Nursing Student stressed out, anxious, and losing my motivation

EricJRN, MSN, RN · Feb 15, 2014

It sounds like there's really no quick fix for these issues, but I'm really sorry for everything you're going through right now. With the stuff going on in your personal life, I imagine that it makes every stumbling block in nursing school that much more difficult. I promise you that it does get better once you're out in the working world, especially once you find that job you were meant to do.

I'll give you the other side of the coin on learning skills versus knowledge in nursing school. I work with new grads and new hires in a big NICU at a large hospital. When we have problems with an orientee, it's not really ever because they're bad at IV starts or because they can't drop NG tubes. We could teach monkeys to do those skills in just a few weeks - or certainly at least teach them who their resource people are for those skills. We do struggle with the fact that new grads can be way too task-focused, often missing the big picture of what's going on with a patient - like getting the IV in but missing that the patient is tachypneic with altered LOC.

It sounds like your program is at least teaching you to multitask and prioritize your work. I know that it has to be really frustrating to go through hassles that seem pointless, but I hope that you keep your head up and keep moving forward. In addition to being a stable and challenging career, it sounds like nursing is your long-term ticket out of some of the struggles you're facing now. I know it doesn't feel like it now, but you're almost there.

SE_BSN_RN, BSN · Feb 16, 2014

One more semester to go.....one more semester to go!!! I felt the exact same way....my class called it "senioritis"....don't quit now! Then you'll be stuck paying off loans for a degree you don't have.

No, seriously....you are so close to the finish line. Hang in there. It gets better. Especially when you can finally sign "RN"!

Can you get an apartment of your own? If that is an option, I'd do that, too.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Feb 16, 2014

I agree with Eric; there is no quick fix to this solution.

As a former DV survivor who has PTSD and went through a nursing program successfully, what I remember the most on how I was able to combat stress and the multitude if emotions that can occur-anxiety was the main one, as well as depression.was to remain organized and employ additional nursing study techniques; PTSD can wreak havoc on your space/time balance and can make one feel hurried, stressed and lost; those same feelings that happened during any period of trauma.

The upper level-which would be your third and fourth semesters are going to be stressful, releasing those same hormones that are a part of the brain that also are released with trauma -those norepinephrine fight/flight responses; so make sure you are centering yourself as well as talking to your therapist about those emotions; my only question is does your therapist specialize in PTSD, trauma? If so, work with your therapist in techniques that can be very effective during tests, and stressful moments.

Sending positive vibes in your success.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Feb 16, 2014

I'll echo everyone else in that there are no quick fixes for your problems. As a fellow domestic violence survivor, I'll tell you that you've shown amazing strength by ending the relationship even though it changed your living situation. Leaving is a very difficult thing to do.

You've only one more semester in nursing school, it would be a shame to have spent all the time and money you've already spent on the program and then not finish. Could be that nursing really isn't for you, but you're probably not in the right frame of mind to make that decision right now. I'll agree with a previous poster and say that the problems we have with new grads isn't that they can't place a Foley or an IV, but that they'll be so focused on the Foley or the IV that they won't notice the patient has expired. (True story.) I don't necessarily agree that it's the best way, but those skills are usually learned on the job these days. What you're hopefully learning is to keep an eye on the big picture -- and that's valuable learning!

I'm wondering if your school has any counseling options available for students, or if they have a listing of counselors that charge on a sliding scale. Talking things over with a professional may help you to clarify your thoughts and realize how very far you've come!

Good luck!

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Feb 17, 2014

I remember my own second-to-the-last term as my "dark night of the soul". I was sick to death of school, sick in body, and sick with what I now know as bipolar disorder. And I wasn't even facing the kind of challenges you are facing, although my marriage was pretty much on the rocks at that time and I had a teenager who was driving me nuttier than I already was. I think it's just a bad time for nursing students, period.....everything is harder, expectations are higher, and the pressure is more intense.

The thing that kept me going was this thought: "If not nursing.....then what?" I didn't have an answer for that. I'd already invested three-and-a-half years in general studies and the nursing program itself; there was no Plan B. So I gathered what was left of my strength and pushed my way through it, and I made it. I believe you can, too, if you can remember that this too shall pass. And when you finally finish your program and pass NCLEX, I think you'll find it was worth it.

Hang in there, hon. Only a few more months to go. You can do it!! :yes:

Interpolfan89 · Apr 1, 2014

You must have really good insurance...

(to the original poster)

annaotis · Apr 2, 2014

Unfortunely instructors can be hit or miss. When I was in school,my first clinical instructor once screamed at me for 45 minutes before clinicals started because I could not remember what the thymus gland was for. She would make late for report. She would yell at us in front of patients! Students were vomiting after rotations with her. Like you, next semester I too had to get a protective order. I left school for a few weeks. I happened to be in my Psych rotation. That instructor saved me, kept me from quitting school. She had me read "When bad things happen to good people" This book has been around forever. It sounds simplistic,but it really helped. She had me write paper abouty the book to make up for my missed rotation time. Some individuals are unbelievable teachers, some not so much...) Long story short, I did finish school, SO glad I did. When I landed my very first job it was AMAZING. From the unit director down to the techs. It made me love nursing in a way I didn't know I could in school. It was challenging in the best way.It's where I got real experience. You are almost there. You can be the nurse you want to be. Hang in there...

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[TR]

[TH=bgcolor: #D3D3D3, colspan: 2, align: center]Q fever[/TH]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=colspan: 2, align: center]Classification and external resources[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TH=bgcolor: #F2F2F2, align: left]ICD-10[/TH]

[TD]A 78[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TH=bgcolor: #F2F2F2, align: left]ICD-9[/TH]

[TD]083.0[/TD]

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[TH=bgcolor: #F2F2F2, align: left]DiseasesDB[/TH]

[TD]11093[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TH=bgcolor: #F2F2F2, align: left]MedlinePlus[/TH]

[TD]001337[/TD]

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[TR]

[TH=bgcolor: #F2F2F2, align: left]eMedicine[/TH]

[TD]med/1982 ped/1973[/TD]

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[TR]

[TH=bgcolor: #F2F2F2, align: left]MeSH[/TH]

[TD]D011778[/TD]

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[/TABLE]

Q fever is a disease caused by infection withCoxiella burnetii,^[1] a bacterium that affects humans and other animals. This organism is uncommon, but may be found in cattle,sheep, goats and other domestic mammals, including cats and dogs. The infection results from inhalation of a spore-like small cell variant, and from contact with the milk, urine, feces, lady partsl mucus, or semen of infected animals. Rarely, the disease is tick borne.^[2]The incubation period is 9–40 days. A human being can be infected by a single bacterium.^[3] The bacterium is an obligate intracellular pathogen.

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Last modified 23 days agoThe point of me telling you this is that I had somterrible instructors and

Endebted_Forever · May 5, 2014

I'm so sorry you are having a rough time!

I had a similar situation my last semester- no DV, but multiple family issues and money stressors and some personal health issues, and I felt so burnt out. Nursing school is a grind. Please find some way to take care of yourself.