ericaej

It does not sound like a safe environment to begin your nursing practice. I have been a nurse for a short time: about three years. I have practiced on med surg most of that time. However, I also worked in long term care and skilled nursing for a brief period of time while I was also working med surg. Skilled nursing is difficult because the level of care may be stable but the volume is more. Also, people can develop problems, just like anyone, and require immediate assistance. This means one gets way behind in caring for the 13-14 other patients under your charge. I would recommend looking for a different job before quitting this one. But also trust your gut. If the environment is not safe, it won't be safe in the long term for your nursing practice or license. The best advice I have gotten from my late Aunt (an RN for 40 years) is always protect your license. There are jobs everywhere. Good luck!

I am starting my third semester of nursing school and worked as a CNA for the first time this summer. I have enjoyed it very much. It has helped me learn to organize, prioritize, and overall time management. In clinical, the most patients I have been responsible for was two. At work (with nurses on the floor as well), I have been responsible for the adls of 11 patients at a time. I am glad to have the opportunity and I always try to remember that there is a person behind the task at hand. I don't refer to disposable undergarments as diapers. I think it is rude so I always just call it underwear. I don't talk down. Even with patients that can be difficult, I try to let them know I care and am gentle. If it were your loved one, you'd want them to be cared for in the same way. Now with all that being said, I am glad I am becoming a nurse but I won't forget my time as a CNA. I am going to continue working part time as a CNA while I finish school.

I was studying 3-4 hours every day or more. I was making Bs for most of the semester but ended up with a C+ because my last two tests were in the 70s. I get very nervous during testing; palms sweat, heart burn, etc. I do deep breathing and try to calm down but can't. I went to the doctor about my anxiety and go to a counselor but haven't found it helpful. I think it's actually gotten worse! I am in a difficult program (though I think all may be?!) and we lost many students this semester. Next semester we have papers that are worth 22% of our grade and I do well with writing. I can articulate myself well and get As on nursing papers. This semester the paper was worth 10%. One thing I am horrible at is rote memorization. I have never been good at it. Our classes are taught through video conferencing and I find that to be a stumbling block to my way of learning. We didn't have a study group but I think those of us left are going to get together to study next semester.

Well I do all that. Ha. Then come test time I do well enough to pass but not as well as I would wish to and I feel stupid afterwards because I'll be like, "Ugh, I should have known that!" Guess I'm going to have to try to figure out a way to make it work next semester. But thank you for your response.

I'm happy to have completed my first year of nursing school. It was hard! My grades were passing but not what I would have liked. Any tips for doing better? I get test anxiety and it seems like everything I studied goes out the window come test time.

That is awesome. Congratulations and best of luck!

I just wanted to update and thank you all for your responses. I saw my doctor today and she doesn't want to put me on any anxiety medication. She tends to not prescribe meds for psychiatric issues so I'm going to try therapy closer to my home! I think it's just going to end up w/ me trying to find a balance between school and the many life issues I have going on. I do have a plethora of issues w/ my parents right now (divorcing after 38 years together and putting me in the middle) SO that really ups my emotional stressors. Thanks again :) I love this forum!

Thank you for your responses. I'm calling my doctor today. I used to go to therapy regularly due to a lot of different things and was diagnosed w/ generalized anxiety. Now my therapist is 20 minutes from my house and school/ clinical is 20-25 minutes in the opposite direction. My only weekday off is Tuesday and I usually am trying to get homework, housework, and being a mom to a 12 year old girl when I am home. I have a lot of stressors aside from school and I need to talk to someone but when will I find the time? :/ I used to walk 3-7 miles a day to cope with my stress. It helped bring my cortisol levels down and released all those good hormones. But no time for that now (and too much snow outside!) :/ I am doing 2-3 miles a day with a workout video now.

Since starting nursing school, I have developed horrible test anxiety. The only time I had it prior to nursing courses was when I took anatomy and physiology. The thing is that I now get it afterwards too. I also get it when I chart in the computer system at clinical. "Did I forget this?" We use the bubble tests and that gives me thoughts like, "Did I put it in the right box? Did I remember to go back and fill in the right circle?" And so on. It's gotten so bad that I don't know if I can continue school without solving it. I can't go on 2.5 more semesters like this. I'm losing my mind. I've started exercising again to help with stress. I also bring a ruler during tests. It's taking up a lot of energy. I also get nervous when my clinical instructor asks me questions. My sentences get choppy and my palms begin to sweat. :/ I used to have anxiety when I drove a car and then when I rode in a car. I still get anxious when I ride in a car. I've gone to therapy. I'm thinking I may call the doctor's office tomorrow to get medication. I just don't want it to become something I am dependent upon. Has anyone else dealt with this level of anxiety in school?

I think getting As in nursing school is doable for some people. It wasn't for me. I got an 84.25% which equals a B- in my program. I'm not happy about it but it is a rigorous program. I always strive for excellence and do my best. That's all you can do. I think Cs are okay for nursing school. :) I meant to add that prior to nursing school, my gpa was 3.81. I've had 2 Bs out of several semesters. It is difficult for me to accept Bs but I am trying to get over it.

I think it is petty of you to care. Learn to let that stuff go now before you get a job in nursing imho. Didn't nursing school teach you that life isn't always fair?

Do you record lectures? I have been recording them and listening to them over and over. I go on walks and listen to my lecture. I will see if it helps by the next exam! :)

The first semester of nursing school has been a whole new experience unto itself. I have perused nursing message boards and YouTube discovering that the consensus seems to be that the difficulties of nursing school are a fact of life. I believe that the curriculum is structured in such a way as to create stress intentionally. Nurses have to take care of many different types of people with a variety of problems. Some of these problems are life threatening and one wrong move on the part of the nurse could mean life or death. I've also encountered attitudes about nursing that have made me want to scream. Like, "It's just caregiving..." Being a nurse isn't just caregiving. If you want to be a caregiver then go ahead and become one. There are many opportunities available in caregiving that don't involve the work of a nurse. Being in the first semester, I'm still figuring out what it is a nurse does. What I have learned is that it is A LOT of work. Nurses work with other members of the health care team in developing ways to help people. To do this means being able to communicate with others of varying backgrounds, be empathetic but to remain objective. We have to put aside our problems when we're having a bad day to focus on the person we are helping. Nurses have to know how the body works, how different medications work, and how to look at the big picture while recalling the little details. We also have to remember all our basic skills and standard precautions to keep ourselves and the patient safe. Nursing school is a lot more difficult than I expected. I didn't realize just how stressed out I was going to become. If you are an A student, be prepared that might not be the case in nursing school. There's just too much to learn in a short period of time. The program that I am in is competitive and fast paced. I can't speak of other programs. We began our clinical rotations a few weeks into this semester; some don't begin until almost the end of the first semester (if at all). So far, it has been rewarding. I have had my very bad days when I have questioned if this is what I want. I've made mistakes! Stupid mistakes that make you go, "Oh my god, what if I made a mistake like this while working as a nurse?" Mistakes can get you booted from the program. In that regard, I feel it is too rigid. Everyone makes mistakes or as we first learned from The Joint Commission, "To Err is Human." To be a nurse, you have to be exceptionally intelligent but even intelligent people aren't perfect. We all have our areas of weakness: mine is anxiety. I can know how to do something inside and out but once my teacher sets foot in the room; my palms begin to sweat and my heart begins to race. Did I know that I would be like this before classes started? No! One of the worst parts is that I feel it makes me look flighty and incapable. It's something I am working on but does that mean I shouldn't have the opportunity and time to work on it? What about the student that isn't a good test taker? Or the student that doesn't get the math right away? What is the point in beginning with new students if we've already invested in some that are working on their issues? I don't think it should be that unforgiving. We are in school after all. This is the time to learn what we need to know and become capable. If several students barely pass the dosage calculations class, is that all on them or is there an issue in the curriculum or teaching? Accountability needs to take place across the spectrum. My English teacher allowed everyone to write their papers over until they got an A. I recall him stating, "If you don't get an A in this class that is on you." I wasn't a great writer when I started that class. I got an A because I kept re-writing until I figured it out. Maybe we need just a smidge of that kind of attitude in nursing school. Well that is my rant for the day. I do have to say, nursing students (at least the ones in my class) are pretty awesome. They are some of the most caring and kind human beings I have encountered. I have hope that we will all pass and become nurses one day. The world needs people that care. We all have our stories of great nurses and unfortunately, there are stories of some bad experiences. I hope to be a good nurse and if I don't make it, I know I tried. That's really all you can do.

Let me reiterate, I understand why. I just don't prefer it. It's not a natural thing for me. Perhaps, in time, it will become more natural. I am in my first semester of nursing school, afterall. :)

I completely understand why we have to document. Thank you all for the responses. Each is appreciated. I do like patient care just not a fan of writing everything down. I like to keep things in my head and am fairly organized that way (minus the fact that I forget passwords to websites if my computer deletes my cookies).