Making Friends in Nursing School

Nursing Students General Students

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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.

Specializes in L&D, Mother/baby.
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???

Yeah B...we ready to roll....

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Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.

I stayed in touch with only 2 people after nursing school, they were both in my wedding. Lost contact with one, the other and I still write maybe once or twice a year but she is still there for me. Its been 28 years now. Wouldn't have gotten to know her at all except we were assigned as roommates on a distance learning project.

Looking too hard for a "best friend" won't work, you come across as needy and demanding. Relax, hang out with people, get to know your clinical group and let things just grow on their own. If you notice someone else that looks like they are feeling left out, go over and just make some conversation.

My freshman year I hid out in my dorm room; when I finally ventured out and joined in the people sitting around in the TV room, things changed. In fact, one girl looked at me one day and said "where have you been all semester?!". Sit in the commons area, ask if anyone wants to go get a coke or coffee, just be available but not pushy.

And frankly, having younger students be willing to hang out with me makes me feel younger myself.:coollook:

Graduating in May! Grad school almost done! (Those younger students are actually my students.......):yeah:

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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!

I dont need friends in nursing program,I have plenty outside.With that said each to his/her own

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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.

I can relate to your every word...wow...I have been too nice and friendly,and helpful just to realize that in reality people are there just to learn and go back to their regular friends.So right now I just keep my distance.I am still still nice but I just dont get involved anymore,and why should I.These people will vanish from my life once I graduate,so why even put all this effort,where I can spend time more constructive.

I am sorry for this negativity, but like I mentioned earlier friends should be selected carefully.:twocents:

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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.

Well I am trully happy for you (without sarcarsm) but everyone has a different experience.I find people in nursing school how do I put this in right words...maybe too dramatic,backstabbing,competitive.

There are some "ok"people in my class but a lot of them are immature.

Also being 26,not married without children,it is hard to find common ground with my classmates.I am kind of stuck between.Here you have on the right side young kids that go about their life,on left side married people with children.

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Specializes in acute care then Home health.

Here's how I did it in nursing school. Take my advice.... "friendly, but not friends". That will keep you out of the drama that is sure to come. I found that the cliques in my class (that were dating and hanging out together all the time, etc) didn't do as well. Join a study group if you feel the urge to be social. my :twocents:

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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.

It's funny, I'm worried about not being able to find a peer group because I'm 43, and despite what I've been told at various info sessions, it seems that the average age in my area programs is much, much younger. (I'm looking at second BSN degrees.) I guess the lesson here is that worries about these basic issues is not age dependent!:)

Best of luck with school and meeting some new friends!

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Specializes in Acute Care Psych, DNP Student.
I can relate to your every word...wow...I have been too nice and friendly,and helpful just to realize that in reality people are there just to learn and go back to their regular friends.So right now I just keep my distance.I am still still nice but I just dont get involved anymore,and why should I.These people will vanish from my life once I graduate,so why even put all this effort,where I can spend time more constructive.

I am sorry for this negativity, but like I mentioned earlier friends should be selected carefully.:twocents:

How do you know the future, that you cannot make any lasting friendships with classmates? My point was just to choose your company wisely.

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Specializes in Taking one day at a time....

I am a week and a half from finishing my first semester, and I can say that for me it has gotten progressively better each week.... The first two months, I seriously didnt talk to anyone. Even though it took me a long time, I do feel like I have opened up to the people in my clinical group now.... I am shy, but because I see them ALL the time, I dont feel like they are strangers anymore. One of the people I talk to most of the time is the only person my age, the rest of them are older moms... at first I felt like I had nothing in common with them, but I feel like they have sort of taken a "motherly" vibe with me because I am the age of most of their kids, and I really appreciate it. They are really nice... Im not in their clinical group next semester, and Ill actually really miss them! :(

I havent made any lifelong friends, but certainly have met some nice people to talk to.... and thats all I wanted. Im sure it will get better next semester, because I honestly never though it would get better for me and it did.;)

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I think a lot of the other advice given here has been really good...to not "push it," seem desperate for a best friend, etc. and to choose your company wisely. I'm someone who can be kind of introverted/independent, and I certainly wasn't a popularity queen in high school. However, now that I'm nursing school, I have two awesome best friends who have made my college experience even better. I met one of them very randomly...we happened to be waiting inside a building because it was pouring rain and we didn't want to ruin our fancy outfits so we just started talking...the other was in chem class with both of us and we all just sort of became gradually closer. It's interesting with the three of us, because while we definitely have things in common and get along very well, we're also strikingly different...in everything from our hometowns to music tastes to drinking habits to fashion sense. But somehow, it just "works" and I'm proud to say that we're not the kind of friends who ever let "drama" or other silly stuff into the picture.

So, after that ramble, I guess what I'm trying to say is that you really DON'T know who will end up being your best friend(s) but that they are wonderful things to have during the craziness that is often nursing school. Don't feel that you need to be best friends with everyone, but don't write everyone off either. I always think of what my grandma used to say-"You can never have too many friends."

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I just finished my 3rd term of 6th, and I'd like to put in my own :twocents:. I haven't made any real, lifelong friends, and the person who said "be friendly, but not friends" really hit the nail on the head. Most people in nursing school already have their lives fully booked and planned; they have no time nor the need for new friends, even surprisingly some of the younger childless ones (such as myself).

Being friendly opens many doors, keeps things running smoothly, and makes things all-around more pleasant. I mingle and chat with people of all ages and demographics; I am quite the polygamist when it comes to being friendly!

And remember, the less needy you appear, the more people will come to you. These are things I had to learn a long time ago, being a young guy on the prowl and all :cool:

Best wishes!

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How do you know the future, that you cannot make any lasting friendships with classmates? My point was just to choose your company wisely.

To be honest with you I have no desire.

I arleady have people who I call my best friends and I have their back and they have mine and on top of that I dont even have time to see them,so why do I need extra ones when my other ones feel neglected?

I completely agree that it is more fun and comfortable to have someone by your side (I'm definitely social animal and hate being alone) while going through nursing school however I also learned to set certain boundaries when it comes to nursing school friendships.Perhaps it is just my poor luck,or not being naive about friendship like I used to be.I have no answer for that however I choose to be friendly,without making someone my friend,if that make sense.

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