Struggling right now

[stevosmusic]

Whats up guys. This semester has just turned into a really rought patch for me. I am in my last year of nursing school and trying to finish out strong. We just took our first rounds of tests and I got a 96% on both my first med surg 2 and public health exams. Anyways everything was going awesome this semester until the last coupled days. My dad had been feeling sick and went to the hospital. In the ER the found a 5cm hepatic mass. I figured maybe it was just a cyst of something but three days later (Today) they found out it was a cholangiocarcinoma that had spread to his liver. This has been so stressful for me because I love my dad and also because my moms been just staying at the hospital and now I have been having to take care of my little brother. I have to get him to school everymorning and make sure he does his homework at night and feed him ect.. Any ways I have a huge med surg exam on respritory, endocrine, ect... and this person from last years class told us its the hardest test he took while in school. Im trying not to have a mental breakdown and study everyday. Anyone been through similar and have some advice?

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

I'm really sorry about your Dad and your family situation.

The only advice I can give is to try to enlist your little brother to help you carve out some study time. It won't be easy, You might also try sharing what's happening with your professor and see if there are any work-arounds.

Good luck!

[caliotter3]

Seriously consider taking a leave of absence for personal reasons. I can almost guarantee that you won't get any considerations otherwise. Hope you and your family can withstand this and that your father pulls out of it. He is in the prayers of many.

[berdawn, ASN]

Ask for help! Talk to your friends who aren't in such a difficult program, your family if they are around, and your little brother (if he is old enough to be in school, he's old enough to make PB+J sandwiches). Focus and be gentle with yourself. Ask for help. If you need to take a break from school, take a break--find out if you can withdraw if necessary and come back in the spring. Take care of yourself--if you don't you can't be there for your family. Ask for help.