Namaste883

I appreciate the honest insight that you and others have shared. I am also really happy to hear that your work/life has changed since being an NP-it's very encouraging. I do hope that the health care system can change so that nurses are able to provide that ideal patient care. Hearing the experience shared actually helps me now while I'm in school. Thanks so much for posting this!!

Question for all: By "leave the profession" do you mean just nursing or the health care field in general? I'm a first year nursing student and honestly I'm only doing this because I really want to be a Nurse Practitioner. I'm willing to put myself through the difficulties of nursing school followed by the many challenges that everyone mentioned that comes along with being a nurse for it to allow me to do what I really want, which is to be an NP. I would consider a program that allows you to go straight from BSN to NP, however I imagine the experience gained on the floor is invaluable. Do the feelings of the profession change when further education is pursued in the health care field?

So I realize I am commenting on this much later and that you may or may not be into your second semester at school now. I just wanted to reach out and thank you for posting this because currently I am in my first semester and have really been struggling. I came in with a 3.36 GPA and for one reason or another have not been able to pass a single exam. I did end up withdrawing from Fundamentals as advised by my professors and student advisor. It was such a difficult decision to make because the other students who aren't passing just stuck it out, even though they are going to fail and will have to re-take the coorifice again in the spring. I too have studied harder, longer and have tried several different methods of studying, including all of the ways you described. From what my nurse friends have told me eventually it will click. It happens for students at different times, but if I just keep at it at some point this whole critical thinking stuff will just click. I firmly believe that. Although I am bummed out about having to re-take Fundamentals, in the end I am glad because I think I will actually understand things even better. I wish I had made testing arrangements at the beginning of the semester because I think that would have helped me immensely. Eventually I did get to take my exams in a private room and had extra time to take it. The exam I took with such arrangements went much better and I passed with a 76. I don't know how things have gone for you now in the fall but I hope to hear that it's going better than last semester. You're not alone in this. Thanks again for posting this and reminding me that I am not the only one struggling.

Hi all. I'm in my first semester of NS and have been struggling with it big time! My anxiety and ADD have decided to flair up with a vengeance since I started the program. I am on Wellbutrin for my depression but it has not done anything for my focus, and it has probably added to my anxiety. Others in my program who struggle with the same thing take Adderall and/or Zanex and it seems to be working for them as they are passing their classes. Does anyone have any experience dealing with this as a sober person being nervous about taking stimulants and benzodiazepines?? I'm desperately seeking a way to manage my anxiety and ADD that won't put me at risk for relapse. Thanks.

I needed to read this. Thanks for sharing. I am in my first semester of nursing school and struggling. I was beginning to wonder why anyone would put themselves into a profession which is incredibly demanding. Your post reminded me why I chose to get into this profession in the first place.

Thank you so much for your encouragement and sharing your experience. I actually reached out and spoke to my advisor and professors today about where I'm at. Unfortunately I have made the decision to withdrawal from my Fundamentals of Nursing course (that's our first semester clinical course 6 credits). Since I have not been able to pass a single exam we concluded it would be better to withdrawal to save my GPA and start back over again in the spring. They will hold a seat for me if I want to try it again, and for that I am really grateful. I too have discovered a little bit too late in the game of some of the resources I should have taken advantage of in the beginning of the semester such as testing accommodations to take my exams in a private room with more time. I like your suggestion about taking time to both spend on power points and notes in addition to reading the book. While I did spend an ample amount of time studying I never quite found that balance between spending enough time on both power points and textbook. I would either spend too much time on one of those and not enough of the other. I am going to look into private tutors also. I was in a tutoring group session which was helpful, however I believe a one on one tutoring session would probably be most beneficial. I'm certainly not ready to throw in the towel and quit as I know in my heart this is the right profession for me...unfortunately it may take me a little longer to complete than I would like. Sharing your experience really helps remind me that I am not alone with the struggles in nursing school. Thanks again for the encouragement!!

Hi all, I'm a first semester nursing student. My program has our first semester broken up into three courses. I have not been able to pass a single exam since beginning this program, except for my practical exams. I work really hard and all I do is study and go to school. I've managed to get A's and B's on all my pre-reqs but now I can not seem to get a 75% or above on any exam so far. I've been close, 74, 72, etc but not a 75% which is passing in my program. I'm feeling so discouraged right now because I keep taking advantage of all of my resources and really have been giving it my all. I don't know how to give more when I feel like I gave it my everything. I no longer discuss my grades with my peers and feel like the I'm the only one who is not passing any of these exams. I love clinicals and think that I will be very good at actual nursing, I just really don't know how to get through the nursing program. If anyone else could share their experience of struggling to pass in their first semester I would love to hear it.