Things i wish i knew before nursing school

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I wish I had known that I would question my own competency, wonder if I have chosen the right career and feel like quitting every Friday. In general I hate nursing school and the way it makes me feel about myself.... My grades are fine - but clinicals and paper are a bit hard and some days I feel like the volume of information is just too much . . . Can someone who has graduated tell me if it's worth it?

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I can't answer that question for you, but for me, yes it was absolutely worth it!

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I felt that way my first semester and then I decided that since this was something i would be doing for the next couple years, I needed to change my outlook because this bleak outlook was rubbing off in every part of my life.

I decided that I wanted to be a healthy nurse, which meant being a healthy student too. I started taking care of me... ate better, started exercising, ensuring I got sleep (all that studying will be wasted if you're too tired to learn). It has made a WORLD of difference in my life and others around me have commented on how good I'm looking now.

Nursing school is hard but if you reframe your thinking I think you'll do better overall. This sounds hokey, but changing your outlook can really improve the whole of your life.

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Specializes in Med/surg, Onc.

I graduate in 55 days. It's SOOOO worth it.

I learned that I had to be sure I was healthy, that I will never know everything, that my patients teach me more than I teach them. I have a bunch of things in notecards that I've kept throughout school.

I feel ready and able to be the nurse.

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Specializes in Hospice.

It is hard, that is true. Clinicals are hard because they do make us feel ignorant. We went straight to medsurg after just three weeks of NS and talk about being thrown to the wolves! I am glad to have those five weeks on medsurg out of the way, I am in LTC now for five weeks and I feel like I can breathe and concentrate on learning and practicing my assessments. I get good grades too but yes, NS can make you feel like a moron! But that's no reason to give up, hang in there. Just remind yourself, especially during clinicals when you are feeling less confident, that you can only do what you have been taught how to do. We can't do what RNs do, they know things we won't even know til we start working. You can't compare yourself to them. Hang in there and carry on!

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Specializes in ER.

I wish I had eaten better and focused on packing my lunch more often. I am glad I knew of some things like looking up certain teachers before I took them.

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I know how you feel. There are days when I feel like a complete imbecile and wonder how in the world I'm going to learn all of the things I need to and why in the heck did I decide to do nursing...and then there are the days when you have a great day, you do everything right and you understand everything really well. I think the good days come more often the longer you stick with it. I try to take one day at a time, and not think ahead too far, though its hard. I haven't graduated yet, I'm halfway done but I just wanted to share so you know you aren't the only one. In fact, I had a near breakdown just last clinical. :yes: You'll get through it and be a wonderful nurse, you chose this career path for a reason, just keep remembering that.

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Specializes in Cardiac, CVICU.

I would say to keep at it for another semester. Give yourself some time off to relax and then think it through if nursing is for you.

Don't make rash actions; make educated decisions. Talk this through with your advisor and a mentor.

I felt similar to this... I gave myself a few days off during fall break to relax and I now feel much better again. We quickly get bogged down in nursing school, but we need to keep a steady mind and be diligent. Don't quickly admit defeat. Rather, keep a strong attitude and a passion to help others.

Here are some fun verses that I read when I get bogged down:

"It is God who arms me with strength, And makes my way perfect." Psalm 18:32

"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." II Tim. 1:7

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might." Eph. 6:10

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it." I Cor. 9:24

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Specializes in Cardiac/Respiratory/PCU.

I felt what you are feeling.

It wasn't until we hit "acute care" that I found my niche, passion, and consistent enthusiasm! CARDIAC :cheeky:

In the end, it was totally worth it for me. I had the hardest time throughout nursing school. I failed 3 classes, moved out of my mom's house (on a freaking WEDNESDAY), got engaged, got married, got separated, lost a friend to brain cancer, and the list goes on. But I pushed through it, I passed my boards, and I got a job!

Think back to why you started...if you can reconnect to that passion, even just 10% of that passion, its worth it. If you are anything like me, you hate being judged by performance. I hateddd the spotlight I felt on my during clinicals. But listen, pull yourself up by your boot straps, grit your teeth, and trudge through it! It was the best decision I ever made.

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I would say to keep at it for another semester. Give yourself some time off to relax and then think it through if nursing is for you.

Don't make rash actions; make educated decisions. Talk this through with your advisor and a mentor.

I felt similar to this... I gave myself a few days off during fall break to relax and I now feel much better again. We quickly get bogged down in nursing school, but we need to keep a steady mind and be diligent. Don't quickly admit defeat. Rather, keep a strong attitude and a passion to help others.

Here are some fun verses that I read when I get bogged down:

"It is God who arms me with strength, And makes my way perfect." Psalm 18:32

"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." II Tim. 1:7

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might." Eph. 6:10

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it." I Cor. 9:24

Thanks:-)

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

It is worth it! It might be tough right now but there is a light at the end of the tunnel! That light is your license. :) They are excessively hard on you but they want to make sure that you can handle it in the real world when they (your classmates & teachers) are gone. I don't know how much time you have left but soon you will be a licensed nurse & you will look back & this & realize it was all worth it! :)

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I feel the same way. I really do not like nursing school. It seems like my instructors continually change their minds and expectations, and I'm always left feeling like an idiot. I am working hard, but my time studying is never enough it seems. My grades are okay but they could be better. Mentally and physically I'm exhausted. The only thing right now keeping me going is the thought that I have come too far to quit and that I have a little less than two months left of this semester. And when I am at clinical I really like the patients and nurses. Nursing school is only a very short part of our lives, thankfully.

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