PhoenixSP

I think you are focusing on the wrong thing. The mannequin. The fact that you cannot view the mannequin as a real patient is not the source of your anxiety. The source of your anxiety is feeling as though you are acting on stage because you have to "pretend." You have stage fright. And no amount of sitting with those things is going to help you, unfortunately lol. It's just a matter of doing the simulation over and over and gradually becoming more confident. My anxiety was through the ROOF when I first began them. I just had to learn to pretend no one was really watching and not worry about whether I do everything perfectly. You will NEVER do everything perfectly so don't worry about how you sound talking to the mannequin or whether you forget a step. Just concentrate on dealing with whatever issue they present to you. At my school, the instructor and other students are watching you perform and then you are debriefed afterward and they tell you what you did wrong. Oh the joy! I have simulation tomorrow and so reading this helps get me in a good mental space. Just know you're not alone and we all go through it. Good luck!

Six weeks really is not enough time. I am in an accelerated program as well. But at least we get about 8 weeks, roughly. I recommend breaking your learning into systems (i.e. Cardio, Resp., etc). Figure out the major diseases in those systems and watch youtube videos about the nursing interventions and answer practice questions. THEN do the assigned reading and fill in your gaps in knowledge. After awhile, things start to just click and you can think of a system, what is happening if something goes wrong, and what the patient needs. Good luck!

Marijuana is not federally legal. Therefore, even though you can legally smoke it at home in some states, it says nothing of employment. Labor laws are federally mandated. So, just don't smoke if you want to be a nurse unless the laws change. Even if they do change, it's not a great idea if you want to provide the best care because it can make you careless even if you're not smoking at the time. Also, nicotine does affect perception. Just not in the same way as weed. I'd abstain from both. Smoking, in general, leads to COPD almost guaranteed! *Not trying to sound like a mom lol #Facts

"I am sure it will be okay" is something we are taught NOT to say in nursing school as it gives false reassurance and considered non-therapeutic lol I do understand the sentiment of such a statement but you just can't be sure anyone will be okay. What I will say is, you can definitely get into another program. And your prerequisite courses will transfer over. You will just have to repeat your nursing core classes as they don't transfer from school to school. I am sorry to hear about your situation. I can only imagine how upside down your world must feel right now. It does get easier down the road. Just keep the positive attitude and you'll go far!

I can definitely understand where you are coming from. You are not alone. But neither are the students who do find it very challenging. As another said, it really just depends on the individual. We all have our various strengths. For me, my strength happens to be pretty much anything academic. But I also had strict parenting and have above average intelligence. Therefore, I say just be authentic to who you are. Don't feel like you have to hide the fact that you don't find it as challenging. Just be humble about it. I usually just say things like, "Eh, I don't really let it stress me out I just accept my fate" rather than something that seems boastful. At the end of the day, it really doesn't matter what other students think. They are not handing you the degree or a job. Grain of salt.