Nursing school sucks!

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Hi everyone,

I'm looking for solid advice on a simple topic. I'm in my 3rd year of nursing school, and all my teacher are total witches. The work load is unbearable as usual, but this semester its so much worse because all of them are very apathetic and downright vicious whenever they get the chance to be. I'm a male and try to be a good student, but the semester just started and i'm so stressed. The feeling seems mutual among my classmates. My teachers this semester are all 50+ years old and have not been on the front line working as a nurse in many years. I don't know what to do because their lectures are poor, they are dishing out a truck load full of extra projects without any clear directions how to get them done. I now realize why so many people drop out of nursing school. I really want to finish this semester, but none of these instructors are willing to help outside of class. Approaching them with questions is asking to get your head bit off! I honestly don't know why people like this continue to be teachers. For all the people out there trying to get into nursing school, all I can say is find any other option if at all possible. I want to be a nurse, but nursing school will test your resolve by applying the wrenches until your bones crack!

Any advice?

Specializes in neonatal intensive care.

I graduated from nursing school back in the dark ages and it was the same way. I wanted to drop out during my last year (those darn care plans just about did me in) but decided that if I did drop out, all my friends would finish, then where would I be?

Last year I retired from a teaching hospital where the resident docs became family practice docs. They would fuss all the time about the program and how frustrating it was. I always told them to just "play the game." Go along with what was required and soon their 3 yr residency would be finished.

Nursing school weeds out those who cannot, or chose not, stick it out, play the game or keep on chugging. Where will you be if you quit now?

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In so far as the projects you are responsible for completing without clear direction . . . this is a test of your leadership and creativity. I am a recent grad who really enjoyed nursing school, though ridiculously difficult. One assignment for presentations involved 16 student teams choosing boring PowerPoint presentations, and my team which involved our husbands being dragged into class to help us act out a doctor-nurse-patient dialogue on testicular cancer! It was funny, memorable and different. Did anyone tell us how to conduct the presentation? No. Our goal was to teach our topic to our classmates. Embrace creativity and HAVE FUN!!!

You are now in the process of trusting your judgment. You are learning confidence. As an RN you will have to make decisions and sometimes have to justify them. I am head strong, and I've said more than once in my very short tenure as a nurse, "Don't put me in a position to make decisions and then question the decisions I made." We still have to learn every day, but we also have to emit confidence to our patients, their families, administration and our colleagues. You are in the process of honing in those decision-making skills. The days of being spoon-fed instructions were over with Med-Surg I.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

If you are passing, then, try and stick with it. And, if none of the professors are specifically targeting you, then, even better.

I hated nursing school, also. For me, it was a nightmare that I have no intention of visiting again. But, I played their game, stayed to myself and got the heck out of there.

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I feel like I am going to graduate with a "knowledge deficit" diagnosis. I do study but it is just so hard to remember things by heart. I thought when you learn something in the first year of nursing school it is going to be the same thing in the 3rd year of nursing. I don't know who is right, the 1st ,the 2nd or the 3rd year instructors ...they all provide different info. I get so confused.

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The best advice I can give you is if something isn't going to kill you ignore it, you don't have time to get caught up in the drama with nursing school. You job is to get the training you need, pass the nclex and work as a nurse. Keep yourself focused. Yes, vent when you need to but don't let it distract you to a point that you can't keep up with the program. One thing I was taught by my dad is that, "no one owes you anything." It is a hard pill to swallow but when you learn this, many things will become clear. No you should not let people run all over you or not give you what is fair but at the same time if they don't, don't let it crush your spirit and keep you from getting what you need to succeed in life.

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Are you sure you're not attending my school? :lol2:

I don't know what to tell you other than find ways to keep from going nuts. You have 2 choices: suffer through it and try to teach yourself to fill in the holes -or- drop out of this school and perhaps apply to a new one. But the new school may be as crummy as your current one. I had no idea how disorganized and incompetent some aspects of my "one of the best in the area" Nursing Schools was until I was in it.

Find ways to cope. Don't let the stress eat you up.

Learn not take the drama and snottiness of some instructors personally.

Identify your weak points and self-study. Do lots of NCLEX practice test books, if you're worried about Boards. Take a student nurse job if your weak point is clinical skills.

And as bad as the program is, dwelling on the bad parts is just going to make you resentful or depressed. Let it go. You can still be a great nurse, even if your school didn't really help you much.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
I feel like I am going to graduate with a "knowledge deficit" diagnosis. I do study but it is just so hard to remember things by heart. I thought when you learn something in the first year of nursing school it is going to be the same thing in the 3rd year of nursing. I don't know who is right, the 1st ,the 2nd or the 3rd year instructors ...they all provide different info. I get so confused.

The premise is that the succeeding semesters build on Fundamentals of Nursing. I would probably start making index cards with pertinent information and use them during your quiet time, such as if you take public transportation, while doing laundry, on line at the bank, etc... At least, this is what worked for me.

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The best advice I can give you is if something isn't going to kill you ignore it...

This is excellent advice!!!

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Youll be done before you know it!! keep your eye on the end of the tunnel!! its worth it....

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UPDATE: for those that feel as I did. I'm as surprised as anyone to admit, it doesn't get easier, but It does get better. I adapted over time and so can everyone who feels the great weight of being a nursing student upon their shoulders 24/7.

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You are very blessed to be at a good school. I wonder if you would not mind saying the name of your school? It's hard to know if you are at a good school until you are in it.

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Last year!!!!! I believe you can do it!!!!!!

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