Nursing School: Officially the Hardest Thing I've Ever Done

TRR8021 · Jun 2, 2010

I find NS to be more stressful as I get closer to the end. Maybe it's because I know I will be an RN soon? Like, I'm going to be someone's nurse!! :eek: I've been thinking about the HESI, to work or not to work as a GN, the N-CLEX, and all that jazz.... I don't know, but early on it was ok for me.

Also, it's important to remember to take care of yourself and have time to de-stress. Take 20 or 30 minutes to do something unrelated to NS, whether it's working out, reading, watching your favorite show, or whatever you like to do. Maybe you won't do it everyday, but at least a couple times a week.

Oh, and your family and friends just won't get that you need X amount of time to study. They'll say, "but it's Saturday, can't you take one day off?" Uh, not really, if i take a day off I'll fall behind! lol

SpookyCat, BSN, RN · Jun 2, 2010

So, it's official, Nursing school is the hardest thing I've ever done...ever...
Don't get me wrong, I'm still loving this learning process & soaking up insane amounts of new information everyday, but when they said nursing school was all-consuming they weren't kidding. I know I can get through this, I know I have the brainpower to process & apply these totally confusing concepts, I know I am going to make a competent & compassionate nurse someday...
One thing's for sure: I will feel FANTASTICALLY, OVER-THE-MOON accomplished once I'm through with school. Then I can start the process all over as a NEW GRAD!!

Hey northstar & all those who this applies,

I agree. I too believe that nursing school was the Most Difficult thing I've ever done. I used to be a Psych major and enjoyed getting straight A's while still having a decent social life. I thought it was all the same, all a learning process. If I could handle Psych, I could handle nursing. No Problem Right?? ... :nuke:WRONG!!!

When I 1st started, it was a major shock to my system. I used to get straight A's without a ton of effort. Well Now I was giving it all I had and getting B's. I started to question myself about everything. (Is this the right path for me? Why do my friends & boyfriend get to have so much fun always, while I'm cooped up writing careplans and endless studying??? Why me? Why me?) -I later learned that I would have a job lined up post-grad while the others would have to either continue on in graduate studies or change their major. That is the difference.-

Well IMO the trick is to establish your own groove. It seemed as though I had endless amounts of studying and work to complete. However, in the mess of it all I set aside 1 night a week (usually friday for me). To do nothing nursing related. I loved to go out dancing at the clubs and such. So I did! It was just enough to keep the stress of it all at bay. I needed something short term to look forward to each week. So each week I celebrated the survival of it. The weeks went by..

It won't be easy. Nothing worth having is easy and if it were one may not appreciate it as much. That is why my pinning ceremony/graduation day was the BEST Day of My Life!

A few tips:

Never forget to have faith in yourself.

If you believe you will fail it may end up being a self fulfilling prophecy (So DON'T!).

"Accept the Challenges so that You may Feel the Exhilaration of Victory." -A Chinese Fortune I received.

Be Tenacious!!!

Rean87 · Jun 2, 2010

I totally agree Nursing school is one of the hardest thing for me also. In my previous classes getting A's was nothing, but when it comes to these nursing classes I now find myself sometimes satisfied with B's. But again, like everyone has already stated succeeding in nursing school is not impossible and I know I can do it...And yes, it most definitely is a tough thing to explain to those who aren't going through it!

ladycody, BSN, RN · Jun 2, 2010

Reading this has gotten me a bit panicked. I know it's going to be difficult but have been trying not to over-think it...because I just need to tuck my head down and get it done. The fact that I need to work while in the program in order to pay bills and wondering how it will all pan out financially has me worried....and then I tell myself shut up and get positive. I actually deal really well with stressful situations...and I KNOW that...at 42 I've seen myself in action enough to know how I react to chaos...so I'm sure I'll be tired and crazy but basically fine in the end...it's just the anticipation of stress that sends me sideways.

SpookyCat, BSN, RN · Jun 2, 2010

Reading this has gotten me a bit panicked. I know it's going to be difficult but have been trying not to over-think it...because I just need to tuck my head down and get it done. The fact that I need to work while in the program in order to pay bills and wondering how it will all pan out financially has me worried....and then I tell myself shut up and get positive. I actually deal really well with stressful situations...and I KNOW that...at 42 I've seen myself in action enough to know how I react to chaos...so I'm sure I'll be tired and crazy but basically fine in the end...it's just the anticipation of stress that sends me sideways.

One day at a time.. Don't think of EVERYTHING that is expected. Don't be overwhelmed on the day they hand out the syllabi and state all the expectations they'll have of you until the end of the semester. Set up a daily/weekly agenda filled with short term goals. Think about when the major assignments are due and work them in little by little. You'll be fine. Just take everyday as it comes and don't forget to Breathe! :cool:

zhockeymom77 · Jun 2, 2010

I have been accepted and will be starting this scool year - can anyone give me some advice as to what I should be doing this summer to prepare? I am a planner and I would rather be doing something than just waiting around for school to start.

Also, what do you wish that you were told before you started or what surprised you the most once you did start?

Thanks!

GApsychNurse · Jun 2, 2010

Well said Northstar. As you said the feeling you will have on your graduation day (even more so during your pinning ceremony) will be sooooo OVER-THE-MOON because you will know and remember all that you had to do in order to get to that point. If I can say anything further it would be don't stop putting that same amount of energy into your knowledge base once "school" is over. I too often see nurses who see it as a one time process and never bother to go any further in their field of knowledge. We must remember that just as the human being evolves everyday so too does the medicine and therapeutic remedies we use daily in helping them get through this thing called life. See nursing as a life-time calling/endeavor. This would not only be nursing in the true spirit envisioned by Florence Nightingale, but nursing that truly serves the people and the profession.

Best of luck with your studies, hang in there and remember YOU CAN DO THIS AND YOU WILL DO THIS.

Your on your way to your dream :nurse:

So, it's official, Nursing school is the hardest thing I've ever done...ever...
Don't get me wrong, I'm still loving this learning process & soaking up insane amounts of new information everyday, but when they said nursing school was all-consuming they weren't kidding. I know I can get through this, I know I have the brainpower to process & apply these totally confusing concepts, I know I am going to make a competent & compassionate nurse someday...
One thing's for sure: I will feel FANTASTICALLY, OVER-THE-MOON accomplished once I'm through with school. Then I can start the process all over as a NEW GRAD!!

TerpGal02, ASN · Jun 3, 2010

All of you soon to be nursing students who are panicking now...........STOP. Take a few deep breaths. Yes, nursing school IS hard. And yes, it IS the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. The hard thing about it really is changing the way you think and learn to think critically, but it can be done. I just finished my first semester and was talking to my best friend about a relative of hers who just had a CABG (coronary artery bypass graft, in case you aren't down with the acronyms, and there are a lot LOL) and who is an alcoholic and I'm starting to prioritize my nursing diagnoses for him in my head LOL!

It will consume your life. I didn't really talk to any of my friends or sometimes my husband for that matter sometimes from the end of Jan until about two weeks ago. But it went fast. And I learned a lot. Learning everything is difficult. Learning to apply it is difficult, but the information is SO SO fascinating. I have learned SO much about myself this semester. My confidence in myself is at an all time high. I have met and made friends with some amazing people. I have had life changing experiences. I would not change that for the world. I love it! This semester, I didn't even think about the end of the semester. I would think forward to the next exam, the next clinical weekend, and before I knew it, the semester was over. And I'm getting ready to start again next week, which will be 8 weeks for me. A little bit of anxiety is a good thing I think. It keeps you on your toes, but if its keeping you up at night RELAX. Its hard, but its a once in a lifetime experience that you should take some time to enjoy too.

allnurses Guide · Jun 3, 2010

Yes, it is going to be the hardest thing you have ever done most likely. No, it isn't going to kill you. Most of you have it in you to do this and that is largely determined by yourself and your attitude about it. If you go in and get resentful of the time you need to spend, twist yourself up with guilt over missing yet another soccer game or football party or family dinner, start saying how unfair it is, then yeah. You are going to struggle stress-wise and academically. So go in with your eyes open but with the expectation of success and acceptance of the requirements - expect yourself to do well.

I have said it before and I will say it again. If you had a farm and you had only so much time to plant, you wouldn't begrudge the party you miss, the bedtime story you pass on to your spouse or the family get together you decline; you would recognize THIS is the ONLY time you have to do this - and you would git 'er done. Harvest time? You would not waste one moment on guilt over not playing play-doh with your child. You would see the big picture and get the harvest brought in. You are accepted to nursing school. It is time to work. Don't waste time resenting it, feeling guilty about it and certainly don't shirk. Get it done.

I personally have had a BALL in nursing school. I love the family atmosphere with my classmates. I love how driven and motivated everyone is. Nice change from the pre-req's. Only those who earned it are there, so all of them want it just as much as you do (at least in merit based schools - lottery systems probably have a different energy). I love how much I am learning and I love this feeling of all my hard work beginning to pay off.

Nursing school IS the hardest thing I have ever done. But the flip side of that coin is that it is also the most rewarding, self esteem building, joy-giving thing I have ever done. If you are going to obsess about the upcoming semester (and you will. Its normal), just be sure you obsess about the good side too. It will balance you out. Good luck as you enter this new phase. It is an awesome ride.

FATKAT · Jun 3, 2010

RE: "Nursing School: Officially the Hardest Thing I've Ever Done"

I hear you. I am also a nursing student (done next April :anpom:) and I work full time. It has been a long haul! There is light at the end of the tunnel! :nurse:

studentinnursing · Jun 3, 2010

RE: "Nursing School: Officially the Hardest Thing I've Ever Done"
I hear you. I am also a nursing student (done next April :anpom:) and I work full time. It has been a long haul! There is light at the end of the tunnel!

When did you work? I am just curious cause I have a job working at home, medical transcription, and am hoping to be able to work some at least when I start NS in the fall, but the last semester I only took 10 credits, micro was 4 of those, and I was barely able to work, but I make my schoolwork come first, so between reading and studying . . . or did you work during the day and do school at night? I am planning on probably not being able to work cause I have 2 kids and can't do night classes, but I can work whenever I want, but still, I barely get the hours in; I was one of those people that worked 10 to 12 hours a day and now I'm lucky to get 4 or 5, but I do lots of schoolwork/studying. Are you very organized, or what, wow?! Any tips on organizing time. I just got a big desk calender (I like to see the whole month at once) so I'm hoping that will help, and a I have my calendar in my PDA for daily stuff, but any tips on how you made sure you had study time, working time, etc., would be grateful.

foreverLaur · Jun 3, 2010

I've worked full-time during school and it hasn't been bad. I work at a mail-order pharmacy that is open 24/7 so my schedule can be pretty flexible. I can also study at work when calls are slow. My best friend is currently in nursing school full-time and has a full-time job (tech in an ER) and is a single mom of two and is surviving so it CAN BE DONE! :)