MasterOfNone

I can't find any journal articles on this topic, but lately I've just been thinking: I'm at my 2-year mark as a nurse, and I just can't shake the feeling that now I have more trouble concentrating than before I was a nurse. I'm working full time (3 days a week, 12-hour shifts) and taking 2 classes online to complete my BSN, and I just can't help but notice that it takes me forever to do my assignments these days because I can't concentrate fully on the assignment half the time. When I was in school for my ADN I could knock out assignments no problem but now I struggle to get them done and it takes me hours. I find my mind wanders without me noticing way too much; often work-related thoughts that pop up as I try to complete my assignments but sometimes other thought pathways... I just think it's crazy because sometimes it takes me hours to get a small assignment done and I know that's NOT how I used to do homework at ALL. Then again, I also feel like I have ADD at work all the time because I work med-surg and let's face it, it's just constant call lights and phone calls and people saying "hey, this person wants you to this and this" and newer nurses asking me questions (which I love but it's distracting) and visitors asking me questions and bed alarms going off and just... a million and one distractions, basically, and I can't really tell if it's my mind that's going crazy or just the environment that's making me ADD. I can't really tell at this point whether it's just that my work wears me out and that's why I can't concentrate, or whether two years of constant rapid-fire distractions and moment-to-moment decisions have crushed my concentrations skills. Has anyone else kind of wondered whether their mental state has been affected by their nursing job?

For reasons I would rather not get into (too extensive/personal), this program is my only option currently and I'm so relieved I got in. I cannot consider other programs. I would rather just hear people's experiences financing their post-bacs - but thanks for taking the time to write me back! I appreciate your concern! :)

I agree with this comment 100%. Constructive criticism can definitely sound like something really negative if you have the wrong attitude. I just always remember that without making mistakes, AND without people pointing out my mistakes, I wouldn't learn much!

I can't speak from the perspective of someone who is in the nursing field already (I just got accepted into a nursing program myself), but I don't think you are unfit just because you show your emotions easily. I don't think it will be easy for ANYONE in the nursing field to deal with emotions regarding patient death or suffering, and everyone deals with it differently. I think you just need to find your own way to cope with the emotional difficulties of your career. Maybe you would find it helpful to have someone to talk to about your emotional hardships! :)

Hello everyone! First time posting here! :) I just got accepted to my post-bac program, which I'm over the moon about, but I'm already worrying about how to finance it. The max amount I'm allowed to take out from stafford loans is $12,500 annually and for personal loans from my bank it's max $12,500 annually as well. Unfortunately, total tuition + fees for my program is over $50,000. I have already written my financial advisor with the program, but I was also wondering what other people have done to finance this kind of an accelerated, 12-month program. Most loans seem to be set up for people doing a regular program that costs much less per year, but mine has a huge annual cost that seems daunting to cover financially. Anyway, I was just hoping to hear other people's experiences who have been through a post-bac program as well! :) I'd love to hear from any and all of you! Thanks for reading and I'm sorry to bother you all! Best wishes and thank you in advance!