Overwhelmed....I feel like giving up!

SubSippi · Mar 31, 2012

I'm a student, and when I'm feeling burnt out, I think about my options if I don't finish school. Which, for me, are pretty much limited to retail and the food service industry. The thought of waiting tables a few more years is plenty of motivation for me. Also, I think it helps to look at going to school as an opportunity instead of a big pain, because it's true that a lot of people in the world don't get to go to school, and don't have as many options about what they do with their lives. School is just something you have to do to get to the place where you want to be, there's no way around it!! You've made it this far, just keep going!

mazy · Mar 31, 2012

If you are working full time and going to school full time then you have a very good reason to be stressed and overwhelmed. I know a lot of people say they were able to work full time in school, but I saw a lot of people in my class struggle a lot and then have to drop out or fail because it just got to be too much.

I was working full time when I started, then encountered some health problems, and then ended up having to quit my job because it was either work or finish school. I also didn't have a family or support system, which made things even more difficult.

I had to take out a lot of loans to finance the rest of my school year and I'm paying for it now, but for me that was the right decision. But I also graduated at a time when the job market was pretty good so did not have too many problems finding work after I graduated.

That is not the case these days. So it's a very difficult and overwhelming situation you must be facing. I can understand why you are feeling burned out. It's not all you, you are trying to do something enormously difficult, juggling job and school.

I'm not sure what to tell you about how to proceed. Could you do this part time? Or work part time? Do you have family who are supportive of you?

Would you feel better if you took some time away to get some distance from this stress? It might work out in your benefit to extend your schooling so that when you graduate you are facing a better job market.

The one thing I can tell you is that please do not blame this entirely on yourself. Nursing school is very hard, and it is even harder when you are working and stressed about paying the bills.

Best of luck and hugs.:hug:

rnwannabe77 · Mar 31, 2012

I'm a student, and when I'm feeling burnt out, I think about my options if I don't finish school. Which, for me, are pretty much limited to retail and the food service industry. The thought of waiting tables a few more years is plenty of motivation for me. Also, I think it helps to look at going to school as an opportunity instead of a big pain, because it's true that a lot of people in the world don't get to go to school, and don't have as many options about what they do with their lives. School is just something you have to do to get to the place where you want to be, there's no way around it!! You've made it this far, just keep going!

Thanks for responding! I've been working at my current job for 11 years now. Although it is a stable, good paying job now, the future of it is not bright. I agree that I should use my current job as motivation to study hard and move forward, but with burnout it's easier said than done!

I've been trying to study all day, but there are just too many distractions here at home: the tv, computer (AllNurses and Youtube), housework, food, anything but books! I know, I know...I should get my butt over to the library, but once again no motivation!

I agree with you that I've made it this far, I just gotta keep going....I'll start studying tomorrow...Need a mental break!

rnwannabe77 · Mar 31, 2012

If you are working full time and going to school full time then you have a very good reason to be stressed and overwhelmed. I know a lot of people say they were able to work full time in school, but I saw a lot of people in my class struggle a lot and then have to drop out or fail because it just got to be too much.
I was working full time when I started, then encountered some health problems, and then ended up having to quit my job because it was either work or finish school. I also didn't have a family or support system, which made things even more difficult.
I had to take out a lot of loans to finance the rest of my school year and I'm paying for it now, but for me that was the right decision. But I also graduated at a time when the job market was pretty good so did not have too many problems finding work after I graduated.
That is not the case these days. So it's a very difficult and overwhelming situation you must be facing. I can understand why you are feeling burned out. It's not all you, you are trying to do something enormously difficult, juggling job and school.
I'm not sure what to tell you about how to proceed. Could you do this part time? Or work part time? Do you have family who are supportive of you?
Would you feel better if you took some time away to get some distance from this stress? It might work out in your benefit to extend your schooling so that when you graduate you are facing a better job market.
The one thing I can tell you is that please do not blame this entirely on yourself. Nursing school is very hard, and it is even harder when you are working and stressed about paying the bills.
Best of luck and hugs.:hug:

Hi...Thanks for responding! Just to clarify, I work full-time but attend school part-time. Class is one night a week from 3-9 and clinicals are two nights a week from 3-10. Combining work, class, clinicals, and my commute it's like having two full-time jobs which I know is a lot!

I have family that I am close with (not so much during the school year though, for obvious reasons) and a boyfriend that I live with. For the most part they are supportive emotionally but I'm on my own financially (which as you said is an added stress). They are definitely pushing me to study and finish out the school year!

I would love to take a semester off to reduce my stress, but I won't be able to reenter the program until this time next year, which is not an option for me. Maybe I'll reward myself with a nice vacation upon finishing the program, and use that as motivation to pass the final!

I don't know when you finished school, but congrats on both graduating and finding a job so soon!

Daisie4100 · Apr 1, 2012

I am currently in my first semester of ADN program and I completely understand your feelings of being overwhelmed. The only advice I have is to go on to youtube and spend an hour watching funny cats. I know it sounds stupid but laughing at silly stuff really helps me release tension. Good luck!

heather13 · Apr 1, 2012

Hi!

I am in my last semester of my ADN program and I understand what you are talking about. There are times when I feel like just giving up. One thing that I noticed about myself is, if I set out to study ALL DAY the idea of that is so overwhelming that I don't know where to start. So I fidget around the house saying to myself "I should be studying now". Then, when I don't get around to it, I get really down on myself and studying seems to become this big unmanageable guilt ridden thing!

What has helped me with this spiral is to schedule time to study, and schedule time to NOT study. You aren't a machine. You need to sit down and relax once in a while. If you schedule the time to do that, you will be more refreshed and studying will be more effective. Also, studying in small increments of time such as an hour or two every night can be much more manageable than one marathon day a week.

I recently came across this article that has some good tips, as well as some validation for us long suffering students. I hope you find it helpful! Good luck to you!!!

Dealing with stress in nursing school | Scrubs – The Leading Lifestyle Nursing Magazine Featuring Inspirational and Informational Nursing Articles

rnwannabe77 · Apr 1, 2012

I am currently in my first semester of ADN program and I completely understand your feelings of being overwhelmed. The only advice I have is to go on to youtube and spend an hour watching funny cats. I know it sounds stupid but laughing at silly stuff really helps me release tension. Good luck!

Thanks for the advice....However, youtube is one the major distractions at home. Instead of studying I start watching music videos. Maybe I'll just try watching the funny cats though, when I'm in the need of desperate stress relief! Thanks again and good luck in your program!

rnwannabe77 · Apr 1, 2012

Hi!
I am in my last semester of my ADN program and I understand what you are talking about. There are times when I feel like just giving up. One thing that I noticed about myself is, if I set out to study ALL DAY the idea of that is so overwhelming that I don't know where to start. So I fidget around the house saying to myself "I should be studying now". Then, when I don't get around to it, I get really down on myself and studying seems to become this big unmanageable guilt ridden thing!
What has helped me with this spiral is to schedule time to study, and schedule time to NOT study. You aren't a machine. You need to sit down and relax once in a while. If you schedule the time to do that, you will be more refreshed and studying will be more effective. Also, studying in small increments of time such as an hour or two every night can be much more manageable than one marathon day a week.
I recently came across this article that has some good tips, as well as some validation for us long suffering students. I hope you find it helpful! Good luck to you!!!
Dealing with stress in nursing school | Scrubs – The Leading Lifestyle Nursing Magazine Featuring Inspirational and Informational Nursing Articles

Hi....I feel the exact same way! I never know where to start! Once I do start studying I can't get in a groove, then I get up and as you said "fidget around the house". Right now, though, it's crunch time. I know I have to be glued to my books all day today because it's the only day I have before Tuesday to get in some quality study time. I'll be doing so right after this!

It's so hard to schedule study/non-study time in advance. I often schedule time to study when I get home from work, but my days are so long (I wake up at 4 AM and get home at 6 PM on non-school days) that I'm exhausted by the time I get home, make dinner, etc. I find myself falling asleep in my book on those days. On days that I have class and clinical I wake up at 4 AM and don't get home until 10:30 PM, so I'm definitely not able to study on those three days! If I pass the final on Tuesday, I'm definitely gonna have to work something out for next semester.

Good luck in your last semester and thanks so much for the article link!!!