Should I quit LVN school? Or struggle on?

Elladora · Aug 10, 2012

What does your doctor recommend? It sounds to me like you are seriously burnt out. I would like to say "hang in there, it gets easier" but it really doesn't.

I would get a complete check-up and get your doctor's opinion.

cyberry, LPN · Aug 10, 2012

I'm 35 too and I just completed an Lpn program, it's very intense but u can do it. So what if the 19 yr old students don't seem to be stressing most of them don't have as many responsibilities so its not as stressful for them but it's only the second month trust me if u stick around long enough you will see the stress. It's not going to be easy if it was everyone would be doing it. Hang in there and relax.

straitgirl77 · Aug 10, 2012

Hi meatball Girl, I was in an lpn program almost two years ago and I, too, was extremely stressed. I quit the program and I've regretted it ever since. I would have graduated yesterday. I will start lpn school again on October 1, 2012 and this time I'm going to finish. One thing I did wrong the first time was I put way too much pressure on myself. I was impatient and felt incompetent. What I forgot was that I was a nursing student....not a nurse. I wasn't expected to know everything yet. Maybe you are putting excess pressure on yourself, also. Just think carefully before you make a rash decision. I really wish you all the best! :specs:

Taxminia0311 · Aug 12, 2012

If I was you which I'm not, I wouldn't quit at all, I would hang in there and just let don't let it get to you...perhaps the next semester it will get less stressful, but don't quit give and give it a chance.

LeeLeeTheGPN · Aug 12, 2012

All I can say is...please don't give up. That is probably the worst thing you can do to yourself is stop trying or not try at all. Failure is not an option. Keep pushing. NO ONE ELSE MATTERS BUT YOU. And honestly, I think it is an insult to people who prayed that someone would drop out of the program before the first module started so that they could have that spot. You've already begun. For you to give it up would be a complete waste of your time and everyone who had a hand in your matriculation....PLEASE DON'T GIVE UP.

cacrate77 · Aug 13, 2012

Keep at it girl! I'm also 35, married with 4 kids & in the 3rd quarter of LPN school. The first part is really hard, but it will lessen up a little. You can do this! I went on 4 hrs of sleep a night for 3 months straight! But my A's were worth it! :)

nekozuki, LPN · Aug 13, 2012

Stop. Take a breath. Step back and re-evaluate.

You've listed your various problems. It's wonderful that you recognize them, because you can come up with solutions. These are things we all struggle with during nursing school, so take comfort in the fact that we are all suffering with you Remember, people from all walks of life complete this program every day, so you can do it too.

These are the problems you're listing: Poor diet. Exhaustion. Social issues. Stress and stress-related physical problems.

Thankfully, these are all things that you have some measure of control over.

Poor diet: Prepare all your lunches for the week on Sunday. Include all the good, nutritious stuff your body needs, as well as snacks. The busier and more difficult your life is, the BETTER you need to eat to compensate! I personally LOVE the fruit cups, apple sliced w/ caramel and mini-veg trays for my snacks. ALWAYS EAT BREAKFAST. ALWAYS. Divide your favorite cereal into a bunch of ziplock bags to eat on your way to school, and treat your body like a temple!

Exhaustion: A regular sleep schedule can do wonders. Personally, I find that I do better studying for 30 minutes and sleeping eight hours before a test than cramming all night and trying to wing it with a paltry two hours of shut-eye. Power naps are AMAZING, but you have to be absolutely diligent in no more than a 30 minutes nap. Sleep is extremely underrated, and caffeine is overrated!

Social: Honestly, your perception of your classmates as being ghetto and thievish probably doesn't help matters. I'm a comic-book nerd with an extensive action figure collection who has made armor and costumes for the past ten years. I have ZERO in common with my schoolmates, but that doesn't keep me from thinking I am above them, or even different from them. I walked into the classroom immediately thinking "Ugh, I won't be able to relate to ANY of these people," but over time and through openness, we're one cohesive unit now. Sure, I could tell you "You're not there to make friends, screw them," but I don't feel that line of thinking sets you up for success (in class or in life), and there is nothing more stress-relieving than the comfort and like-mindedness of others.

Stress: This is a tough one, because there isn't a single answer. It's up to you to learn to regulate stress, but if you eliminate poor diet and lack of sleep, your situation can only improve. Enjoy your weekends. Make cue cards or study guides, slap on some headphones and explore local places like parks, libraries, any venue that is relaxing, calm and gets you out of the house. Take frequent breaks. Make lists and get organized!

Does nursing school get easier? Technically, no. But eventually you learn to adjust and what is asked of you no longer seems as impossible as it is now.

cdsmom · Oct 18, 2012

I am in the same boat and have basically quit but not formally dropped yet (just decided this week). I also have a 4 year degree and find this more stressful than any other class or program I have ever done. The program I am in lost half the class last year..... The post above has some good valuable tips and I tried many of those things. Unfortunately they went by the wayside due to the amount of work and exams we have. I would love to get good sleep but there is NO WAY to do the work they want done and get sleep. Compound that with the stress and sleep is a scarce commodity. For example, you get patient information at 2PM Monday and have all of the paperwork along with a DETAILED 25 med med sheet (done with a dictionary, not internet) ready to hand in at 7AM Tuesday morning. SOOOO UNREALISTIC. I have a sister who graduated with honors (BA) who was helping me type and after 4 hours she looked at me and said ,"This is RIDICULOUS!" I have good grades, actually some of the best in the class, because I am unwilling to do anything half ass.

I have been told this is 'weeding out'. My opinion of that is that they are driving good people out of the field before they even get a chance to get in it.

PS Neko, those are good suggestions but honestly, my weekends are homework and studying. There is no way to keep up with the homework and reading if you do not devote a good part of the weekend to that. We have CONSTANT quizzes and exams, in class and on line (on our out of school time) as well as health skills labs that we are required to do on our time also. We have on the average 3 chapters in Pharmacology alone and 60-70 meds to learn every week.

Half our class is SICK (really sick but are afraid to miss) and we have already lost 8 students in 8 weeks out of 32. I am sick now and still have remnants of the hives I got (stress) last week. I am done.

cdsmom · Oct 18, 2012

PS, some of my classmates do not seem stressed, but they are also flunking out because they do not study.

KimPN · Oct 18, 2012

You know these So call young girls aren't as stressed as you are because as you know they are YOUNG! but for you, you need to make money for the living so it definitely does affect you so much more than them. I just graduated last sep. it took 6 more months than I was expecting and imagine a hell 6 more month... I had the samething, I'm a guy btw 28 yo and I think I'm having joint pains and I gained 40 lbs throughout the program. Now I'm on my diet, eating boiled eggs and bell peppers.... ughh... Anyways what I'm trying to say is that I really understand your pain. How far do you have left? Is this school "private"? if so Why don't you try to get into a local comunity college RN program? or else try something new, like RT or PTA? If I ever go back to 1.6 years I will probably go for PTA. Before I started nursing, I thought it was a meaningful job with great opportunities. But I've learned that nursing is very stressful and risky. Too much lawsuits and etc. and keep in mind that I didn't even start working as an LPN!!!!

If you have a bachelor's degree then why don't you apply for a PA program? I'm not 100% sure but I've heard that all you need is a bachelor's degree? You may want to research on that. Hope everything goes well. :up:

KimPN · Oct 18, 2012

BTW, I hope you know that I'm not trying to discourage you nor am I degrading Nursing. It's just that actual nursing was very different from what I was expecting.