Student nurses: non-science backgrounds

[mpolo]

Hi Y'all,

Im a nursing student from Australia, currently in my second semester.

I got through the first semester fine, mostly rehab/aged care placements and A & P centred subjects.

However.....come second semester, and we all are getting hit with pathophysiology....

now I'm a non-science background student, who has heaps of time to commit to the course (thank God!!!!!)

but still I find that I am behind in my knowledge compared to ppl with many more extra-curriculum committments (such as families) who seem to be way ahead of me in terms of pure scientific orientation, and it just seems to me

that they are picking up all this material so much easier than me. Although I am happy for them, sometimes

this does frustrate me.

so my question is ......to the non-science background students please.....how did you manage and go-about

completing your nursing course (im doing a fast-track course.....so if you did that....all the more relevant) without

comparing yourself to others?

Is it just a case of, keep the marks to yourself? .... are there other strategies that you guys used to not totally

lose self-esteem when comparing yourself to others who have done years of healthcare science study before you?

This would be awesome if you guys could please give me some feedback.

Doing fine with patient rapport, and the patients are really the only reason why I stay, I feel the need to help them, but I am really dissatisfied with some parts of the nursing community (i.e. science vs non-science students) who just feel that they are superior.....mebbe im wrong...mebbe im just not realising some things.

I guess if I knew as much as they did, I would also act as they do....but at least I wouldn't try to act superior and shun other ppl.

There.....a can of worms have I just opened up?

Pls assist.

[CuriousMe]

Hi Y'all,

Im a nursing student from Australia, currently in my second semester.

I got through the first semester fine, mostly rehab/aged care placements and A & P centred subjects.

However.....come second semester, and we all are getting hit with pathophysiology....

now I'm a non-science background student, who has heaps of time to commit to the course (thank God!!!!!)

but still I find that I am behind in my knowledge compared to ppl with many more extra-curriculum committments (such as families) who seem to be way ahead of me in terms of pure scientific orientation, and it just seems to me

that they are picking up all this material so much easier than me. Although I am happy for them, sometimes

this does frustrate me.

so my question is ......to the non-science background students please.....how did you manage and go-about

completing your nursing course (im doing a fast-track course.....so if you did that....all the more relevant) without

comparing yourself to others?

Is it just a case of, keep the marks to yourself? .... are there other strategies that you guys used to not totally

lose self-esteem when comparing yourself to others who have done years of healthcare science study before you?

This would be awesome if you guys could please give me some feedback.

Doing fine with patient rapport, and the patients are really the only reason why I stay, I feel the need to help them, but I am really dissatisfied with some parts of the nursing community (i.e. science vs non-science students) who just feel that they are superior.....mebbe im wrong...mebbe im just not realising some things.

I guess if I knew as much as they did, I would also act as they do....but at least I wouldn't try to act superior and shun other ppl.

There.....a can of worms have I just opened up?

Pls assist.

At the end of the day, as long as you're meeting your programs requirements.....it doesn't matter what rate you're learning at. So, even if you're not learning as quickly as some others in your program (and really, that's just you comparing your insides to their outsides....you don't know how easily they're learning....you just know how they portray themselves to you)...so what? At the end of the day you'll all graduate as will they.

We all have strengths and weaknesses...that's as it should be. Don't stress.

[mpolo]

true, true, didn't look at it this way.

guess I'm just finding it a challenge transforming myself into a healthcare minded person, with the focus on the other person, and not my own personal ego.

thanks heaps, that was a great response.

[CuriousMe]

Happy it was helpful! Hang in there!!!