Stressed/Overwhelmed & school hasnt begun

Summer Days · Aug 29, 2013

You will have to start replacing those negative thoughts with positivity. You are your own encouragement. One could write a book to encourage you but in the end it all falls on you to want to change. You could start by giving yourself credit for having come this far and made it to nursing school. Then for every little accomplishment you make, pat yourself on the back and/or reward yourself. Breathe. Literally. Like we are instructed in nursing school to instruct our patients to practice deep breathing, think we can all benefit from deep breathing. My fundamentals professor once shared with us that we can overcome a lot of the test-taking anxiety if we breathe! There is a lot of truth in that. Realize it is a normal human reaction to feel anxious right before one begins nursing school and many of us felt the same way. The first semester usually is where one tries to find his/her way around the maze. Search for threads that share study tips and surviving the first semester in nursing school (there is such an article written by man-nurse to be) and you could start from there. Also, when you begin school, seek advice from your instructor on ways to study. Make friends with your cohort and upper cohorts (upper cohorts are valuable for mentoring, they can give you tips on how to prepare for lectures and exams for a particular instructor if they've had the instructor before). On a final note, take it piece by piece, one step at a time and trust that you have in enough to make it through nursing school. Giving up is not an option.

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Aug 30, 2013

Nursing school teaches you skills in stages (baby steps) from bed bath and changing sheets in first semester to more complex skills in year 2. By the time you finish the program you will be amazed at what you have learned and can do. They don't throw you onto an icu unit your first semester and say "go take care of that patient by yourself and we will see you in 8 hrs." You start off doing clinicals in a nursing home doing CNA work, then second semester- med-surg. floor, third semester- more med-surg floor, maternity and peds, fourth semester- ICU.

Caitlin023 · Aug 30, 2013

I know how you feel! I also struggle with anxiety and depression. I finished my pre-req's a few years ago and had some financial aid issues so I had to take a break from school. Today was my first day back. I am feeling extremely overwhelmed like what did I get myself into? I'm working part time as a nursing assistant and taking 4 classes. I know that if I apply myself that I have the academic potential to do this, but I just feel like I don't belong at school, like I'm too old or too poor or I just don't fit in with the whole academic crowd and I fear that I will lose all motivation and just quit, which would be a shame after getting this far. I don't know if you are religious or spiritual or anything, but if you are go to services and ask God or whomever for the strength, courage, and motivation to go on. You are smart, that's why you are in the nursing program. I'm not even in yet, I'm waiting on my acceptance letter (hopefully) and taking management classes in the meantime. As for your worry about becoming a nurse - think of it this way: "I will complete the nursing program and graduate and if I don't feel confident in my abilities at that time no one will force me to work as a nurse, but at least I will have completed it." And chances are, that by the time you graduate, you WILL feel confident in those abilities. Maybe you should try working in the medical field over summer break as a CNA or something and that will boost your confidence in your abilities. When I first passed meds, I was so scared I would screw up, but now it's just an everyday task. And you will get to that point too!

PersistentNS · Sep 1, 2013

I felt the same way. My first day was on 8/28. A week before, we had a pharmacology math workshop. They gave us our syllabus package on that day. It must have been over 100 pages. We also got our first assignments that were due on the first day of class. The entire week I was a mess. Stomach pains, bloody noses, headaches... you name it. First day of classes were overwhelming and scary but I got through it. My second day of class involved a vital signs lab... I sucked. That day I ran into a friend who's in an upper level. She made me feel better and reminded me that we all feel nervous and scared. After it's done, we realize that it actually wasn't that bad and as we move onto more difficult classes, the old ones seem like they were so simple. So I'm keeping as positive as possible. I've starting getting into study groups early. Everyone is nervous and scared in the beginning, but you've gotten this far. You can do it.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Sep 1, 2013

I'd say you probably have very little to be "scared to death" about.

Being "scared to death" is not a functional way to go through life. It will serve you especially poorly in school and your first year of practice. Telling yourself you're terrified / scared to death / panic-stricken is something we hear all the time here, but is a poor message to give yourself. Lose those words and their cousins pronto; banish them from your vocabulary and they will never bother you again.

Seriously. If you find your anxiety is truly getting in the way of your ability to function, consider a brief tune-up with a qualified counselor to help you get it under control. A little anxiety is useful, keeps you sharp, and all, but being "scared to death" is beyond useful.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · Sep 1, 2013

I'd say you probably have very little to be "scared to death" about.
Being "scared to death" is not a functional way to go through life. It will serve you especially poorly in school and your first year of practice. Telling yourself you're terrified / scared to death / panic-stricken is something we hear all the time here, but is a poor message to give yourself. Lose those words and their cousins pronto; banish them from your vocabulary and they will never bother you again.
Seriously. If you find your anxiety is truly getting in the way of your ability to function, consider a brief tune-up with a qualified counselor to help you get it under control. A little anxiety is useful, keeps you sharp, and all, but being "scared to death" is beyond useful.

^THIS. :yes:

Please make sure you consider going to a professional counselor ASAP before you feel completely overwhelmed and it affects your studies.

Also, get to know your instructors and faculty; your nursing lab, and make sure you have your "recommended books" as well as your required books (get your books on a discount if possible; you recommended books are tools that can help you in your practice once you pass your boards) If you can record your lectures, do so; as well as learn how to study such a large volume of information by focusing on the objectives of the chapter, nursing diagnoses and learning the nursing process. If not in your recommended reading, I suggest using the "Success Series" for use of practice questions to prepare for exams.

I also suggest this book: Critical Thinking and Nursing Judgement-I always forget the author, but this book is available on Amazon.com; she has useful books to prepare for thinking like a nurse. This book helped me with my test anxiety many moons ago as a PN student; I picked up this book again while I was (and still am) dealing with anxiety with PTSD when I went through my BSN program. I succeeded completing nursing school; I used his book to remind me when I had my hackles up when transitioning into practice. I LOVE this book; it's helping me with my first supervisory position and facilitating change at my new position; it has helped me through my various changes in my practice. :yes:

Take one step at a time; breathe.

Another tip I have is I learn about deep breathing exercises and guides imagery. I have an app on my phone that I use to help me de-stress whenever I need to, which is everyday.

Sending positive vibes on your journey...one step at a time. :)

Carpediem1012, BSN, RN · Sep 1, 2013

I'm wishing you the best of luck! Know that you are not alone. I am starting second year on Wednesday and as much as I have been looking forward to it all summer, now that it's here, I'm a little anxious too- okay-a lot! But I find its always hardest before you start something; when you don't know what's coming. Think of worst case scenario: ok. You're scared. You got in. That means something. It's competitive so you are academically capable. It's hard work. Well- yes. I don't know about you, but if it wasn't , I'm not sure I would have bothered- good things are worth working for. Can you manage it? Probably. And if you can't, know when to ask for help. Everyone struggles at some point.

I thought I would get a head start. I downloaded and printed my syllabi and started the readings. I found I was getting stressed about it so I quit. It wasn't the material but the anticipation of starting classes. So enjoy the last days of summer. It will all start soon enough. And going in with a fresh mind and a positive attitude will do wonders! :)