nursing school burn out

[larien37]

well im down to the last 7 months of lpn school, graduation in august cant come fast enough. im feeling the pressure though more than ever, burn out is the word. i cant even muster the energy to study much anymore, i look at exam information and begin to get sick to my stomach. we dont have a break coming to us until july and im afraid that my brain and body will give out long before then. the thought has crossed my mind about taking a week off soon just to keep my own sanity (i would be missing 1 class, and 2 clinical nights since im in a part time program) but keep going back and forth as to whether this is a good idea. i have barely missed any hours in the last 14 months and i'm not really concerned with missing information for exams due to my school recently using the blackboard online schooling system to post their powerpoints to. i guess i just keep thinking about whether its right of me to take a personal week off from school, is it fair since not everyone else is getting to take it to, although they could if they wanted to. i'm not the only one stressed, guess the nice person inside me just feel bad for everyone else. any advice? anyone else go through this?

[tokidokifantasy]

when I was a pre-nursing student, I really didn't get the word "burn out" that all nursing students were talking about until I became a ns myself. I totally understand what burn out means. I am only in the 4th week of the first semester and I am already feel like I overworked my brain. Good thing I have the summer to relax and prepare my second semester.

But word of advice, keep it going, don't stop, don't take break. Just find a day where you can relax and enjoy your day with your family. By missing class and clinical, you will be under more stress when you return school. That's a lot of catching up to do, and you will be cramming everything. You are almost there! good Luck!

[KristeyK]

I feel where you're coming from, I really do! However, DO NOT skip class or clinicals. (If your school is like mine, you'll get dinged for it anyway, in fact we can be asked to leave for missing three days like that.) Take a few hours on a Saturday morning, or whatever day is your most "free" day, and get some "mental" help. (I use shopping, a bath, or getting my hair done as my help!) Just take the time and relax and BREATHE. Heck, this past Saturday, after I was SURE I bombed a Med-Surg exam, I took the day off period and didn't do a THING other than play with my son. I feel SO MUCH better for it. (Granted I spent ALL DAY Sunday studying because of it, and stayed up way too late trying to read, but I am still glad I took the day off.)

Good luck! Remember, it's just 7 more months. It sounds like a LOT, but it'll FLY by.