RN School is tough !!

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hello Everyone. Now I am 6 weeks into RN classes. I am forced to be succesful at: clinicals, lecture and labs. The other students are all nervous, like me, and it's tense. Often I feel sad myself because no one is smiling enough. Labs are tough and they expect us to know how to give an injection on the first or second try. People are so nervous I don't know if they would let me do them. The lectures are hard, followed by bigger and bigger waves of required reading from super-thick books. It's like an airport because everyone has those portable bookbags on wheels things. The meds are killer. There are so many meds and so much to know about meds, its overwhelming. Clinicals are two days a week at adult care facility which is not as acute as med-surg cna work I do. No one knows me, and I get lonely and feel lonely for the people who live there. My first PT died, and my second didn't want any visitors after a few hours. Trying to watch all the videos are hard...did i mention that. Instruction videos on Lab skills....there is about 5-6 hours worth of video Lab. Grasping the concept of nursing diagnosis and planning and relating it to a medical diagnosis...these are huge concepts my brain is stretching wide and hard for. And the tests so far are all tricky theory questions which forces you to have to read all the text and remember it for specifics.

My nutrition has dimished because my exercise has went out the window. I'm lucky to have time to exercise once a week, compared to the 5 times a week before I started nursing school. I don't have enough time to cook for myself, and I don't have the desire to take the time to eat right. I still have a 24 hour a week job at the hospital, but you can't study on a med-surg floor as a cna. Work is the most relaxed time because everyone there is supportive of me so much. If only they knew how tough going to nursing school is. :-) I have no more free time for myself...some days are very long.

RN school is no walk in the park, and it downright changes your life.

(Send me an angel, right now!)

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

If RN school is tough, it is for a good reason. You will know that pride on pinning day, that you indeed toughed out . I wish you luck Mario. One day at a time is the only way to go.:cool:

I have a few things to add. First of all, exercise is one of your greatest defenses against depression while in a (long-term) stressful situation. Whatever you do, DON"T GIVE UP YOUR EXERCISE!! Even if you have to give up 30 minutes of sleep to exercise, it's worth it. Think of it as investing in yourself. Lots of things take it out of you. You have to give it back to yourself! :)

Secondly, I'll never forget what one fo my first professors in Nursing School told me. The first year of Nursing School is all about "weeding out." Translation: If you can't make it through the first year of Nursing School, you shouldn't be a Nurse. Tough pill to swallow, so to speak, but OH so true. In Nursing practice, you will face highly stressful situations every day, and I guess schools figure that you have to go through highly stressful situations (like 1st year nursing students do) in order to prove yourself. When I heard that, I took it as a challenge. I'll show YOU who can be a nurse!! And you can do it too. You're right, it's tough. But that's why you get paid the big bucks when you get out of school. :roll

And from a purely clinical standpoint, I would recommend that you have some friends help with telling you when signs of depression are popping up. We often don't notice clinical depression in ourselves, but our friends will notice. It will be good research for you...What are the early signs of Clinical depression? Have your friends help by watching for these signs in you.

I wish you all the best in Nursing School and beyond. This too shall pass.:)

I have a few things to add. First of all, exercise is one of your greatest defenses against depression while in a (long-term) stressful situation. Whatever you do, DON"T GIVE UP YOUR EXERCISE!! Even if you have to give up 30 minutes of sleep to exercise, it's worth it. Think of it as investing in yourself. Lots of things take it out of you. You have to give it back to yourself! :)

Secondly, I'll never forget what one fo my first professors in Nursing School told me. The first year of Nursing School is all about "weeding out." Translation: If you can't make it through the first year of Nursing School, you shouldn't be a Nurse. Tough pill to swallow, so to speak, but OH so true. In Nursing practice, you will face highly stressful situations every day, and I guess schools figure that you have to go through highly stressful situations (like 1st year nursing students do) in order to prove yourself. When I heard that, I took it as a challenge. I'll show YOU who can be a nurse!! And you can do it too. You're right, it's tough. But that's why you get paid the big bucks when you get out of school. :roll

And from a purely clinical standpoint, I would recommend that you have some friends help with telling you when signs of depression are popping up. We often don't notice clinical depression in ourselves, but our friends will notice. It will be good research for you...What are the early signs of Clinical depression? Have your friends help by watching for these signs in you.

I wish you all the best in Nursing School and beyond. This too shall pass.:)

in times of great struggle and stress I have turned to quotes,inspirational poetry and yes occasionally an old cliche or two.......

I happen to believe in you and your abilities immensely and I know I'm not alone.

from someone who never stressed too much in any aspect of school life from kindergarten to grade 12 I just breezed along doing splendidly. And then the cold cruel reality of nursing school set in, wasnt easy, wasnt neat, wasnt fun all the time but would I have gained all that I did if it was easy , didnt challenge me to think or examine my beliefs about some very tricky subject matter? no I wouldnt have, and same goes for you, now enough of this mushy stuff and on to the aformentioned quotes and cliches! :p

We judge a man's wisdom by his hope. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I'll understand. - Chinese Proverb

How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these. - George Washington Carver

The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

One doesn't discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time. - Andre Gide

Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars. - Les Brown

although they are not hapeewendy originals I believe in them , and I believe in you too Mario, and everyone else who is going through this roller coaster ride of nursing right now!

:kiss

in times of great struggle and stress I have turned to quotes,inspirational poetry and yes occasionally an old cliche or two.......

I happen to believe in you and your abilities immensely and I know I'm not alone.

from someone who never stressed too much in any aspect of school life from kindergarten to grade 12 I just breezed along doing splendidly. And then the cold cruel reality of nursing school set in, wasnt easy, wasnt neat, wasnt fun all the time but would I have gained all that I did if it was easy , didnt challenge me to think or examine my beliefs about some very tricky subject matter? no I wouldnt have, and same goes for you, now enough of this mushy stuff and on to the aformentioned quotes and cliches! :p

We judge a man's wisdom by his hope. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I'll understand. - Chinese Proverb

How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these. - George Washington Carver

The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

One doesn't discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time. - Andre Gide

Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars. - Les Brown

although they are not hapeewendy originals I believe in them , and I believe in you too Mario, and everyone else who is going through this roller coaster ride of nursing right now!

:kiss

OMG.....you just described my 1st semester of nursing school. As you can tell by my ID, I just became an RN in 1999. I was an older student, was 44 when I started and was 144 when I graduated. (Oh it only felt that way!!!) I went to an AD program and completed all the studies in 2 years, which means I took Anatomy & Physiology at the same time I was taking the Nursing classes with clinicals. I joke about it now & say only insane people try to do that. BUT....I did it! AND YOU CAN TOO!!!!! I have read your many messages on this BB and from them I can tell what a WONDERFUL nurse you will be! You are intelligent and compassionate and it shows in all your messages.

Try the group study thing...but don't be discouraged if it doesn't help. Some people (like myself) are solitary learners. It did help me to study with just ONE person. We asked questions back & forth, and tried to anticipate what would be on the exams. We would also compare class notes to see that we had gotten all the info that was given out.

I tape recorded the lectures and played them back when I was in my car. Be sure to ask the professors...sometimes they won't let you do this. (The secret them is to hide in the back of the classroom...heehee)

I made flash cards with questions on one side & answers on the back. They were easy to carry around and were useful to review when you just have a few minutes, like sitting in the lunchroom, at the doctor's office, or at a train. You can use them in study sessions with your friends, too. Lots of times reviewing this way with friends brought up discussions that really helped me recall the info later on when I took the test.

DON'T NEGLECT YOUR PERSONAL TIME!! One-half hour a day even...to meditate, pray, exercise, whatever! YOU NEED THAT!!!

Yes, all the meds ARE overwhelming. And I used to think I needed to know them all. Just learn enough about them to understand WHAT they are used for, and then learn enough to pass your test FOR NOW. You will forget a lot of it almost immediately afterwards....don't worry about that. When you begin working, you will rely upon the med book a lot and will gradually learn a LOT of meds and will become amazed at yourself and what you know.

Using the NCLEX book to study is an EXCELLENT suggestion. I did not discover this until my 2nd year and wished I had found it sooner.

ABOVE ALL: HANG IN THERE! Others have gone before you and others will come after you...together we will all survive and prosper and support each other!! Nurses are a special group of humans. We are like soldiers in a battlefield. We need each other. Only another nurse understands what it is like to do this work we love. Come here to AllNurses and get your daily dose of LOVE & SUPPORT!!! :kiss

Sorry this is so long.....I hope it helps. I want you to know I BELIEVE IN YOU and so do all your friends here at AllNurses.

OMG.....you just described my 1st semester of nursing school. As you can tell by my ID, I just became an RN in 1999. I was an older student, was 44 when I started and was 144 when I graduated. (Oh it only felt that way!!!) I went to an AD program and completed all the studies in 2 years, which means I took Anatomy & Physiology at the same time I was taking the Nursing classes with clinicals. I joke about it now & say only insane people try to do that. BUT....I did it! AND YOU CAN TOO!!!!! I have read your many messages on this BB and from them I can tell what a WONDERFUL nurse you will be! You are intelligent and compassionate and it shows in all your messages.

Try the group study thing...but don't be discouraged if it doesn't help. Some people (like myself) are solitary learners. It did help me to study with just ONE person. We asked questions back & forth, and tried to anticipate what would be on the exams. We would also compare class notes to see that we had gotten all the info that was given out.

I tape recorded the lectures and played them back when I was in my car. Be sure to ask the professors...sometimes they won't let you do this. (The secret them is to hide in the back of the classroom...heehee)

I made flash cards with questions on one side & answers on the back. They were easy to carry around and were useful to review when you just have a few minutes, like sitting in the lunchroom, at the doctor's office, or at a train. You can use them in study sessions with your friends, too. Lots of times reviewing this way with friends brought up discussions that really helped me recall the info later on when I took the test.

DON'T NEGLECT YOUR PERSONAL TIME!! One-half hour a day even...to meditate, pray, exercise, whatever! YOU NEED THAT!!!

Yes, all the meds ARE overwhelming. And I used to think I needed to know them all. Just learn enough about them to understand WHAT they are used for, and then learn enough to pass your test FOR NOW. You will forget a lot of it almost immediately afterwards....don't worry about that. When you begin working, you will rely upon the med book a lot and will gradually learn a LOT of meds and will become amazed at yourself and what you know.

Using the NCLEX book to study is an EXCELLENT suggestion. I did not discover this until my 2nd year and wished I had found it sooner.

ABOVE ALL: HANG IN THERE! Others have gone before you and others will come after you...together we will all survive and prosper and support each other!! Nurses are a special group of humans. We are like soldiers in a battlefield. We need each other. Only another nurse understands what it is like to do this work we love. Come here to AllNurses and get your daily dose of LOVE & SUPPORT!!! :kiss

Sorry this is so long.....I hope it helps. I want you to know I BELIEVE IN YOU and so do all your friends here at AllNurses.

I read your responses, and I know yall know what I am talking about. Empathy is so warming to me at this time. No more pity parties. Even though for the next three days i work and do clinicals. Maybe I want so much to be a nurse, the concepts of diagnosing, ADPIE, nursing assessment, Injections, cardio, it's taking me some time to chew it all up; kinda like savoring. No pity. Can't pity Mario. Mario under pressure is a temporary thing. At school my anti-negative energy forcefield gets drained hard. People just get all zombied out when they are under stress. I can't say anything about my fellow students, and most are really nice people, I can tell.

Oh - I exercised this evening anyway when I coulda studied. But I have been sitting in the car for an hour plus a day now, going to clinical and work...i couldn't do it on the bicycle. Honestly it effects me to sit in the car. I don't like having to drive, and miss the days when I just worked and stayed out of the car all week/months. I fear slowing down as an older adult if I become inactive. More pity about my own mid-life crisis. Tahnk you and I love you, in a friendship way, a comrade

:-)

:kiss

and a firm grip handshake for the guys and slaps on the back

I read your responses, and I know yall know what I am talking about. Empathy is so warming to me at this time. No more pity parties. Even though for the next three days i work and do clinicals. Maybe I want so much to be a nurse, the concepts of diagnosing, ADPIE, nursing assessment, Injections, cardio, it's taking me some time to chew it all up; kinda like savoring. No pity. Can't pity Mario. Mario under pressure is a temporary thing. At school my anti-negative energy forcefield gets drained hard. People just get all zombied out when they are under stress. I can't say anything about my fellow students, and most are really nice people, I can tell.

Oh - I exercised this evening anyway when I coulda studied. But I have been sitting in the car for an hour plus a day now, going to clinical and work...i couldn't do it on the bicycle. Honestly it effects me to sit in the car. I don't like having to drive, and miss the days when I just worked and stayed out of the car all week/months. I fear slowing down as an older adult if I become inactive. More pity about my own mid-life crisis. Tahnk you and I love you, in a friendship way, a comrade

:-)

:kiss

and a firm grip handshake for the guys and slaps on the back

Specializes in ER, ICU, Corrections.

Being an old broad, it is has been a long time since I went through nursing school and the one thing that drove me nuts during school is that one of your prerequist classes could make you flunk out. I had trouble with my A&P instructor but I finally made it through. I am sooo glad I didn't give up. I worked my way up through the ranks CNA, LPN & RN and I think that it helped me immensly. I already knew how to give an injection when I got into RN school but then there was IV.

I worked part time on evening shift while I was in my last year and it was grinding but it was worth it. I am really glad that I made it through and I love my job and what I am doing. Just keep your chin up and you will make it. Sonya

Specializes in ER, ICU, Corrections.

Being an old broad, it is has been a long time since I went through nursing school and the one thing that drove me nuts during school is that one of your prerequist classes could make you flunk out. I had trouble with my A&P instructor but I finally made it through. I am sooo glad I didn't give up. I worked my way up through the ranks CNA, LPN & RN and I think that it helped me immensly. I already knew how to give an injection when I got into RN school but then there was IV.

I worked part time on evening shift while I was in my last year and it was grinding but it was worth it. I am really glad that I made it through and I love my job and what I am doing. Just keep your chin up and you will make it. Sonya

I intend to give you an angel, but the website has something wrong.

keep trying, life will smile to you.

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