Stressed out student

Published

I have heard and read many, many posts about how hard and stressful nursing school is, and while I get that it is going to be CRAZY hard and stressful can someone please post something encouraging about nursing school.

Does anyone have any positives to share?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I've made some great friends so far...(going into my second semester).

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am an "old nurse" now relatively speaking. Got my BSN in 1992... probably before you were born... ha, ha. Nursing school will be challenging but you will find that you will forge relationships with your fellow students that I don't think you would in other areas of learning. I found nursing school to be more difficult in regards to the quantity of work that was expected. Intellectually, the work was very manageable. Hang in there and find a core group of supportive classmates and lean on each other. Find a nice nurse during your clinical rotations and buddy up with him/her. (There are some out there... I love to help the nursing students b/c I can still acutely remember how it felt to be a student) Lastly, it 's corny but true.. find the humor in things and laugh even if you feel like crying inside :-)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I had a moment in clinicals where I realized what I wanted to do with my career. I never even thought about this specialty before entering nursing school.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You'll meet great patients and families that you will remember forever. They might even remember you too. I'll never forget the day I was sitting at lunch and a husband of a patient I had 2 months earlier was sitting a few tables away. I looked up and he gave the sweetest smile and wave toward me. I couldn't believe he remembered who I was, just the nursing student who saw him for a couple hours one day. It made me realize nursing really was for me and geriatrics have a place in my heart.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospice.

If you enjoy a challenge there are plenty of positives!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm going to be a new nursing student & I'm extremely nervous (especially after reading all the things people say about nursing school). But I find that I feel a lot more calm when I try to replace my nervousness with excitement & eagerness to learn new things, and also by trying to accept the fact that I'm probably going to make some mistakes in the future & it's not going to be the end of the world.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you :) I really needed some positives today, I have been starting to really freak myself out.

I am hoping that it will be the quantity of info that challenges me and not the intellect. I am a straight A

student typically, but I have been told to kiss my A's good bye and be happy with C's. The math is really freaking me out,

any tips for dosage calculations?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Thank you :) I really needed some positives today I have been starting to really freak myself out. I am hoping that it will be the quantity of info that challenges me and not the intellect. I am a straight A student typically, but I have been told to kiss my A's good bye and be happy with C's. The math is really freaking me out, any tips for dosage calculations?[/quote']

I finished my first semester with all A's, so it is possible. I'm holding out hope for the coming ones. My best advice is to get used to NCLEX-style questions EARLY. There're tons of threads here, and chapters in the front of almost every NCLEX review book that address helpful approaches. A lot of schools and professors use those types of questions the whole way through, so learn how to choose the "most right" answer, or the "priority intervention." If you do poorly on one test, don't hesitate to step back and take a good hard look at what you can do differently.

Dosage calculation isn't too bad, and there are lots of websites that offer free tutorials and practice. If your school offers sessions, go to at least one to get an idea of what they want you to know. Read each problem carefully; sometimes there is extra information meant to distract you (for example: mentioning in the problem that it's given three times a day, when they're looking for how much you'd give in just one dose). I got into the habit of underlining the key words of the question first, then looking at the information they gave me to work it out.

You can do it -- take it one chunk at a time, take care of yourself as best you can, and stay on top of things!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Nice to hear a few positive comments about nursing school :)

Sent via my iPhone using allnurses.com ❤️

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I met my best friend.

I learned that I have been short-changing myself for most of my life. I am smart, I have critical thinking skills, and can be a great leader when given an opportunity.

I've kept my expectations of my grades high, and even was inducted into PTK because of that.

I've found my niche, and look forward to developing both my skills and my self.

I've found I love what I am doing!!

:cat:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Nursing school is actually enjoyable. Of course not all times are exactly "fun", but I do find myself enjoying clinicals and a lot of time even lectures! I was always a straight A student too. People told me to forget about making A's... But this doesn't have to be true! I have managed to make 11 A's of the 12 nursing courses I have completed (with an 89 in the other ugh). So you can still be a straight A student! It is possible! (I am in a BSN program). The thing about nursing school is that the subject matter itself is not entirely all that difficult. The subject matter is definitely manageable. It is the amount of material you are expected to learn in a given time that it challenging. Nursing school is very time consuming, but the subject matter is not exactly difficult. The upside to this is that with effective time management it is doable. Also, you will make some of the best friends you have ever had in nursing school. You are all going through the same thing at the same time with the same goal. My nursing friends keep me motivated and are always there to help one another out. Dosage calculation just takes practice. It's foreign at first, but with time and practice it will become easier. I recommend the book "calculate with confidence" and googling websites for practice problems.. There are tons of resources out there to help! I love nursing school, and I am fortunate for the friends I have made along the way. Be excited! Be positive and realize that you can do this! Best of luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion