how many (nursing students) are sick?

[Maisie]

I have seen my health decline since I started in the nursing program. Mostly BP problems that I have nerver had. An eye twitch problem that came and went. Now something that may be more serious. Understand I have always enjoyed perfect health. So now I am faced with a delimina. Nursing school seems to be killing me slowly. Reading about the stress response in school makes me see a connection. I was wondering, how many others are sick since starting nursing school? I am on my way to the doctor about my latest problem. My next stop is droping out of the program.

I still want to be a nurse, but it seems I am moving in the direction of patient.

[CseMgr1, ASN, RN]

Our school is worse. You can only miss one day of clinical. In addition, you can only repeat one class a year. So if you fail two, you're out of the program. Even if you repeated the class it would take almost a year to get back in and then only if it has been less than 5 years since you took all your prereqs. I heard of one unfortuante individual that had to take some prereqs again and then reapply. That means it will take an additonal year just to reapply.

I am dropping out of the program. My health is worth so much more to me. I want to be a nurse not a patient.

I feel for you. I almost got kicked out of my school's nursing program during my Senior year, when there was a death in my family and I had to miss a day of clinical, in order to attend the funeral. Attendance in clinical was mandatory, and I had to petition the Department Chair and go through a hearing in order to get reinstated. If I hadn't been only one quarter away from graduation, I would have told them to stick it where the sun didn't shine, for I was exhausted and sick of their mind games.

[Drysolong]

I'm just coming off of a pediatric rotation and have had a runny nose and accompanying symptoms for three weeks. My first day there, my little guy coughed right in my face...yikes. I knew right then, I was going to come down with something. Hope to get over it for good while I'm on spring break.

I developed a very bad cold (flu?) after 1 week on a pediatric rotation. I had a runny nose. (Never had a runny nose in my life - I've been clogged and stuffed up, but have never had my nose just run when I bend over or cough)

I did 4 weeks rotation in a hospital undergoing active remodeling. Ever since, I have allergic reactions to smells (perfume, body odor, etc.,)

Also, I have the "usual" nursing school sleep deprivation and fatigue. I hope to do nothing but sleep and rest for a few after graduation next month.

I don't drink enough water as I did before I started nursing school, so I've experienced more episodes of constipation and digestive sluggishness, I also hope to start eating right again after graduation.

[Maisie]

I recentlly spent the day in ER (my DH had a car accident). I was in shock when he called and told me what happened and that he was on his way to the ER. I remembered thinking, he's Ok, I better take my books with me. I arrived in ER with my book in tow. My own illness made me think I needed to check myself in ER also. He was fine, but needed to stay a few days. I have not been the same since. It was a wake-up call for me. I had neglected my health, stopped going to church, stopped visiting friends, stopped living. And now I sat in the ER with a nursing school book. I thought how low can you go, but there was a test on Monday. In order to get a decent grade, I knew I would have to go lower.

Since then I have reprioritized my life. My grades are suffering, and it will take a miracle for me to pass with my new habits. Still, my health has improved dramatically. All in all, I think we have to realize that as noble a profession as nursing is, it is not worth our health and life.