Overwhelming....

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Specializes in Renal/Telemetry; Critical Care.

I just started nursing school last week. I am in an RN program. The first few days have been overwhelming and long. I have had soo many feelings this first week of school. As anyone ever questioned whether or not this is the career you want? I am so overwhelmed it makes me want to quit. I wont quit because I want to be a nurse but I feel I cant do this! Just looking for some common feelings others have had and some words of encouragement. We had our vital sign check off this week and I PASSED!!! That made me feel like I was doing the right career but again the study load and everything else is still making me doubt my decision.... :idea:

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Specializes in ICU.
I just started nursing school last week. I am in an RN program. The first few days have been overwhelming and long. I have had soo many feelings this first week of school. As anyone ever questioned whether or not this is the career you want? I am so overwhelmed it makes me want to quit. I wont quit because I want to be a nurse but I feel I cant do this! Just looking for some common feelings others have had and some words of encouragement. We had our vital sign check off this week and I PASSED!!! That made me feel like I was doing the right career but again the study load and everything else is still making me doubt my decision.... :idea:

Don't worry, you're not alone. I feel like the first semester is the toughest as far as being overwhelmed. Unfortunately almost anything you've done before nursing school doesn't prepare you for nursing school. I remember taking my A&P classes and thinking this is probably as tough as nursing school, but I can handle it, how little I knew. My advice is to keep grinding, get the reading done, show up for class, learn as much as you can in clinicals, and it will go by faster than you think. Best of luck.

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Specializes in Neuroscience.

Keep going. I'm a first year student as well. Tomorrow marks the end of week 4 for me. I've cried a LOT so far. It IS overwhelming, all that they ask of you, the readings, feeling like an idiot with skills, the whole, "what the hell have I signed up for?" tape that plays in your brain, worry over the first test, etc. Yeah. I'm a bit calmer now, but when clinicals start in two weeks I KNOW I'll be starting the doubt cycle all over again.

We'll make it! Others have, so it's not impossible! One day at a time thinking helps to push down the panic of all of the things you have to do.

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OMG I was scared in school and I am still scared now but I still think I am a pretty darn good nurse for a newbie. I wanted to cry after taking care of my very first patient in clinical, he had some very gross toe ick that I had to clean off and was incontinent. Across the hall, a patient was screaming, SCREAMING for his daughter. I was sad and scared. I can't explain why I kept on going back to school, it was hard and there were lots of tears along the way. But I would do it all again if I had to. I love being a nurse.

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You're definitely not alone.. here is a post I made right after I started the BSN program!

https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-student/i-am-one-502174.html

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Oh you are not alone, I would imagine that many nursing students feel that way at one time or another. I'm half way into 3rd semester. I'll be done in May, wow! how time flies, but I definitely had some doubts about whether I could do this early on. Just breathe! Yes nursing school is stressful and the work load is insane but you can get through it.

One of the things that has helped me is to make friends in nursing school. You can betcha bottom dollar that there are other students that feel the same way. Talking with each other about our fears, joys and hopes and dreams has really helped me to hang in there on those days when I've felt like it was too much. Your other friends don't understand you the way your nursing friends do!

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Specializes in ICU Surgical Trauma.

It will get better. That's how I felt during my first two week and I got over the hurdle and the load subsided. This is only out calm before the storm. lol Goodluck

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Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Flight.

mentally ive dropped out of nursing school every semester, but Im still hanging around and fighting the fight.

Yes the work is overwhelming and annoying at some times but ive never questioned if i should be a nurse or not.

One thing that keeps me motivated is, when i hear the lifeflight helicopter either landing on the building or hear it flying over my house. Thats what i ultimately want to do, and it helps remind me of that.

Find something to remind you why your doing nursing and it you'll see you'll feel more motivated to get the heck out and be an RN :)

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

I never cried until this week... I'm overwhelmed, frustrated, tired, burned out, stressed... thank goodness I'm finished soon. It seems for my class we've all hit the wall this quarter after 1.5 years of solid instruction and experiences. December 2nd cannot come soon enough! Hang in there, I hear it's worth it ;)

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Hehe, I think "overwhelming" is probably the best description of nursing school. The material comes at you fast and it seems like it is never-ending. In the most part you will always feel a little bit overwhelmed, however, it does get better. After awhile you'll develop routines and build confidence knowing the accomplishments that you have achieved. In regards to whether or not it is worth it, there are times I've had during school which were amazing. Friendships you build during your time in nursing school are quite strong. We get to spend more time than we ever will with our patients as students. Procedures to us are new and exciting. "The juice is definitely worth the squeeze." Best of luck to you :o

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I am about to start my 4th quarter of a 5 quarter program, and I told the director yesterday that I don't remember a thing from our first 3 weeks of class! We were all overwhelmed with getting accepted, starting 3 days late due to snow days, and not knowing what to think of it all. Stress plays a huge role in learning, and school is stressful. Sort of a catch 22.

A lot of people have doubts, some may drop due to grades or poor choices..my thought is, I have paid for the quarter, there are people counting on me and I will succeed at this assignment, this concept map, this quiz, exam, or IV start or catheter... Whatever the issue is, it is only one small part of the bigger picture. Get through it, have another success under my belt, and gain confidence. I am not about to fail at something I have not given my best. And if I fail at it, I try again sooner rather than later.

It's like riding a bike, when you fall and get hurt, the longer you stay off and stare at it and cry, the more difficult it is to get back on. I grab that bike by the horns and give it a thump on the wheels, throw a leg over and do it again. It gets easier, it gets harder, it gets disgusting and frustrating and sad and overwhelming, but I do it anyway because I am not a quitter.

Hang in there and good luck.

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Specializes in Peds, Float, Ambulatory, Telemetry (new).

The first thing you have to do is make a schedule. Secondly, for me the start of every quarter was overwhelming for me and I am going to graduate in December. So to say the least, that feeling will never go away. I wish you all the luck. Stay strong, stay focused, and do your best. :yeah:

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