Should I quit nursing?

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Hi, everyone. I don't really know how to really explain my problem that I'm having in the nursing program. Let tell you about myself so that it may help me to know my situation. I'm an international student from Saudi Arabia and I took an intensive English program so that I can study in a university in the U.S. I decided to be a nurse because I really love to help people and I'm going to save people's life so that I will feel proud of myself. When I started school, everything was okay, but I don't feel comfortable in my class because nobody talks with me. Although, I did talk with them and try to make friends, but it seems that it wouldn't work. Before I took the first exam, I made sure that I know everything that I read. Unfortunately, I failed the first exam. I thought that I'm the only student who failed and I found out that there are 26 students failed the exam. So I decided to make a study group with my classmates so we can study together, but they just make excuses to not study with me. Later on, I failed the second exam and I feel really sad because I studied really hard. I spent most of my time studying A&P, but not progress. The worst thing that I'm having is that I feel I'm not welcome in my class. No one talks with me. I feel lonely. I thought that because I'm a guy, girls won't talk to me, but there are a few guys in my class that girls talks to them and they're fine. I feel really isolated in my program and I'm thinking that if nothing change I will change my major. I really want to be a nurse, but I'm not welcome around my classmates. I started to not attend to class and I skip the third exam because I feel I will do the same thing like the other exams that I did.

I talked with my professor and told her everything that I'm having in my class and she told me that Americans don't know how to talk with international students. I also told my adviser about that and he told me let me think about that.” I really hated my life because of what I'm having now. I really need help.

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I truly feel for you. I'm not a nursing student yet but working towards it. We all bleed red, we are all uniquely different. Keep doing what you love. Life to short to be worrying about friends. See if someone else has a group and you can join there. American people think life revolves around them. Just keep working hard, don't give up!

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I'm so sorry you're having trouble connecting with your classmates! I wish you were in my class! I'd study with you. Hang in there. I hope you find someone to study with soon. My advice is don't give up however discouraged you feel. Talk to your instructors about how to better study.Good luck!

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Go to the tutoring lab if you have one. When you work with them they tend to work with more then 1 student at a time. I noticed that i made more study partners from the tutoring center than class. That way you will also be able to see who is serious about learning and they also need help just like you. some people can be embarrassed in class to admit what they don't know but the tutoring center make some feel more comfortable with talking. Good luck and what state are you in

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Specializes in Critical Care, Education.

I'm so sorry you're having such an unpleasant experience. If your school &/or class is not very diverse, students may simply be uncomfortable with anyone who is "different" than themselves. My part of the world is extremely diverse. Schools are used to multi-national students. In fact, one of the larger nursing schools organizes a culture festival at the beginning of each academic year. Students are encouraged to provide information & presentations about their native country; most also bring food (VERY popular) and wear clothing associated with their cultures and country of origin.

I am disappointed with the response of your faculty member. Cultural competency is a foundational skill for nurses. Certainly she could have facilitated an activity in which you & other students could engage in a discussion about health care practices and beliefs associated with different cultures. It would certainly help to get everyone talking together.

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I do understand you situation and hopefully it does not discourage you to stop what you are doing because there are so many people just waiting to be in a nursing program and you are there. Make the most of it. It may sounds so insensitive but do not let what others think or do make you feel inadequate. You got into the program so you are capable. If you need help there are options, videos, online support. Quitting for you should not be an option, use it a fuel to keep going and to stay hungry for what you want to do. You will make friends and it may not be in that class, but you will. Prove to them that they should study with you because you did well. Going to school is to educate YOURSELF. Be the best nursing student you can be.

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Hey there,

first of all cheer up! Before you decide on making such a big change in your life like quitting nursing school, stop and rationally think. What I am about to advise is, of course, my own take on this but I am sure you will quite benefit from it.

I, too, was an international student 10 years ago. My very first year in the States I was placed in a private college in the mountains of West Virginia. I was one of the few international students among all white American students. I was going through a cultural shock and at the same time I had to perform really well for me to stay. Needless to say, I could not make friends at first, me being a shy person to begin with. I did manage to talk to some students later on during lunch and breakfast. But overall, I was all into myself, both in class and in the dorm. Honestly, it did not bother me much. I always feel better of alone.

Now, 10 years later I can easily make friends because I know how to communicate and I have finally managed to integrate into the American culture.

My biggest advice to you is, you go to school to learn so you can become a nurse. You are not there to make friends. Yes, I understand, you are a (a teen, not sure of your age) and anxious to make friends, but at the end of the day your goal is to study, learn, and become a nurse. I have plenty of people I talk to at school but I would not call them my friends. I know that once I pass the class, or graduate from the school I will never hear from them again. I do not really care for that. I just come to class, listen to my professor, go home, study, complete my homework, study for exams, come back to class, take exams, go home, pass the class, weeks later, years later I graduate. But like I said, this is just me. This mindset has helped me to earn Bachelor's Master's and now I am trying to apply to a nursing program.

You are from a different culture, so am I. You will spend some time getting used to.

Please, do not quit. If you need to talk to some one, come on here and vent, ask for advice or tips to study.

I wish you best of luck!

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Specializes in Family Clinic.

I agree with another person. I am an older student and people don't tend to relate to me in my classes. I found more friends and study partners in the tutoring sessions than in class. Although it is nice to have friends, you are also in a profession where you will be self reliant and on your own most of the time so learning to be self sufficient as a student might work in your favor. Keep striving for your dream and continue to work hard. If there is a will there is a way and you have already worked so hard to fulfill your dream!

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You need to focus on studying. My advice is to use saunders nclex book. Review the questions with rationales related to what your test is on. Also get the study guide book for your text book- just look on amazon. I am a instructor in nursing program, ignore the ###holes and focus on your studies. People are jerks, keep your head up.

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Hi I read your post and immediately felt very sad. I am in college right now. It is my first year, first semester and I couldn't imagine having the issue you are. Nursing tests are so different, I promise you they are very hard everywhere. I go to Carlow University in Pittsburgh, PA and honestly I am very happy I went here, not for the social aspect but for the education. Carlow University enforces diversity extremely which is obviously very important. I am white and from about an hour from Pittsburgh but I am very open minded and sympathetic.

If you love the idea of being a nurse and aspire to be one still. Do not give up. If you feel lost then you are not stuck. The school you are at sounds like it is not for you. At Carlow, there is so many easy options for tutoring and honestly anyone is willing to help you. The counselors would never say something like that, its just so supportive here too. nursing is literally so hard and I relate because I'm struggling too, but I have recourses with tutoring etc.

So yea I recommend transferring somewhere smaller and more supportive. Ps. you do not have to be catholic to go here.

If you absolutely do not want to transfer, I recommend tutoring and not focusing on the social aspect. Stay positive.

- Ashley Hoak

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Your number one goal is to succeed in getting your education. If your classmates snub you, it only means that they are idiots. Please don't let their attitudes deter you!

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Specializes in BSN, RN-BC, NREMT, EMT-P, TCRN.
Hi, everyone. I don't really know how to really explain my problem that I'm having in the nursing program. Let tell you about myself so that it may help me to know my situation. I'm an international student from Saudi Arabia and I took an intensive English program so that I can study in a university in the U.S. I decided to be a nurse because I really love to help people and I'm going to save people's life so that I will feel proud of myself. When I started school, everything was okay, but I don't feel comfortable in my class because nobody talks with me. Although, I did talk with them and try to make friends, but it seems that it wouldn't work. Before I took the first exam, I made sure that I know everything that I read. Unfortunately, I failed the first exam. I thought that I'm the only student who failed and I found out that there are 26 students failed the exam. So I decided to make a study group with my classmates so we can study together, but they just make excuses to not study with me. Later on, I failed the second exam and I feel really sad because I studied really hard. I spent most of my time studying A&P, but not progress. The worst thing that I'm having is that I feel I'm not welcome in my class. No one talks with me. I feel lonely. I thought that because I'm a guy, girls won't talk to me, but there are a few guys in my class that girls talks to them and they're fine. I feel really isolated in my program and I'm thinking that if nothing change I will change my major. I really want to be a nurse, but I'm not welcome around my classmates. I started to not attend to class and I skip the third exam because I feel I will do the same thing like the other exams that I did.

I talked with my professor and told her everything that I'm having in my class and she told me that Americans don't know how to talk with international students. I also told my adviser about that and he told me let me think about that.” I really hated my life because of what I'm having now. I really need help.

Are you there to make friends,have people like you, or become a nurse? There were some people in school that I wished would have been friendly, but they weren't. I was there to pass nursing school, pass NCLEX, and become an RN. If you're feeling sorry for yourself because you're not the life of the party, suck it up. You're there to become a nurse, period.

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