I just finished my last day of nursing school. Turned in my last assignment at exactly noon. It still hasn't sunk in yet. For the last 4 hours I have sat on my couch not really knowing what to do with myself. I then decided to reach out to all the students who may be starting a program this fall. I remember being in those shoes, and all the questions I had. All the fear. All the excitement. So basically, Ill sum up my nursing school experience as best as I can.
1.) You WILL survive. I did. I'm one of those people who have what you call, "anxiety," and boy did I let that get to me right before my program started. I was incredibly scared. I had heard all these stories on this site about how hard nursing school is, how I would have no life, etc. You WILL survive. I did. (And honestly, it can be frustrating at times, but it really isn't that bad...)
2.) That leads me to number 2. Nursing school IS hard. BUT, its only hard because of the amount of work, not the material itself. Learn time management. Like yesterday. Dont let yourself fall behind, but DO give yourself breaks. You DONT have to have a 4.0. You just need to pass. You will learn this by your last quarter when it takes all you have to finish your last assignments and you find yourself figuring the percentage you need just to pass the darn class...
3.) You CAN work. I worked an average of 15 hours a week and maintained a 3.8 average. And I don't want to brag, but my program has a notorious reputation of being one of the more "challenging" in the area.
4.) Your house WILL be messy. But you probably wont have time to notice...
5) You will PROBABLY gain weight. (So dont go out and buy a bunch of new clothes two weeks before your program starts like I did. lol.)
6.) You're gonna cry at some point.
7.) At the same time, you're gonna have some of the most amazing smiles and laughs of your life..
8.) The friends you will make in the program will truly be the only ones who get what you are going through. Because of this, you will make some of the best friends of your life.
9.) You will have moments where you go.."wow, I actually feel like I get this nursing thing!"...Then 5 minutes later you feel lost again. Totally normal.
10.) Some teachers will scare the ***** out of you. While others will inspire you. Just do your thing. If they say jump...you say, "how high?"
Again, you WILL survive. I could keep going on and on. But that probably sums up most of it. I honestly feel like school just started yesterday and I have no idea how I got here right now because it went by SOOOOOOO fast. You got this. If you have any questions, please let me know. I'm hear to lend an ear. Besides, I have no idea what I am going to do with myself over these next few weeks besides study for my boards. This is just weird....in a very very very good way. :) Get ready to embark on the most REWARDING quest of your life. Its all worth it for this moment.
I couldn't agree more! Take it from somebody who graduated April 28th 2012. Congrats to you, your hard work paid off!! I can almost relate to all the points you made! It's funny all nursing students and nurses are like a tight knit family of some sort. We all get our struggles. Either way, I took my boards on June 6th and passed. Try and take it as soon as possible, I did Kaplan and Saunders they really helped me review.
I'm a week away from graduating my program also. I read your post and laughed the whole time because it is so true....
I am 30 years old, a wife, mother of a 3 year old, and worked a full time job throughout my education in the part-time nursing program. I warned my family that I would probably be too busy to see them while I went to school, felt the anxiety, and at the end, figured out my grade so I could pass with a bare minimum.
It wasn't as bad as I expected. I made a lot of new friends, ones that I hope to keep in contact with through the years and can't wait to work with.
Congrats on finishing your program, here's to the next step for us, and good luck to the new students!
I really appreciate your comments it meant a lot. I'm struggling with a lot right now and it has been a roller coaster because I've been in a nursing program an made it to the 4th class and had only 1 more to go but because in the past I repeated a class I can't continue. The 4th class I missed by 2 points so I can't continue (I was removed from the nursing program). It was heart breaking but I've picked myself up and now looking to continue. My only problem is whether I start from the beginning again or do the LPN program. I've heard many say that it isn't worth doing the LPN so I'm very confused. I don't want to do this whole thing over but I want to be a nurse so bad. I wake up every day thinking about it and feeling sad at what happen but I know I can't give up because I've come so far. I've applied to a couple of schools and they won't take any of my nursing courses and on top of that I have to retake some pre-reqs over because they are too old to transfer. It sucks big time. What would you do in my shoes?
I feel like I'm looking in a mirror. You are me. I too have been through the something you are going through now. I failed out of my nursing program and now I'm trying to pick up the pieces and continue. I'm thinking about the doing it again (RN program at another school) or do the LPN program, but I'm confused. But my heart is telling me to do the RN again but I have to build myself up because my self-esteem is low. I really wish you the best and pray that you do well.
Thank you so much for your honest, simple, and honest advice! I start 8/20, and the anxiety keeps rising, as well as the fear of failing and the unknown. Good luck on your exam!
I agree with everything you said. I graduated in may and I literally did not know what to do with myself. So much free time! I would add start looking for a job 6weeks minimum before school ends or good, luck getting into the hospital right away. It is possible to get through. I worked 40 hours a week and still made it through and into a very competitive bsn program.
Specializes in Psych, Med-Surg, Critical Care, NICU.
Hello Mrsladysoul83,
I am in the same predicament as you. I too failed out of an RN-BSN program summer 2011 and am now enrolled in an LPN program here in Oklahoma City. I feel God has definitely given me a second chance to pursue my dreams of becoming a nurse, as well. A BSN degree is definitely my goal, but right now all I want to do is focus on getting my LPN and then transition into an RN-ADN program fall 2013. Which is only 2 semesters. I wasn't very fond of going the LPN route either, but it is the best way to go when you failed out of an RN program. And besides, we'll be able to work as LPN's while in RN school!. I like that alot!. I'm a CNA right now and God knows I hate my job. Lol. Anyway, I feel exactly how you feel (constantly beating myself up because I FAILED)! It's a normal part of coping. I believe once we start the LPN program we'll put all that behind us and look forward to the future! I too am scared to DEATH, but WE KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT!...We've been there before and if you know what you did wrong the first time, you definitely won't make the same mistake twice! Good luck to you and keep a positive mind. You can do this Mrsladysoul83! Believe in yourself!!
@FutureNurse1982 yes i so believe that God gave us another chance because our names stood out to the instructors selecting the future nurses! Sometimes i was too embarrassed to even tell anybody that i flunked but i got ok because i realized i wasnt the 1st & would be the last but it just hurt because i felt & thought i had my plans laid out BUT its ok now! We gonna do this! Yeah the negative talk about lpn's on here makes you second guess your decision but i also believe in you have to crawl before you walk & id rather start at the bottom & work my way on up. In my neck of the woods i would have to wait 5 years to apply to another Adn prog & i dont have 5 years to sit around & wait when i can go the lpn route & 2 of the RN schools im looking @ will accept me if i get my lpn. Im not picky & i dont mind working @ a nursing home or a ltc because its a job & those people need care too. In a way i kinda feel like i should have went this route 1st & then maybe i would have been a little more prepared for the RN program but thats the past, im in the present looking forward to the future & becoming a nurse! Its not about the money for me either because in some areas what lpn's are getting paid, i make that now. Im trusting & believing that with Gods help, favor, me studying my butt off & putting in the time to be successful I WILL & CAN MAKE IT! FAILURE IS STILL NOT AN OPTION. I just had a MINOR SETBACK that has put me in a place for a MAJOR COMEBACK!=D Congrats & Good Luck to you on your journey! Watch out 2013 Here WE COME! Keep me posted on your progress, the good, bad & ugly so that way we can help each other!
pat8585
1 Article; 360 Posts
Thanks for your encouragement! Good luck on your NCLEX!:)