Overwhelmed

[katy81]

I just had my second clinical yesterday, and between working full time and finding the groove with nursing school I am feeling overwhelmed. I know that my fellow students are feeling the same way, but I would like to hear advice from nurses on the "other side". Also, I am having a heard time dealing with the sadness/death. What do you do to cope with it? I have found myself coming home and panicking about death. I was just wondering if this was at all "normal" and if so, how do you deal?

Thank you!!

[tablefor9, RN]

Very normal to feel over your head in nursing school. I told my family, A LOT, during nursing school that I was always regarded as very intelligent prior to college...and in the nursing program is where I found out what a delusion was. LOL. More that one straight A student has hit nursing school only to discover that C, does indeed, = RN. Just hang in there and realize that nursing is both art and science, and the learning is different. There is more to assessment and treatment skill that what can be learned by rote. You'll be okay...just keep telling yourself that until you believe it.

Also, about the sadness and fear of death. Right now, learn that the same way there are beautiful births and beautiful lives, there can be, and are, beautiful deaths. When lives have been full, and loose ends are tied up, and perhaps family is around, death can be beautiful. I agree with poster that suggested perhaps a time as a hospice volunteer, or oncology volunteer. Death is a door that's going to open for everyone, and when life is lived fully and well, nothing to fear.

[OldNurseEducator]

Very normal to feel over your head in nursing school. I told my family, A LOT, during nursing school that I was always regarded as very intelligent prior to college...and in the nursing program is where I found out what a delusion was. LOL. More that one straight A student has hit nursing school only to discover that C, does indeed, = RN. Just hang in there and realize that nursing is both art and science, and the learning is different. There is more to assessment and treatment skill that what can be learned by rote. You'll be okay...just keep telling yourself that until you believe it.

Also, about the sadness and fear of death. Right now, learn that the same way there are beautiful births and beautiful lives, there can be, and are, beautiful deaths. When lives have been full, and loose ends are tied up, and perhaps family is around, death can be beautiful. I agree with poster that suggested perhaps a time as a hospice volunteer, or oncology volunteer. Death is a door that's going to open for everyone, and when life is lived fully and well, nothing to fear.

"C" means "continue" in nursing school.

And as for death, I have always felt that I had helped someone get through their dying experience. There aren't too many professions where you can actually 'help" a person get through a death. At least you were there to "help". By help I mean just in the sense that you were there to help comfort them and/or the families. Having been both an oncology nurse (which I truly loved!) and a hospice nurse, the above poster is correct...death can be a beautiful thing! And remember, you were there to help MAKE it a beautiful thing!