Stressed out pre nursing student

Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN · May 10, 2016

Is there someone you can talk to at your school? I don't see how strangers on the internet can give you good advice on such personal (and mysterious) matters. In any case, best wishes.

taylorm1993 · May 10, 2016

im pretty sure there are people on here in nursing school who go through the same things, stress, second thoughts, ect which is WHY WE POST ON THIS DISCUSSION WEBSITE.. TO GET ADVICE .. INCASE YOU WERE UNAWARE.

justagirlwhosaideh · May 10, 2016

Hiya Taylor,

First things first - take a deep breath. Allow yourself to feel all of the anxiety you are feeling. It is okay. It is normal. However I don't want you to send yourself into a spiral of despair. You can do this.

As a full time student & soon to be full time employee - this anxiety you are feeling will not go away lol This is the life we live for now until all is said and done.

Don't forget to enjoy where you are! Rushing around and seeing everything all at once is how we miss out on life & although this is a stressful one currently - this is all you've got so live in it!

As far as studying goes here is my advice:

- Textbooks are cool but not everything in them is important. If you find yourself reading a paragraph and at the end of it know nothing you either have taken in too much useless info or need to slow down and really connect to the concept you are learning. It sounds like a lot but in reality a few sentences to fully cover the paragraph you just read - takes 10 minutes.

- You are paying for your education. Use your instructors and professors FULLY! lol I'm talking office hours, emails, etc.

- Write notes that make sense to YOU and are legible. If you need pictures - draw them. If you need color use it. For example: I know that anything that I highlight in yellow I already know and can skip over.

- Realize you are going to forget most of the information by the time you begin nursing school so don't stress yourself too much lol

Personal Advice:

- Find something you love to do that takes you to your happy place and make a time for that and ONLY that EVERYDAY. Routine relieves a lot of mental anxiety.

- Remember that you CAN do this even when you think you can't.

WISHING YOU THE BEST! STAY POSITIVE LOVIE!

Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN · May 10, 2016

im pretty sure there are people on here in nursing school who go through the same things, stress, second thoughts, ect which is WHY WE POST ON THIS DISCUSSION WEBSITE.. TO GET ADVICE .. INCASE YOU WERE UNAWARE.

You have an unknown learning disability and want studying tips. You want to know if nursing is "not for [you]". These are very personal issues that one-size-fits-all tips or answers may not apply to.

You also want "any advice", but blow up at the first response you receive. Your attitude may be your biggest detriment to your ability to do well in nursing school, to be honest ...never mind the other issues.

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · May 10, 2016

im pretty sure there are people on here in nursing school who go through the same things, stress, second thoughts, ect which is WHY WE POST ON THIS DISCUSSION WEBSITE.. TO GET ADVICE .. INCASE YOU WERE UNAWARE.

And you have missed the advice that Pangea gave to you in a questioning way, so I'm going to reiterate most of it:

You need to talk to someone at your school; if you have learning disability, then they would be the best place to start to get the tools that you need in order to be successful despite your learning disability.

As far as being homesick and missing your family-how often do you connect with them, whether by Skype or FaceTime to talk to them? Have you sought out in-person social connections to help as well? Meetup is a good start, as well as finding something on campus that is of interest to you and you can connect with others with the same interests.

roser13, ASN, RN · May 10, 2016

im pretty sure there are people on here in nursing school who go through the same things, stress, second thoughts, ect which is WHY WE POST ON THIS DISCUSSION WEBSITE.. TO GET ADVICE .. INCASE YOU WERE UNAWARE.

Nice way to start..............

auntEgogo · May 10, 2016

Just looking for some advice here. I am a pre nursing student in the states. I am an international student just finishing up my pre reqs to begin my associates degree in nursing. My dream is to become a nurse and I KNOW this is not an easy job or easy school work and am in no way looking for an easy way out, just some advice. I have a learning disability and school was never my strong point in life. As an international student I'm required to take full time credits and I just feel so overwhelmed being in my anatomy class with 3 other classes. I try so hard and have never given up, but I think what I'm just trying to ask here is some study tips maybe? Maybe I'm not studying properly and that's why I'm not doing well? I have really bad anxiety also and maybe that's playing into factor but lately I've just felt like giving up am I the only one who feels like this? Is nursing not for me? There's nothing more I want then to become a nurse. Maybe I'm home sick and miss my family who's in another country? Any advice helps:( thanks

Many JC nursing schools allow the extra testing time for those w test anxiety or a disability. It is very common. Not the critical knowledge tests. Those are administered same for all.

You are NOT the only one who feels stressed out. You're having to taking full time credits is hard but in a RN program it's that hard plus more. Well it's fast. It is class time + hospital time. Get w a counselor each semester to design a schedule that works w the next science classes. Like don't take micro+physio at the same time plus prob two other classes.

As far as anatomy -it's pure memorization here's how to remember everything - get a group and a white board. Draw a blank skull or whatever. Do the Watch-do-teach method. Each person, one at a time gets up and fills in each label. Then each person goes again and teaches the others. Everyone will watch! Haha.

This method worked for me and my entire group.

Organizers are life changing.

Take some time for yourself too. You'll get there it is THE worst when you're almost there though so don't give up.

taylorm1993 · May 10, 2016

Thank you!! Sometimes you just need to hear other people's advice to make you feel better and try new strategies :)