Nursing School Burnout - RANT!

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Specializes in Neuroscience.

I'm in my 2nd semester of a 5 semester program, and I am so tired of it already.

I'm tired of waking up at 5am every morning, - including weekends - to go to class, attend clinicals, or wake up to study to make up for the lost time I will have to compensate for because of those godforsaken care plans/group projects!

I'm tired of studying harder than I have ever studied before in my life, missing out on family moments, all so that I can take a 25-30pt question exam and barely pass because missing more than 4-6 is a FAILURE!

I'm tired of feeling dumb and having my self-esteem plummet whenever I make a mistake.

I'm tired of the physical effects school is having on me: increased anxiety and depression. I rarely smile much anymore.

I'm tired of seeing the same faces at school everyday.

I'm tired of exploding at my family members because I'm so stressed out.

I'm tired of inconsistency from lab instructors and last minute instruction right before an evaluation (thanks a lot!).

I'm tired of lame group projects that are only worth 5 pts, but take away precious time I could be using to do something more important - like say, study so I can pass the freaking class, because without actually passing, those points are worthless, as they will not actually be added in until a student has passed the course!

I'm tired of feeling like nursing school literally, OWNS me and I can't make a move without it.

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Sorry, I know how you feel. :(

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Specializes in hospice, HH, LTC, ER,OR.

i know how you feel but hang in there, it will be worth it in the end. This is my second time around lpn-rn bridge and and only the first week and I an feeling it myself. BIG HUGS!!

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Specializes in Neuroscience.

Thanks guys! At this point I'm starting to feel dead inside. Like an emotionless robot just going through the motions. I still want to be a nurse, specifically a pysch nurse. I actually enjoyed that part of nursing school and didn't feel like quitting during that quarter. The rest...not so much.

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Specializes in Emergency, Pre-Op, PACU, OR.

Nursing school is hard, but being a new grad nurse is probably not going to be much easier, at least in the first year. Depending on your specialty, you might have to take specialization courses (ACLS, etc), you might have classroom time all over if you get hired into a new grad program, preceptorship, and of course all the private studying at home that you will have to do to become proficient in your job and that nobody will pay/acknowledge you for. If you are passionate about nursing though then stick with it.

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I know how you feel, my instructor asked me today "How are you?" and i happily replied "well, I have increased anxiety, increased stress, im short tempered and snapping at everything, I sleep poorly when i can...and you?" that ended the conversation. yea feeling stupid is the best thing ever and i am only in the first semester of nursing school proper (2 yrs pre-reqs). GOD GIVE ME A HARD SCIENCE I CAN DEAL WITH! these arguable, grey area NCLEX questions make me want to scream!!!

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Specializes in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgical.

Are you sure we're not in the same program?? Regardless, I'm with you on that, girl!

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Specializes in Labor and Delivery.

Hahahha I'm in my third semester and it does not get better! I keep convincing myself I should be excited I will be a senior after this semester. It doesn't help. I'm totallycompletely burnt out, exhausted, and tired. I cannot wait forthe next month to go by! Hang in there, theres planty out here that understand.

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Specializes in NICU.

oh man, this scares me! I LOVE sleep... not even that, I NEED sleep to function. How the heck am I going to deal with all the stress, studying and craziness if I can't at least get enough of that?? Please tell me you feel like it's worth it though?

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Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Flight.

im 60 days from graduation guys.

ya, im not gonna lie nursing school is super stressful and has its moments of suckage but its such a great feeling knowing that the torture will be over soon. it is worth it. just suck it up and stick it out and you'll be glad you did :D

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Exactly!Story of my life.......and I graduate in May. I don't know if I should be happy or sad, happy bc school will be over soon ; and terrified bc reality is knocking on my door.Yes, you will be overwhelmed, stressed, depressed but you will be successful....those who stress care those who don't not so much ( my opinion lol)

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Specializes in PACU, Oncology/hospice.

Sorry you are feeling like this :( but reading your post made me think I was reading my own thoughts. Hope you are getting through this. I am in the same boat as you, I guess you are in your 3rd semester now, I am finishing up my 2nd semester. I feel like there is no way out, I don't have anytime to spend with my husband, friends, or family. I haven't celebrated any holidays or birthdays since I got in the program. I knew it was going to be hard, but I am sick of everyone changing their minds last minute, changing ways they want stuff done, not communicating with other instructors so no one knows what to expect some teachers pass some students others fail them for doing the exact same thing so then we have to go back and do whatever the way that the "new" way is which really just ends up being the old way, changing what time I have to preplan and do care plans (YUCK!) from 2pm-5pm to now 6:30pm-9:30 then come home write a care plan, memorize meds, get back up at 5 to be at the hospital at 6 to get report. Do these teachers not remember being in school? I am going crazy I do believe I cry at the drop of a hat, I really think my dr. is going to put me on "crazy" meds by the end of my nursing student career. only 29 days until my semester is over, only 17 days until my birthday (ya, like I am actually going to get to celebrate it), and then guess what!?? Summer semester starts since I opted to take a summer course (peds) so I will have a lighter course load this fall. and the last complaint at the moment since I need to study for an exam tomorrow....... SICK AND TIRED OF ALL THE PROFESSORS AND DIRECTORS SAYING "BE FLEXIBLE ITS NURSING SCHOOL WE ARE TRAINING YOU TO BE FLEXIBLE WHEN YOU GET OUT TO WORKING". I really want to tell them to kiss my butt that 85% of what the dang book is teaching us isn't going to matter and that they need to get their crap together! UGH!!!!!!

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