Should I even be here taking up space?

[danger turtle]

For the last year I've studied my ass off trying to get to where I am today but now that I'm here I'm asking myself what am I doing here? I've just done the first week of classes and did great on the first small review test. Tuesday the classes start up after the long weekend. My problem is I just can't get motivated do this course, I've gotten all A's in all my courses up until now but now that I'm here I just can't get started. Classmates were telling me how long they prepared for this test I told them I studied into the night the night before as well, truth is I didn't study I did not even try hard on the test not one question did I even recheck.Classmates tell me they have reviewed and rewritten notes taken in class 2 or 3 times I have not been motivated enough to even carry my books out of the car in the house yet. I need to get motivated any motivation hints? Should I even be here taking up space if I just going to go through the motions?

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

I am a little confused. You have done well without having to put in any effort. What's the problem?

Why would you need to study for hours or rewrite your notes 2-3 times if you don't need to?

[anonymousstudent]

If you don't want to do it, don't do it! It's not a new thing to get into nursing school and figure out it's not what you want to do.

[mspontiac]

I agree with the above statement...if you did well, then you did something right. I wouldn't change my strategy if it works for you.

The motivational thing may come along later, when your survival instinct kicks in after the work starts coming hard and heavy. This is my third semester and I am just so burned out...I am having a really hard time getting motivated and I am usually a top-notch student. I'm sure once we start getting down to it I'll pull myself out of my slump.

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

If you have only been in nursing school for a week, I would give it a little more time before you decide to throw into the towel.

[danger turtle]

I'm sure I won't throw in the towel at least not until Oct. I'll stay until then for sure. It's just that almost everything that I have done for the last year was directed at getting me here and nw that I've arrived it doesn't seem to be what I had imagined and don't ask what I imagined because I don't know but it wasn't this. I have decided that I will do my first round of clinicals before I decide if I stay or not. If I don't get a sense of "This Is It" than maybe I should try something different because the world definitely does not need another nurse who does not want to be a nurse.

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

I'm sure I won't throw in the towel at least not until Oct. I'll stay until then for sure. It's just that almost everything that I have done for the last year was directed at getting me here and nw that I've arrived it doesn't seem to be what I had imagined and don't ask what I imagined because I don't know but it wasn't this. I have decided that I will do my first round of clinicals before I decide if I stay or not. If I don't get a sense of "This Is It" than maybe I should try something different because the world definitely does not need another nurse who does not want to be a nurse.

Take into consideration where your clinicals are at as well. I hated my first semester clinicals. It was not my cup of tea. But second semester clinicals I LOVED!!! I feel I learned more in my first night of clinicals than the entire semester before and clinicals before.

[TheSquire, DNP, APRN, NP]

Also, RE: you not studying and acing the test while many people studied hard - some people are just not terribly good academic students. Many of them come to these boards to whine. Nursing school is hard for many people because, for them, it's the hardest thing they've done in their academic careers. Don't worry - the pace will pick up soon enough where even you will need to put in work to study to keep up.

[KristeyK]

I'm with you...work, work, work, stress, stress, stress and now THIS? REALLY? However, I am keeping in mind that this is JUST the beginning. It will get interesting soon enough and we HAVE to be solid on the super basic stuff before we can even touch a pt. I am trying to equate to my son learning how to play baseball. It drives me NUTS watching these kids try to play, however, it will be fun once they know how to catch and hit the ball- I just enjoy the small things.

Rejoice in the fact that right now we have nothing to stress about academically, because I have a feeling we'll be needing to put in the hours soon enough.

Good luck! (Oh, and if your school is like most of the ones here in my area, you go to a LTC facility first, so don't judge off of first semester clinicals either. LOL)

[Butterfliesnroses]

1st quarter clinicals for me was glorified CNA work with catheters and dressing changes thrown in. 2nd qtr when we were able to do everything but IVs was when things really got interesting. Also 1st quarter theory was all about the basics: ADPIE, therapeutic communication, cultural stuff, etc. For us 2nd quarter was when we started studying the different systems. So give it a chance! If nothing else, it can be something you can fall back on ya know?

[nursel56]

Perhaps you could review your imagined career goal if you are having trouble imagining what you imagined nursing school would be like. That way, even if you ace every single test in the next two to four years without breaking a sweat the boredom could end up to be worth it in the long run, because you'll have a solid foundation from which to advance or specialize. There are always advanced practice degrees and certifications you can work towards that will provide more challenge to you.

[caliotter3]

I also pooped out when I got into the nursing part of school. My last term prior to transferring consisted of some kind of overload, I forget how many classes I took, but I had to get an exception to policy because I was on a deadline. I was tired, my brain was fried and numb. I did not recover at the time. You need to figure out how to gently get some of your get up and go back again, so that you don't lose your health, mental and physicial. Seek medical care if you need to. But all you probably need is to spend more time with your exercise program, daily rest, and better overall health habits. Good luck.