can't imagine myself doing something else. I've done my BSN in 2 years and I know I will have a job soon, since our cohort is under a contract with a hospital,which sponsored our clinical insructors for our clinicals. These 2 years were hard and I should feel happy and rewarded, but I don't. I feel alone, depressed and scarred. I feel like a woman with postpartum depression. I don't have a big family or close friends. I wanted to share my accomplishment with everyone I know, but feel as no one cares.

[Quilter0225]

What you are feeling is so normal! Another facet to this for me is going from being an expert to a newbie again. At the end of nursing school I was an expert at what I was doing. My GPA was a 3.71, other students would ask me for help studying, etc. Now I know so little, and I'm not good at what I do yet. I'm anal, and I like to be very good at what I do, so it is hard for me. I miss my school mates, too. We all went in different directions. I am nearly the only one who calls people, so we have really lost touch. My first job didn't work out, so after 5 months I am about to start a new job in a new specialty and will be a total newbie again. I know they tried to prepare us for this transition in nursing school, but it is still a shock. I am trying to be gentle with myself, give myself permission to make some mistakes, and focus on the positive. I think it will just take time. Good luck to you!