Stressed out student needs to vent

sjb2005 · Oct 7, 2005

Nursing school and advanced nursing is extremely demanding. I think I went 50% grey after that last year off school. Just remember, the stress pays off in the long run. Good Luck!

MissJoRN, RN · Oct 7, 2005

Not as an LPN or tech, but I was a CNA/ HHA while going to school and worked 24-50ish hours depending on that week's school schedule. I can identify, not sure why some instructors get a bug up their butt about work commitments- I understand if you knew you had class until 3 and routinely left to work at 3, but they can't expect anyone to give them extra time without much notice. I actually had a nursing instructor (last semester) try to have me kicked out because I was almost half an hour late for a test. By last semester, I should have proven I was committed to being on time for tests, never took more than half the alotted test time (I had more than enough time that day) and that I worked. My reason for being late was unaccetable to her- the day aide was a no-call/ no-show on my 24hr HH case that AM. I had to stay untill I had relief. You'd think a nursing intructor would know a little something about ethics and patient abandonment? She questioned my committment to nursing. I (and the rest of the faculty and administration) felt I had just proven my committment! Like I did that day, just keep reminding yourself that you're almost there!! Go Girl! (or person of any gender, LOL)

Sorry... all these year later I'm still venting about that instructor... I need to let it go...

Corvette Guy · Oct 7, 2005

Just curious, anyone out there who was a LPN/Tech first and went back for his or her RN? What was your schools feeling on working and going to school? I worked 40 hours per week during Nursing 1 and work 32 hours a week now, and I get attitude from some of my instructors. They will say last minute that they are keeping us a few extra hours and when I say I have to go to work, I get the glare of death. My grades are excellent as well as my clinical evaluations so I feel it should be my business-I have to work, otherwise I'd have no place to live, no insurance and I pay my own tuition. I also try not to mention that I want to work in the OR when I finish-I shouldn't have to lie about this but many instructors don't think that OR nursing is "real nursing" ARRRGGHHH... I graduate in May so I won't have to bite my tongue much longer!

You have to pay the bills, or maybe your instructors would like to pay them for you? Copy%20of%20wink.gif

Here is a similar post that I made to another Thread, yet relates to your's, too.

grimmy, RN · Oct 8, 2005

i think that your instructor needs a reality check, and perhaps you could talk to your school advisor about it. you're hardly the first working person in healthcare to go back to school to be an rn. keeping students extra hours on a whim is just wrong, and in most institutions, unacceptable. of course, the expectation that you will be on time for pre-arranged classes and clinicals goes without saying, and i hope you're there as promised. the instructors need to keep their end of the bargain, too. as long as you meet their expectations, and your grades are on par, you've got the chops to bring this up to your advisor and make your case. you've got a good one.

ortess1971 · Oct 8, 2005

i think that your instructor needs a reality check, and perhaps you could talk to your school advisor about it. you're hardly the first working person in healthcare to go back to school to be an rn. keeping students extra hours on a whim is just wrong, and in most institutions, unacceptable. of course, the expectation that you will be on time for pre-arranged classes and clinicals goes without saying, and i hope you're there as promised. the instructors need to keep their end of the bargain, too. as long as you meet their expectations, and your grades are on par, you've got the chops to bring this up to your advisor and make your case. you've got a good one.

i hate to miss clinical so you're right about that. i had a kidney stone recently and didn't take any time off for that. thankfully, i passed the darn thing. i have gotten more assertive and am not shy about sticking up for myself(in a mature way, of course;) )

lindaloo51 · Oct 9, 2005

I worked full time as an OR tech (80 hours/2wk) plus took call during my ADN classes. Both my school and work were great. I had 2 small children and a VERY supportive husband. My workplace allowed me to spread my hours over 6 days a week.

I had 15 min. to go 3 miles from school to work and have lunch. A typical day started at 6 am. Up and getting husband's lunch ready, kids up and dressed and eating while I showered. Kids to the sitter and me off to school at 8. Some clinicals were at a hospital or nursing home 15 miles away. Class til 11:45. Work at 12:00 to 6:30. Home to supper fixed by hubby. Help with homework and bath the kids bed for them by 8:30. Dishes in the dishwasher and laundry in the washer. Hubby off to bed by 10:00. Then I would sit down with a glass of wine and my books usually until 2am then off to bed just to get up again at 6. Throw in sick kids, baby sitter problems, school conferences (both mine and the kids), and call for work, it was a pretty hectic 2 years. In the 2 years the only times that I was late was when my clinical was 15 miles away and we had had an ice storm. It took me an hour and a half for what was normally a 20 minute drive. The other time was for my OB clinical and I was late to work because I was waiting for my mom to deliver.

Would I do it again? You bet. After about 12 years of being out of school, I did start classes for my BSN, However there is no program closer than an hour away. I am now raising grandchildren and my formal education is on the back burner until they are grown. I don't have the energy at 55 that I had at 35. Now with so many online programs, I think again that it is doable when we get some of the home improvements paid off.