Second time getting held back in nursing school...

[sjnurse08]

I am currently a junior nursing student at my university and I am at a limbo about continuing on with my career as being a nurse... not because I am unsure that this is what I want to do with my life because I have wanted this more than anything and anyone...

A little back story... I got admitted into the nursing program back in Spring 2015 (and this spring 2017 was supposed to be my expected graduation date).. things were going well until I did not pass my dosage exam so I was told I had to drop all of my nursing courses and come back again the following year Spring 2016. I came back that semester and I passed all of my classes (Health assessment, pharm and fundamentals.) On my second semester, I was having a hard time with medsurg and Patho and this was by far a very hard time for me since i had a lot of personal things i was dealing with, but i tried my best to pass... Unfortunately, i was short of .01 point from passing my patho class and I am again held back another year until I can retake that one class this Fall 2017... meaning my expected graduation date is no longer spring 2018, but spring 2019. I am very discouraged at this point... I feel like a failure basically. My sister just graduated nursing school with honors, passed her NCLEX and currently working at a hospital, while my cousin is doing the same and another cousin soon to be taking the NCLEX... I have wanted this more than them ever since we were younger and as much as I am happy for them to be reaching these milestones in their lives... I cannot help but feel like I am such a failure and never going to be at their level..... I am very depressed. My sister sometimes puts me down by saying that i should probably change my major or by constantly making me remember that "it's 2017 you should have been graduating by now...you better not fail again.."

I know that failing in nursing school is not uncommon... but why does it feel like I am alone at this journey? I am a good student, I'm great at clinicals.. I have never had times with my patients or on the floor... i just don't understand how I allowed myself to fall short the first and second time around. I am very discouraged and wanting to return this Fall 2017... I know that patho is not the only tough class there is that I will have to face... so I guess I am reaching out here for words of encouragement. Thank you for reading and for your time.

[FutureNurseInfo]

To begin with, you do not really know that you want IT more than your sisters/cousins. Also, stop thinking about what everyone does or says. You are the only reason that stress is abound in your life. I do not want to sound harsh but that is the reality. You said yourself, students failing nursing school is not uncommon. On the bright side, you are lucky that your school allows you to continue on after failing two classes two different times. Many programs do not allow that at all. So, pick up yourself from whatever deep well you are right now, and shake off all the negativity you have created around you. It may be hard, but it must be done. Not to be funny, but I guess THIRD time IS the charm. While you wait to start this fall, have a nice and long talk with yourself and ask one single question: why did you fail first and second time? Decide what might have been the cause and rectify it. Make sure to put a plan in motion so when you start this fall you will most likely to succeed. Good luck and keep us posted.

[LilyRN99]

I admire your drive to keep going despite the difficulties you have been having. Nursing school requires all your attention and focus. People say they have no life during nursing school. Sounds like you have been trouble dealing with some of the stress in your personal life. You need to learn to cope with the stress better (even if you need a few visits with a professional). Stress doesn't end with nursing school, the job is very stressful too. I agree with the previous poster about trying to avoid the negativity. You should use your free time to continuing reading and reviewing path and med surgical. If you haven't take pharmacology yet I would try to get a head start on that. That is a class a lot of students struggle with. Maybe, you need better studying habits. Studying groups work for some people. I used to study at the library since there are no distractions there (no TV, no chores to do, no pets, etc). You have to take short breaks. Make good use of your time by studying note or note cards when waiting for a doctor appointment, while waiting for an event to start, while waiting in the car etc. You need to understand the material since you can't just memorize everything. If it is what you really want just keep going. Remind yourself that you can do this. Try practice questions, too. Some people know the material but don't test well.

[Jules A, MSN]

I did not want a nursing career bad enough to have continued if it wasn't the quick fix career option I was seeking but it sounds like you really want to be a nurse and are doing well in most areas of school. Like the above I'd advise you to focus on nothing but your studies no matter what personal stuff is happening in the background. FWIW over the course of my career I was in classes with people who had significant family deaths, relationships breakup, pregnancy/birth, cancer treatment, car accidents, a home burn down etc. and they pushed through so its possible even in the face of extreme stress.