So discouraged and ready to quit

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I'm working 30 hours a week, have two moody teenage girls and a husband who travels for a living. I've been accepted to start nursing school this fall. I've been busting my butt for the last 16 months taking prereqs (A&P and Micro currently) and am honestly starting to break down. I've survived some horrible things so I thought I'd be able to tough this out. I've gotten all A's before and thought I'd be ok in tough classes. But now I feel so overwhelmed and am starting to cry over my homework.

I'm at a point now where I'm ready to quit. I feel too old (I'm 48), too exhausted and too stupid to do this. I know if I give up, I'll feel terrible and regret it, and it will be a bad example for my kids. But I'm beginning to doubt myself. No one else seems to be struggling as much as I am.

I guess I'm asking if anyone else has come close to quitting. Is what I'm going through normal or a sign that I'm not cut out for this?

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It is very normal to question whether or not you have what it takes to get through nursing school. It's a very stressful process becoming a nurse. You choose this field for a reason and from what I read get great grades. You are not too old or too stupid to do this. I have a handful of women in my class who are in their mid 50's. I'm not sure what issues you are having with your daughters but it sounds to me like your daughters need to put on their big girl pants and help out a bit around the house. Granted I don't have teenagers yet, my four children range from 6 to 11 years old, they do all help out around the house. I'm not sure what your financial situation is like but would it be possible for you to cut back on the hours you are working or quit all together to give you more time to study?

I know for me personally it helps to put blinders on. I don't think about what I have to complete for the whole semester, just what I need to get done that day or that week. For me it was a huge help. I start to feel anxious if I step back and look at the big picture so I choose not to. Organizing helped a lot for me too. I have a student planner that I use to write down due dates in then break up the work throughout the week so I'm not stuck trying to do it all the night before. I also ask some of the people in my class for their numbers that way if we need help or have questions we can help each other. Chances were if I was stuck on an answer my friend knew what it was and could explain it to me and vice versa. I'm not sure if any of this helps but I hope you feel better.

Take a deep breath. You can do this! :)

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It seems like you are trying to put in too many hours at work. When do you have time to study after you attend class, lab, clinicals? Studying, reading, care plans, etc. take hours, every day.

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How are you doing clinically, .

When I was in nursing school I noticed a pattern (imo)students who struggle.

1. work too many hours.

2. lack support , people tell you they support you but do they really? are you respected , are you given time to yourself to study etc.

3. Been all over the place. For me I had to concentrate for instance when I was in my second semester I failed a test omg i wanted to die but I assess why and implemented what I needed to do for that not to happened and it was a learning experience for once you should always trust your instincts.

wish you the best. Do not give up if you believe you can do it.

what's the worse that can happen . yes you can failed nursing school but at least you tried.

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I have three young children ages 2, 3, and 4. I've applied to nursing school for the Fall and I'm nervous but I think once you are determined to become a nurse, you will do it. Take a step back and see what changes you can make in your schedules. You can do it!!!!

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Thanks, everyone. I'm feeling a bit better after reading your great advice. Maybe I can concentrate less on putting out fires if I organize more. And I definitely need to make time for a study group. PinkCupcake, your comment about putting on blinders is spot on! I get really discouraged when I start thinking about all the challenges ahead when I should just concentrate on one day at a time.

Wish I could cut back on the hours but we're paying off my husband's enormous medical bills plus he hasn't gotten a raise in 6 years. I know that's part of the stress plus the fact that I'm menopausally hormonal. :o

Thank you so much for the encouragement! What a great group this board is!

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Oh, sweetie, I'm glad you're feeling better. You most definitely can do this!!! I have those same moments of being overwhelmed and am I going to be able to do this? FWIW, I'm 34 and an almost single mom of 3 kids, 9, 8, and 5. Some days are super challenging for sure. I agree with the blinders and focusing on what's immediately at hand.

Also, to help me to do that, I bought a big calendar at Staples and on it I have put all my tests, assignments, appointments and other important things that life puts in my way to bother me. Then, I put my own "schedule" of sorts of what I'm going to do what day in the way of studying or assignments or test taking to keep me on track. I try to be at least a day ahead of the school schedule, so that if I have any children issues, I have a cushion to fall back on. So essentially I sit down and look at the overall picture for a short time just to plan everything and then I can just focus on day-to-day stuff.

Some stuff gets shuffled under the rug with the dust and I am just fine with that. Gourmet dinners and clean house can wait for now. ;) Good luck!!!

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leekaye....i am 49....3 kids....14,21 and 24 and a 2 yr od grandson whom i watch quite abit....i feel like you do at least once a week....esp when i come home from wrok at 10pm and the house is NOT the way i left it....i ask over and over...PLEAsE have the house decent for when i come home....i clean and pick up BEFORE i leave for work and almost BEG to have it looking the same way...at least close......i know that is probably petty to some...but to me it just shows me they do not respect what i ask of them.....last nite i burst into our bedroom and told my husband so....so today...we are not talking....we will get over it...but it just shouldnt be this way....

i am taking only micro this semester and have been accepted into the RN program in the fall....only nursing classes as all the other classes are done....i am a LPN now and only work 20/hr/week....maybe a few over on some weeks.....but this micro class has me scared out of my mind......i honestly do not know half of the stuff he is lecturing on.......all the parts of the cell and what their structure and function is....i just cant retain it....didnt in chem either.....and he refers alot to bio....well...its been 30+ yrs since i took bio...so i have to go back and review.....

your not alone!!

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You're so right, Crittytn, about needing a cushion with kids. Today is my study day and both kids are home from school sick! :uhoh3:

BTW, looking at your name, are you by chance from TN? My family's from TN and still have relatives living in Bristol and Johnson City. Love, love, love that area.

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MomtoJosh, I think those same things every day when I walk in the door! Think I'll going to take a BEFORE of when I leave for work and hang it on the fridge. If it looks a lot different when I get home, I'll give take another pic, give 'em both pics, tell them to play "Spot the Differences" and then go fix them.

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:yelclap:..i like it!!!!...

I usually leave a note of sorts......my dear family.....see the house now...it is all clean and picked up....please have it this way for when i get home.....and proceed with a list of what i expect just incase they forget..........then i leave a seperate one for my dear daughter......dear daughter.....if you come and visit while i am gone...please pick up your childs toys....

AND if my son has a friend over i include his name in the note as well......

so..my family thinks i am nuts:D.

even left a note on the microwave once and it stayed there for a month or so....who ever uses me,please wipe me down as i love to be clean inside.....signed the microwave....

i try these techniques so i dont sound like a raving off the wall lunitic....hahhaa.....like the pic idea though...just might have to "steal" that one!!

by the way....how is micro going for you?

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Micro is ok. Have to write a 15 page term paper discussing cellular morphology and its role in immunology. Lot of work, but doable.

Really struggling on A&P though. I took the class before as A&P for Digital Imaging and though the instructor was tough (about 2/3 of the class ended up dropping out). So I know my bone markings, the difference between pseudostratified columnar and stratified squamous, and how cellular metabolism works.

The problem is that this prof is asking us to IDENTIFY the type of tissue by looking at a microscopic slide and his tests are ESSAY questions based on medical case histories! Memorizing is one thing, but essay answers based on diagnosing clinical cases seems way beyond what I thought I would be doing before I even started nursing school.

The professors are SO different. You get an easy one, memorize the study sheet and ace the class. Then you get ones like I have. Doesn't seem quite fair.

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