I am not happy and school hasn't even started yet. I am starting to feel like I have made a mistake in attending nursing school. I had nursing school orientation this month which was ok. There are many negative things I seriously want to say but have to refrain for fear of trolling instructors, students, and employees of my school and hospital. I know they visit here but I have no proof. I was hoping to come here to vent my troubles away, but even now, I can't even do that. I start school next month and at first I was all excited. Now, I'm dreading it. An instructor has rubbed me the wrong way. My classmates are less than friendly and clique-ish. All of my instructors seem to psycho-analyze our personalities, pre-judge us on first impressions or appearances, and believe all of us are suffering from low self-esteem and have no confidence whatsoever. Some of them can barely make eye contact with me like I am an eye sore to them. I feel I am treated as a child. I am clearly not one.
This is my first post. I honestly did not want it to be one like this. LOL
I am upset, hurt, and worried.
Welcome to nursing school. Its going to be a long two years.
Specializes in Wound care & basically everything else.
You'll make friends in clinicals. Everyone is going to be stressed out during lectures. Instructors are a breed unto their own. Don't base your self worth on their acceptance. I purposefully didn't engage or make myself known to them & did just fine. Just get in and do your studies, take the test & get to nursing!
An instructor has rubbed me the wrong way. My classmates are less than friendly and clique-ish. All of my instructors seem to psycho-analyze our personalities, pre-judge us on first impressions or appearances, and believe all of us are suffering from low self-esteem and have no confidence whatsoever.
You got all that from orientation? Wow.
Some of them can barely make eye contact with me like I am an eye sore to them.
Do you have green hair or something? I am not getting this at all.
OP, I had similar thoughts I think my first actual week of nursing classes. I was a second career student (one that had 20+ years professionally out of my first degree). I thought OMG this is a HUGE scam. I called one of my classmates I had A&P with, who, was also a second career professional, and warned her as she was in the night section. We met the next day to consider. We tossed a coin to decide if we were going to drop or stay. The coin said stay.
You will be surprised at how many of your classmates will be supportive. No one understands the rigors of nursing school unless you are a nurse or a nursing student. I think you will find some people you will feel comfortable with. I met some really supportive people in nursing school and we all supported one another. Nursing school is tough.
I would say the instructors want you to succeed. If there is one that is tough just take each clinical day by day and tell yourself you can get through this and you will never have to deal with that instructor again. I had a really tough instructor that nearly destroyed me my last semester of school and if it was not for the support of my fellow students I would have "lost it". I actually withdrew 2 weeks before graduation due to this instructor but my other instructors would not allow me to do this and I made it through.
It will all workout but be prepared for an experience like no other.
If you're fretting already start praying. This is a tough and competitive field and women can be brutal, especially in groups. Candimk2 is right on. A lot of people will try and be overly positive and supportive but they don't have to walk in your shoes. Sounds like your heart is telling you something. DO YOU REALLY WANT TO BE A NURSE?? If you do, then stay the course and make sure you get a VERY stong support group and keep them close to you. Remove all dramatic and negative ppl (including family!). Do not drink! It will cloud your mind and spirit and stay away from ppl who party on the weekends. Not sure what your religious affiliation is, but a spiritual advisor can help tremendously with stuff like this. There are a lot of negative and hot headed ppl in our profession. Not sure what happened to them to make them like that but they can make ur life a living nightmare and ruin your day if your not armed with a very thick skin. On the flip side, you will most likely make some very good friends. My med/surg 2 clinical instructor was the WORST!! I thought she hated me. I nearly dropped out. She literally gave me hives. Guess what? She actually loved me and was preparing me. Gave me the best letter of rec. and praised me to no end once I made it through...all outstandings on my review. The ones that are the scariest are usually the nicest. Welcome to the wonderful world of nursing.
Whoa. I don't know what school you go to but our orentation was like this:
Nursing school is hard.
No really, it's hard.
Don't get pregnant in nursing school.
Books are expensive.
Nursing school is hard.
Don't fall behind.
Here, have a cookie on your way out.
I suppose I feel fortunate because our program is so varied. We have so many ages and personalities in our group that I feel like I am always learning from them. My question would be something like, "Are you sure that you're not projecting your insecurities onto other people?"
I look at life this way - every negative thought I have ever had about myself, chances are the person I am afraid of judging me has also had those thoughts about themselves.
Suck it up they are trying to make you strong. Toughen up because nursing is very challenging and tough. They are doing you a favor. It will benefit you in the end..
I just want to say don't let one day change your mind. My first semester sucked! I didn't like one of my teachers and she was very unprofessional with me and what was worse everyone loved her so I couldn't even really talk about it. I didn't meet many friends and felt very out of place. My second semester was so different. I made more friends, clinicals were awesome, my grades were better, and its been much better since then. I also don't think you have a negative attitude, many nursing schools have a horrible and negative attitude to students. My school isn't like that but my friend at a cc has had a horrible experience. After she had orientation she even showed me her schools nursing f/b page and a professor wrote orientation was today-220 new dreams to crush. This was a professor! So unprofessional. Just remember teh real world is not nursing school and it isn't this website either, hang in there and hopefully it will work out like it has for me!
The other students at the orientation were all new to the program also, right? They can't possibly be in a clique yet, it may have seemed that was because some may have known each other from A&P, micro, whatever. You will get to know people, it will be fine. The instructors have to let you know it will be hard, they probably act the same way towards most people because they don't want you to feel that they are your friends. I am getting ready to start my program in 2 weeks, whatever my instructors think of me in the beginning, I intend to show them the kind of student I am. They don't have to love me, they just have to PASS me!
Just graduated from my BSN program a few months ago. And I remember thinking the exact same thing at orientation. Didnt know anyone, no one wanted to talk to me, the professors scared me out of my wits...and then the first semester was kind of more of the same. Pharm was a nightmare, I hated my clinical group, and my professors were insane. I would question my choice every day. But it gets much better. Made friends, found encouraging supportive professors, and passed pharm! Its a journey, but please dont get discouraged. There are always people there for you to support you...you just have to look at them. Nursing school is tough emotionally and mentally and physically, but there are tremendous rewards. And now I'm finished and I never have to talk to anyone that drove me nuts and I am ready to start my new career.
So basically, you can do it, its normal to be overwhelmed, and good luck! Study hard but dont kill yourself, make new friends if you can, but keep your old ones for support no matter what, and go ahead and be the best nurse you can be!
finchfamily4
23 Posts
You'll make friends in clinicals. Everyone is going to be stressed out during lectures. Instructors are a breed unto their own. Don't base your self worth on their acceptance. I purposefully didn't engage or make myself known to them & did just fine. Just get in and do your studies, take the test & get to nursing!