Making Friends in Nursing School

LVAD RN · Dec 8, 2008

Hello Anewday, I know exactly how you feel. When I started nsg felt the same way but with time it chnages. There are a few things to remember:

1. First nsg class people are trying to know each other and if they did not know you before you can feel like an outsider.

2. It is all new so people may not be sure about how they feel about themself or others

3. Things start changing around sophomore year.

4. Be open to new friends

5. Try to meet someone you would never talk to (sounds crazy but you can learn so much)

6. Do not try too hard

I had it hard because people were married, had kids, and I am from a different country so I felt no connection with anyone and I would often say, "I have nothing in common with them". I would leave school right after class because I felt left out.

GOOD NEWS...it changes once you get into different clinical areas and you may have some of the the same students in your clinical rotations so a bond starts to form. I am a senior now and when I started hated my class. Now? I cannot see myself without my classmates or the trade the deep friendships I have made. The friendships are so strong that tomorrow I am having some of my classmates over for dinner.

It will be better I promise :) It is so good that most of us are trying to get jobs in the same hospitals. Good luck

Jules A, MSN · Dec 8, 2008

It wasn't until the last semester of LPN school that I became good friends with two gals that I stay in touch with and in RN school I made 1 friend. Give it some time. :)

anewday · Dec 8, 2008

Hello Anewday, I know exactly how you feel. When I started nsg felt the same way but with time it chnages. There are a few things to remember:
1. First nsg class people are trying to know each other and if they did not know you before you can feel like an outsider.
2. It is all new so people may not be sure about how they feel about themself or others
3. Things start changing around sophomore year.
4. Be open to new friends
5. Try to meet someone you would never talk to (sounds crazy but you can learn so much)
6. Do not try too hard
I had it hard because people were married, had kids, and I am from a different country so I felt no connection with anyone and I would often say, "I have nothing in common with them". I would leave school right after class because I felt left out.
GOOD NEWS...it changes once you get into different clinical areas and you may have some of the the same students in your clinical rotations so a bond starts to form. I am a senior now and when I started hated my class. Now? I cannot see myself without my classmates or the trade the deep friendships I have made. The friendships are so strong that tomorrow I am having some of my classmates over for dinner.
It will be better I promise :) It is so good that most of us are trying to get jobs in the same hospitals. Good luck

Thank you...great advice! I am definitely going to make some changes next semester. I too have been guilty of leaving school right after class let out. I am going to try number 4 & 5, by making the effort to reach out to others that aren't in my clinical group.

May2009 · Dec 8, 2008

It wasn't until the last semester of LPN school that I became good friends with two gals that I stay in touch with and in RN school I made 1 friend. Give it some time. :)

I agree with Jules, give it some time. When I first started the program I stayed to myself with no intention to get a personal friend out of any of the students. I was there for one reason only ...so I thought!!!!! But as I progressed in the program I noticed that in nursing you need teamwork...the same applies to nursing school...you all will grow closer as the road gets tough! As far as really "close friends"or "Best friends" I have made one...its a funny story to me now. She is our class V President and she would always invite me to come to her study group...everytime I would make up any excuse and never go. One day she asked me and I finally said sure :-) I never thought the days we spent studying at the library would turn into all the things it has...now she is my "big sister". We have had the closest relationship possible for two years...it feels like 10!! :loveya:

donsterRN, ASN, BSN · Dec 8, 2008

Are any of you making good friends in nursing school? Most of my class is either way older than me with family's and kids or way younger, so that I don't have much in common with them. There are only a few around my age group that I seem to have some things in common with but they aren't in my clinical group, so I don't really see them that much. I was hoping to make some good friends in NS but it's not working out the way I thought it would. Anybody experience this? If you made good friends while in NS, do you still keep in touch with them? Did you find that you made good friends after graduation on the job? This really sucks and it's only the end of my first semester. I hope it gets better.

Don't discount us older people!

At 51, I recently discovered that I am the oldest in my class. I have a fiarly tight circle of friends whose youngest member is 22, I think. I never would have sought out that friendship if we hadn't had the shared bonds of nursing school. In fact, the friendships I've received is something I never would have expected at my age or this stage in my life, and I am grateful for every single one of them. I hope the same is true for you.

Continued success and luck in school!

lovehospital · Dec 8, 2008

There are no friends in nursing school,be very careful,your closest friend can turn into your worst enemy in crisis time.

Why would you even want to do that?

You just met these people,let it stay that way.

Hang out with your friends outside school.

Trust me,done that and learned my lesson.

donsterRN, ASN, BSN · Dec 8, 2008

There are no friends in nursing school,be very careful,your closest friend can turn into your worst enemy in crisis time.
Why would you even want to do that?
You just met these people,let it stay that way.
Hang out with your friends outside school.
Trust me,done that and learned my lesson.

Perhaps there are no friends in YOUR school, but that isn't the case with me. I'm sorry that you've "done that and learned my lesson". I think that's sad.

But certainly, it's reasonable to assume that one can make friends with others based on shared experiences and circumstances, such as those found in nursing school. If nothing else, I find the intensity of the experiences to be a great facilitator in establishing bonds and making friends. I think there's a lot of reward in that, and I hope you (and the OP!) remain open to the possibilities.

Best wishes!

UjonesRN · Dec 9, 2008

I agree with Jules, give it some time. When I first started the program I stayed to myself with no intention to get a personal friend out of any of the students. I was there for one reason only ...so I thought!!!!! But as I progressed in the program I noticed that in nursing you need teamwork...the same applies to nursing school...you all will grow closer as the road gets tough! As far as really "close friends"or "Best friends" I have made one...its a funny story to me now. She is our class V President and she would always invite me to come to her study group...everytime I would make up any excuse and never go. One day she asked me and I finally said sure :-) I never thought the days we spent studying at the library would turn into all the things it has...now she is my "big sister". We have had the closest relationship possible for two years...it feels like 10!! :loveya:

Reading this made me want to cry! I've made two close friendships!One i hold dear to my heart the "May2009" luv you lil sis!!! It is funny how we became friends!! Now you can't spread us!!! Nursing school buddies are the best they know exactly what u going through because they r going through it with u!! Just sit back and watch what wonderful friendships u develop at the end of your program!!! U ready B???

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Dec 9, 2008

10 years after nursing school I had lost contact with all my classmates. The same with coworkers. I have moved about so much that it is hard to stay in contact with people. I have found that I was the one who ended up making the efforts to stay in contact with people, even my relatives. Most people today are too busy to write, call or e-mail. Learn to enjoy the company of the people around you. Even those who are older or younger than you have something to offer in friendship.

Music in My Heart · Dec 9, 2008

There are no friends in nursing school,be very careful,your closest friend can turn into your worst enemy in crisis time.
Why would you even want to do that?
You just met these people,let it stay that way.
Hang out with your friends outside school.
Trust me,done that and learned my lesson.

Wow, really sad.

Glad it's not universal. The folks in my group get on quite well and we definitely are pulling each other along.

Multicollinearity, BSN, RN · Dec 9, 2008

Choose your nursing school friends carefully. It's ok if it's slow going at first, making friends.

I've been too friendly lately and spent time with some people I didn't want to say no to. I discovered I just really don't like them.

On a related note, I am surprised at the level of talking negatively behind others' backs. It does seem like a flashback to high school, sadly.