Overwhelmed Student....

When I was in nursing school I drove myself so crazy trying to get straight As that the stress nearly killed me. I couldn't keep up that pace I was going and if I hadn't gotten my act together I might have ended up failing or having to drop out.

I am not good at sciences or math. I'm not good at multiple choice tests, to be honest, I don't test well at all.

I did fantastic in my clinicals though, and with care plans and my case studies, and all my pharmaceutical case studies as well. And I did really really well once I got into the floor experience part, and then all that confusing course material just fell right into place.

Turns out I'm a hands-on learner, not a textbook learner. I'm also horrible at pneumonics.

I did really well in the labs once I realized that reading a chapter on how to do it wasn't going to stick, and so I went in to school early every day and just practiced the doing, over and over again, sometimes with a friend, sometimes alone, until the procedure was so automatic I didn't even think about what I was doing.

So I got through my coursework with a solid B average and did really really well in my clinicals. But the important information is that I graduated from school and went on to pass the NCLEX, and now, years into this profession, all of that school angst doesn't really matter.

90% of what you learn as a nurse you learn on the job. Just make sure you're solid on the basics.

And do not give in to the urge to compare yourself to others. Everyone is different and we all excel in different ways.

You sound a lot like I was in nursing school. I came from working odd jobs at fast food places and grocery stores when I got in to nursing school. So many of my classmates were already working as PCAs or in doctor's offices or as nurse's aides and I had no experience whatsoever. All I really knew is that ever since I could remember I wanted to work in medicine, since I was a little kid.

I had to study my buns off to pass the math tests, I did awful, in fact failed my very first nursing test. Nursing school isn't like other classes, the tests are more critical thinking than just memorizing facts, so it can be a difficult transition at first. Once I figured out how to take nursing tests, I did better, but like you, I wasn't comfortable sharing my grades with everyone. I barely made it through my first semester, like by just a few points. I was proud of myself for making it and that's all that really mattered.

I was never one for study groups either. In my experience study groups don't really get a lot done, people like to chit chat and it's easy to get off topic, I was much more productive by myself, so I studied alone. I had a few close friends in the class and that was enough for me. I've never been a social butterfly and it worked out just fine.

Don't worry about what other people think of you, when you have to do a skill, just focus on yourself and be confident that you know what you are doing and just tune everything else out. Don't think that any grade will measure what kind of nurse you will be. School gives us the building blocks, but how we take that experience and use it makes you the kind of nurse you want to be.

As long as you study and get passing grades and make it through each semester, you'll be fine. Trust me, they don't put what grades you got on your license, thankfully...lol. I only got one A through all of nursing school and I passed and got my license and a job and you can do it as well, just keep on doing what you are doing and good luck!

You will be fine! Continue to study hard and stop feeling so down on yourself. We both started this program the same day and we will both graduate this December. I have been praying for you. P.S I don't do study groups either, just leave those alone. No one will study the way you do. Must of the time they talk about things that have nothing to do with class work!! Continue doing a great job!

OK, I was majoring in early childhood and decided to switch into nursing and that I'd be happier, well I had finished most core classes while I was in ECE so I just had A&P and Psych left, and I just got accepted into the program this semester when after finishing pre-reqs last semester....I have no previous healthcare experience! I really feel inadequate and less confident, considering out of the 18 people in my class, basically all of them have healthcare experience or are currently working at a Doctor's office.

We've had two drug calc tests and I've made 82's on both of them, whereas it seems everyone else is scoring 90-100 on them, and I just feel out of place, but know this is what I want to do. I mean, I am happy with scoring a B rather than a C or lower, but I still feel...blah, you know? Has anyone ever went through these feelings before? I mean an 82 should not have me questioning if I will be successful as a nursing student or not, yet it brings me to that dilemma.

We had a check off for sterile gloving and I was perfect at it every time I practiced, but our instructor has us go up front and do it in front of everyone and they're staring...so what do you know, I messed up.

I try to focus on ME and not everyone else, but grades are being announced all around the class room, over facebook, and I get asked what I made, etc, etc. when I truly am one of those people that rather it be my business, whether it's an A, B, or whatever.

The class is pretty much meets every friday at one of their homes for group study, and I feel like the oddball yet again, because I just don't study well in groups and the fact that it doesn't seem as if it's actually study group...from the way I've heard them talk, they take their diet and nutrition exams together, drink a few alcoholic beverages, and eat...I don't feel productive that way.

I'm one of those awkward not-too-social people and I am also the youngest in the class. Majority of the class is in their mid-20's to late 30's.

I know, I know...as I've typed all of this out, I feel like I am a huge baby whining about things, but I was just looking for someone who overcame these things and how to be happy with the grades you make.

I think when it all comes down to it, I am a B student, as I usually do make all B's with a few A's, but that can feel real awkward in a room full of A's.

Just needed a rant after a long week, I think!

You are not in a room full of A's! Trust me. There are probably so many other students out there in your boat or even worse off. There were a lot of PCA's in my class during 1st semester, and they were pretty good in theory at first. A lot of them had previously seen things while working or had knowledge of different health care terminology that newbies didn't. Some were very humble with their knowledge, but you could tell that others thought that nursing school would be easy because they worked as a CNA for a year before coming to school.

I remember in one instance. I was working with a partner, and we were learning how to get a patient out of bed. My partner was a CNA, and she was telling me about how she has to do this everyday and it was easy. I just paid attention to the teacher. We went to do it, and she basically tried to pull our 3rd partner out of the bed backwards? I corrected her on this because it was my grade too, and she looked a little bit mad.

One of our instructors told us not to depend on prior knowledge that you've acquired working as a PCA or CNA. She said that you never know if you've been doing something wrong (or wrong in their standards) the entire time you've been working. It's also harder to relearn something that you've been doing "wrong" for years, so it would be harder for those people if they did indeed need to change something.

As the semester progressed, a lot of these people did eventually start to "fall behind" in line with everyone else. Things get tougher, and there is just a lot of stuff that a PCA or CNA wouldn't know.

The 1st semester of nursing (at my school anyway) wasn't too difficult in comparison to the other semesters. It is just fundamentals and scraping the surface of nursing. Everyone will be feeling the same way that you do by the end. The only difference is that you will be prepared because you will already be used to working hard to earn your grades. You will know how and for how long you need to study to make decent grades. These people that goof off in study groups will soon realize that either their study groups need to become serious or they will need to find a new way to study. It will be hard for them when they realize that it's not easy anymore!

When you get a job after you graduate:

1. They just care if you pass your boards.

2. They will have an orientation to get you started with work.

Nursing is not something that comes very easily for me. I struggled and had to work VERY hard for the B's (and sometimes C's) that I got. I passed by boards just fine. I love taking care of people. That's what you should be focusing on. Let me tell you, one of my fellow students had the highest GPA in the class--but the worst people skills I have ever seen.

Bottom line, don't get discouraged. Keep focusing on the image of you walking across that stage for your diploma.

[color=#2f4f4f]thanks for all of your replies. i think i just had a rough week and have been too focused on those around me and that's got to quit for me to be successful in nursing school and beyond. i appreciate the time you guys took to reply, what you've said really opened my eyes and made me feel a lot better about what i've been struggling with. i may not make perfect grades, but as long as i graduate and learn the tasks that are required, i know i'll be just fine. i've got to focus on myself, not anyone else. it's just some things that take work and i'm working on it! :)

thanks again you guys.

I'm in nursing school right now too and i've had the same feeling before. Like you i'm one of the youngest in my class and i have no previous health care experience before nursing school and alot of times i felt like i was behind my class mates. After a few semesters though i've come to realize that i'm not as behind as i once thought, it just seemed that way because it was so much and i wasn't confident in what i was doing yet. Now that i've gotten through a few semesters i feel way better and i am alot more confidet. It just takes some time, just stick with it and do your best. Good luck!

[color=#2f4f4f]thank you. it's really helping to actually open my mind to realization that many other students go into nursing without any experience in the healthcare field. i also think i needed time to adjust and get used to this form of studying, and of course to realize the importance of having a schedule that is organized. i got into these habits partially last semester during a&p and psych, but i see that i needed to tweak a couple of things, and i'm in the process of doing so. i also need to work on my anxiety levels...and that's definitely a work in progress. i am actually waiting on the results of our second test in nursing fundamentals as i type. we will have them later this morning. i do not want to jinx myself, but i feel i did very well. thanks again for all of your kind words you guys.