New Student Needing Encouragement :(

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Hey Friends,

I know this is an age old subject but here goes...I will be starting RN school this Monday at a 2 year program. I am as nervous as can be because I keep hearing all the horror stories not to mention that we haven't even started school yet and we already have all of these assignments to do. I really want to be an RN but is it really going to be that hard for the next 2 years? Will I not have anu kind of life? I think the main thing for me is the not knowing... I really don't handle stress that well but RN is in my blood because both my mom and sister are both one so I have been raised around hospital jargon and know a bit about the life of an RN. Then I get to thinking if it was REALLY that hard then why are there SOOO many RNs out there? My instructor is really trying to wear us down already by saying things like go "stock up on groceries and tell your family goodbye" etc etc..at orientation. I really just need to hear your stories and what to expect. This is the first "blog" I have ever written so you know that I am "desperate" :crying2: lol thanks in advance and I look forward to hearing from you. God Bless

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You're not alone! I'll be starting my 2 year ADN program in two weeks and I share your same feelings. I have no doubt, in my mind, that we are going to have a rough road ahead of us but, if we believe in ourselves and the grace of God, we will make it through. ;)

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Specializes in ER/ICU/STICU.

With proper time management you can have a life outside of school. I can't stand when they say this kind of crap. It's school not a military deployment. I worked full time during nursing school and had an active social life. Don't let them get in your head. Nursing school is tough, but it is not all life consuming, eat, sleep, breath nursing. You are going to need time for yourself so you can unwind. If you dont you might just find yourself burnt out before you finish.

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With proper time management you can have a life outside of school. I can't stand when they say this kind of crap. It's school not a military deployment. I worked full time during nursing school and had an active social life. Don't let them get in your head. Nursing school is tough, but it is not all life consuming, eat, sleep, breath nursing. You are going to need time for yourself so you can unwind. If you dont you might just find yourself burnt out before you finish.

This is probably some of the best, most straight-forward advice I have ever seen on here! Great advice! It is all about time management. Believe me I have such big fears since I have an almost 5 year old and almost 3 year old and was worried I would never see them until school breaks. I think it will be ok. As a full time student and sahm for the past 3 years I think I have some really good time management skills. You will be fine. You just have to organize, prioritize and manage your time wisely. That was a quote from my advisor. :D

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I'm in the same boat. I am sooo excited yet sooooooo nervous. I read some posts about students unaware that it was a major holiday and walking down the streets of nyc with flashcards studying all day everyday, everwhere they went. I am just going to clear my mind and organize everything in my life so that I have the best possible start. Keep your head up! We will make it. We made it this far! And I have some friends who went through it and although they complained the whole way, I still saw them and they were able to make time to enjoy life...a tiny bit...

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Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Flight.

it will all be what you make of it. you actually are to an advantage because you have two nurses who can be a wealth of information to you!

yes, RN school is tough, and its a different way of critical thinking and application. Will you survive? YES..we are all here.! TIME MANAGEMENT is your best friend. it will decrease your level of stress and increase your productivity. Once you have your schoolwork done you can go to work, go party with your friends or hop down the street on a pogo stick for 3 hours! :)

another thing is always make time for yourself, at least 1 hour a day to just think of other stuff besides meds, careplans and exams :)

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.

I definately think you can have a life outside of school. It's been slightly hard for me because I have two little ones and a house to keep in order so I think if you have a family to care for or work full time then yes you won't have much of a life outside of school but if you're just going to school then I definately think you can. My friend in class and I always laughed about some of our classmates that would be so dramatic about everything and say how they studying for 5 hours a day and stuff but it's not neccessary just pay attention in class and keep up on your h/w and stuff and you'll be fine.

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Specializes in Oncology, Psych, Corrections.

Whether or not you can handle stress well doesn't matter. If becoming a nurse is something you really want, then you will find a way to achieve it.

I heard all the horror stories too before starting school. I was very unhappily married (no children thank goodness). I constantly battled stress from school and my marriage. In the end, I sucked it up, studied, went to every class and clinical, and did what I knew I had to do. I wanted it that bad.

The reward for passing state boards...???? My much deserved divorce!!! :)

Take a deep breath...relax...make new friends and have the time of your life while you're learing how to be a great nurse. You will be fine :)

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Specializes in None yet.

I am moving to a new town to start nursing school. Well not just to start nursing school, I now live in a city but grew up in the country so I want my kids to be country bumpkins too. So I applied to a few rural schools in small towns about an hour or two away from any sort of city. Since I will be new to town and not have a circle of friends I don't really have much of a social life to worry about. I suppose this could apply to someone moving into dorms for school as well, ahh I remember doing that for my first degree over a decade ago;)

Anyways my point is I plan on having social studying, LOL. Instead of going to the library or on campus study areas, I'm hoping to form study groups to meet at cafe's and restaurants to hang out and discuss course material. I also plan on having study groups at my house. I hope this doesn't sound cliche but I hope to make friends with my fellow students. I know some of them have kids around the same age as mine so the idea of play dates/study session seems appealing to me.

Be well

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Specializes in L&D.

I felt the same exact way when I first started nursing school in January. I was terrified to say the least!:chair: I had always been a good student but the difference between college and high school is that I had to learn how to study, which is something I hardly had to do in high school. The difference between nursing school and the prerequisites is that you have to study HARDER! I failed my first 2 tests in Med Surg but I was determined to get it and pass the class. Now I'm in my 3rd semester and have been making nothing but A's and B's throughout nursing school and I'm very thankful and blessed to be doing so well when everything was so negative around me. I know everyone says to develop study groups and honestly I hate them. I feel like they are a waste of time and I don't learn very well with them. I learn better on my own and of course google is my best friend when I need a little more information. I went to my teachers and asked them what suggestions they had for me and they were very helpful. Make sure you always use your resources and if you don't get something ASK!! If you are ever failing evaluate the way you're are studying and make some changes. Like someone else said you are at an advantage since you have family members that are nurses. Never be afraid to ask for help. We are human and sometimes it will get hard but you can get through it. Just think positive thoughts and pray! I really believe that if you really want something then you will do anything it takes to get it. Best of luck to you!

One last thing ... You can have a life outside of nursing school, but it's very hard for me to have one. I take my studies very seriously and I'm the type of student that has to study my butt off just to make good grades. If you can party and hang out while making A's by all means do it. But, if there are somethings that come between you and your grades then you might have to let it go and realize what is most important.;)

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At our orientation 3 semesters ago, our instructors told us to invest in crockpots to make things for dinner and make sure you have someone around the house to help out. I have been in NS since January (going into my 3rd semester) and I have found that if I study when I should and keep up with all the paperwork and readings, then I have plenty of free time to spend with my husband and 4 children. As everyone else has said you have to prioritize and use time management and you will be just fine. Keep your head up and good luck!!!

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Specializes in CNA/LPN.

Once you learn the time management involved and how much you truly need to devote to your studies, you can most certainly still have an active social life! You would definitely start feeling burnt out in no time if you couldn't find time for yourself. There are a lot of students here that will say to give up 100% of your social/family life. That's not true! I seen where a lot of people have missed Thanksgivings and Christmases with their family to study. I, for one, know I just couldn't do that! All in all, of course the program will take up a lot of your time, but by any means, it does not have to consume your entire life! Good luck! :) You'll find a way to balance it all out, I promise!

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