Need serious encouragement before finals

[sullen13]

This week has probably been the worst week ever. Next week are finals. Im second quarter, and had an A in my nursing theory class. I went through some pretty stressful family stuff last night (and then add onto not sleeping last night due to the stress) that I bombed my test today! On top of it I got my patient presentation back today that was worth 20% of our grade, and didnt do great on it either, which dropped me either further. In a single day i went from a solid A to a low B, and im seriously finding myself in a funk. If i cant get out of it I have a feeling I could completly bomb my final. During first quarter i didnt do very well on my patient presentation, and i worked really hard this quarter on it, and did WORSE this quarter than last quarter! Ive loved clinicals and know I want to do this. ive always been a pretty solid A student, and nursing school is just killing me! Im under so much stress (not so much school related), and then today just made it worse. Am I the only one feeling like this?

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

You most definitely aren't the only one to ever feel this way, and life stress on top of nursing school stress can be intolerable. The good news is, you are close to getting a small break (from school).

I know a little something about how to deal with stress and will share it with you...bear with me. Some years ago, I had two of my kids go through two different kinds of cancer - not at the same time, but only a couple of years apart. Talk about stress! One survived and is doing well - one passed away. Something I have learned through those experiences to help control stress is to "compartmentalize". Here's how it works:

Make a list, mental or physical, of all the things going on in your life that you have NO CONTROL over right now. I am betting some of the outside stress in particular falls in this category.

Then list the things you do have control over - school most definitely falls in this category.

Then control the things you can, and put the things you cannot on a back burner. Give yourself permission to let them go. They will still be there, yes - but you need your energy right now to go toward those things you CAN control. If you burn that energy up spinning around in worry and grief over all the things you cannot control, you end up with even more problems you can't control and fewer things you can.

I know you feel helpless and drained. Take a little time for yourself, whatever that means for you, heave a big sigh and determine where to put your energy for the next couple of days or weeks while you finish your quarter up. Give yourself permission to just not worry about the things you can't control. They will still be there when the quarter is done, and with that off your plate you will be better equipped to handle things then than you are now. Direct your energy into school.

Control what you can control. Acknowledge and surrender to what you can't. And focus your attention elsewhere on those things you have the ability to change. If others derail this, kindly but firmly let them know you will be available for venting, problem solving, listening or whatever as soon as your quarter is done, but right now, you HAVE to get through this. Draw your boundaries and stick to them. Turn off the phone if you have to and stop checking email.

It can be very empowering to realize it really is a choice. You do have some power here.

Big hug. Deep breath. Good luck.