Pre-nursing advice -- Stress, boredom, emotional health

[edolan]

Hello! I'm Elaine, and I'm in my second year BS program in Biomedical Sciences. My goal is to get into an ABSN program after I graduate, then ultimately to become a Nurse Practitioner. I've known for years that I belong in the medical field as a working professional, and I fell in love with the nursing model of education over the physician model (considered pursuing my MD) in no time -- it resonated with me. I have a fierce drive to become an RN, and ultimately an NP.

That said, I could certainly use some advice from those who've been through this before...

This is the year that I take Anatomy and Physiology. I'm halfway through A&P I, sitting at a B+. From what I can tell, I think I'm doing fairly well, compared to how the rest of the class talks about their grades; I have no issue comprehending the material (avid lover of Biology). The issue is that while I've been scoring relatively high on assignments and tests... I don't know... Maybe it's because A&P is all I'm focusing on, but I'm getting to be bored with it. We're learning the muscle system right now, and gosh... Some days, I don't even want to look at muscles, I study them so much! I'm so tired of them!!! It's origin-this, insertion-that, three or four actions -- just for one muscle!

That said, I know that I need to learn them. It's just really hard forcing myself to study them constantly. That's what I need to get over.

(Long-winded -- sorry, but thank you so much for reading!)

This class has also brought me to tears a few times a week for roughly the past month. I'm sure it's the constant stress and tension I have from it ("I need to get an A -- I need to get an A!!")... And that makes it even harder to begin studying, once I've cried for an hour or so. And then, I think, "If this is how I'm handling A&P, how will I handle the accelerated nursing program?" Mind you, I'm not considering quitting -- at all -- I just need to learn how to make this all work together. I need to figure out how to improve!

Any suggestions at all are so deeply appreciated. I feel like I'm killing myself for an A, and could really use some advice, or even just words of support and encouragement. It's a lonely, dark place, sometimes.

TLDR;pre-nursing student pursuing MSN, taking A&P I and bored stiff. No issues with comprehension, just actually studying. The stress to get an A is taking an emotional toll (panic attacks, depressive episodes, etc.) and need to learn how to cope better in order to prepare for the stress of an accelerated BSN after an undergraduate degree. Thank you so much in advance for any advice.

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

Why not switch to a BSN program now? You're only in your second year, so three more years of that program, plus another 12-18 months for an ABSN (assuming you're full time). Honestly, remaining in a program to get a degree you don't plan on learning isn't a good use of your time or money.

Some classes will be harder than others. This is true no matter what program you take. A&P is difficult for many people because it often involves more memorization of information than other classes (such as algebra) that focus on applying principles to solve problems. However, the basics of A&P will be applied to almost all of your nursing courses in the future. Stick with it, and try to figure out how you best learn and study. For some, it's flash cards. Others like drawing their own diagrams or examining labeled pictures.

[edolan]

Hi, Double-Helix,

Thanks a bunch for your response! I'm choosing the accelerated track for two major reasons: I'm at an excellent university, (Rochester Institute of Technology), and I have a full-ride scholarship here, specific to RIT -- I wouldn't get the same scholarship at a nursing school. That said, I'll only have to pay for one full academic year of ABSN after my undergrad.

And yes -- I'm definitely learning that A&P is just rote memorization, unfortunately... especially this chapter. Flashcards usually work for me; the trouble I'm having now is getting myself to sit down and study them, as bad as that sounds.

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

In that case, ABSN makes a lot of sense. If you have a program in mind, you may want to plan ahead and see if there are any prerequisites or transferrable credits you can take while in your current program at RIT.

I think motivation for studying- particularly studying material that is difficult for us to grasp- is a problem for a lot of people. I always found I was most efficient when I left my house or school to do studying. My preferred spot was Border's bookstore cafe, where I could get a nice warm drink and find a quiet corner to buckle down.

[Double-Helix, BSN, RN]

Also, I can almost guarantee that RIT offers some kind of free student support center where you could meet with a professional to discuss how the stress of school is affecting you and get the assistance you need with coping.

[BrendanO, MSN, RN]

Sorry to hear you're struggling. I found the muscular and skeletal systems to be the "boring" parts of A&P. I suspect it'll get more interesting to you once you get to more complicated systems like nervous or endocrine.

To echo Double-Helix, it might help you emotionally to talk face-to-face with a professional. If you've been crying for an hour several times a week for the past month, I think you might have more happening in your head than just general anxiety about this class. One of the cardinal rules of healthcare professions is to address the needs of the care provider (you!) first. There is nothing wrong in asking for help when you need it; you are not alone.