LONELINESS while in nursing school

shupagirl · Jul 16, 2011

Hey you,

Hang in there. I moved out of state for nursing school too. I felt lonely in the beginning because I didn't know anyone, and I lived alone. Did you make any friends in class? Your close friends from home may feel distant or call you alot less since you are far away, and probably think you are busy due to school... Same thing happened to me and I felt terrible since I began to feel the same way.

Just know you went into nursing school with a purpose, and sometimes we do have to sacrifice few things in order to reach our goal.

Just remember in matter of time, you will be done, and next thing you know it, you will be back home and ready to begin your journey as a RN.

Make friends from school, I did... gradually, then you will feel less distant and lonely. Also, if you like, join a gym or take classes at gym (like yoga or aerobics)! I did, which made me feel stronger and better emotionally and physically. Take time off in between studies to enjoy doing things you like to do... that way you will not feel burnt out.

Keep your head up and what ever challenges you face, don't give up and keep working toward your goal. :yeah: G luck to you!

juliaann · Jul 16, 2011

I agree with the previous comment. The friends I've made in nursing school have been the best friends I've ever had. We spend so much time together working on projects and studying that we've really become friends, so we spend time outside of school together, too. I love that my program is a small class size and we're all together all the time. :)

Yiggs · Jul 16, 2011

I think this happen to most people who move away from home to go to college. If your friends stop calling you because you are not in a position to hang out, were they really friends or aqauintances. Friends stick with friends through thick or thin, and it is usually their pleasure to be there to support you when you are 'going through stuff." I would advise you to scout out people in your classes who have similar interest to you and try to make a couple of new friends. Guess what? they may be feeling the same way you are feeling now! Think about the light at the end of the tunnel; it will be over before you know it. Join the gymn and other clubs that the college has; also, the colleges usually have events that are fun and that you can attend for free and meet people with similar interest. All the best. Yiggs.

NayD_RN · Jul 16, 2011

Oh tell me about it!! I know how it feels, you do have to sacrifice alot but it definitely pays off.. I just finished school, took my nclex last week, still havent started applying for jobs because I need to work on my resume and I needed a lil break after all the hard work..Like me, you'll probably still have some friends after you graduate Lol Try to take it easy...there needs to be a balance. Had I been aware that 'Confidence' was really what was going to get me through nursing school(along with knowledge, of course), I'd have been able to cut my study time in half so I could have a near normal life Lol..you'll make a lot of friends at work, that's what I'm hoping for myself. Good luck!!

cincin1222 · Jul 16, 2011

Thanks all for all the encouragement, but my other problem is the depression stage can someone tell me the best way to deal with that because I'm having a big issue with it right now, I can't even eat when I feel down I'm trying to tough it out but day by day it's getting stronger and stronger..... please advise

Armygirl7 · Jul 16, 2011

Yeah try to reach out to someone you like in your class - they will understand and be in the same boat - meeting for a drink means coffee!! A big night is a night spent on the couch in pajamas watching a video and not having to pick up a nursing book for a couple hours!

You're in a unique situation right now - and nursing school definitely takes over your life - but also it is important to re-charge your batteries - I needed a god routine of exercise (even if it was a minimum 30 minute walk around the neighborhood) and a good diet - lots of fruits and veg - to avoid feeling low and miserable.

Hang in there - and remember it's never a bad idea to talk to health services at your school or get some of that free school counseling to help you with this time...nursing school is stressful and becoming a nurse changes your life - changing your life is wonderful but isn't easy!

Good luck!

subee, MSN, CRNA · Jul 16, 2011

See a mental health professional at your student center. It's usually free for students and may help turning things around. I don't think I could have graduated without my therapist.

Zombi RN · Jul 16, 2011

subee's advice to see your school's mental health services is a sound one. There's no shame in it! Take advantage of whatever services are available to you! (:

shupagirl · Jul 16, 2011

Our school offered mental counseling and therapy for students. You can probably get referral to see a therapist/psychiatrist if needed. Talking it out helps tremendously whether it be to a healthcare provider or even a friend you make in class. Don't feel like you are alone, there is people you can reach out to who will help you get through! :redbeathe

mrzgirl · Jul 16, 2011

Thanks all for all the encouragement, but my other problem is the depression stage can someone tell me the best way to deal with that because I'm having a big issue with it right now, I can't even eat when I feel down I'm trying to tough it out but day by day it's getting stronger and stronger..... please advise

Seeing your school's counselor isn't always an easy step, but it will be worth it. It's easy to get into the "study study study" slump in nursing school because it is so overwhelming! You may want to consider making some simple changes in your daily routine. Change your study environment every now and again; if it's nice outside, go outside and bask in the sunshine with the books. Make time for a balanced diet, exercise, and plenty of sleep - believe it or not, those 3 simple things can have an affect on your mental health. Behavioral changes like these also alter the neurotransmitter balance in the brain to help you "feel" good. Do you talk to anyone in your class at all? Ask if they would like to have a study group once a week or so. Better yet, find some people that want to get together for pizza, ice cream, and, er, yelling-about-the-teachers-session once a week (it's a great stress reliever!). At the end of the semester/quarter, get together with classmates and go out for lunch to celebrate surviving those classes.

When you're feeling depressed, you'll have to push yourself to get out there and make those connections, but once you do, you'll start to feel less lonely (I'm speaking from experience on that point). Hang in there! :nurse:

carolmaccas66, BSN, RN · Jul 18, 2011

You are making yourself socially isolated. I did this to a certain extent when in NS but I chose to do it, as I didn't want interruptions with my intense study program, plus I've lived alone for many years and am used to it.

Try to make contact with others in your class. Are you external or internal? Also look at doing some volunteer work - a few hours a day can make a difference if ur lonely. I've done this in the past - I volunteered at a school - and it was fantastic.

Start a thread for ur area to get people to meet for coffee. Though this hasn't worked for me in the past (everyone seems too busy once they start work as a RN, juggling families & other responsibilities), you could start a new trend.

And BTW, if ur so called 'friends' stop calling u just cos u can't go anywhere, they ARE NOT ur 'friends'. True friends would not abandon you for anything. I had so called 'friends' like this, who always thought of life in materialistic terms - guess what? I don't contact those people anymore and I must say my life is the better for it! I don't worry about those shallow, materialistic persons now. Let them get into credit card debt and be miserable (all of them were anyway unless they could spend money) - that's why the world is in such a mess right now. I do not live on credit - ever - and I'm better off for it.

There are many free things to do. I used to cut out vouchers from my local paper (u can get them online now), for free stuff. You can go window shopping, rent free DVDs from ur local library, can you afford a coffee at least? Some coffee places give you a 2nd coffee free or half price if you buy the first. Walking & getting fit with a friend doesn't cost anything either, plus you can catch up on gossip! I used to (still do) go op shopping when they had half-price days on.

Can you not try to work 1 or 2 days a week, even at night? This will help you out socially as well.