What did nursing school do to you?

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Did it drive you crazy? What types of feelings did you have? Today was the last clinical day of the semester, and I have so many different emotions. I'm scared, anxious, worried, somewhat excited.......it could go on forever. It has only been these last 10 weeks that I have been feeling this way. I have only the spring semester left before I graduate. It feels as though I have been chewed up and spit out. I guess I am just wondering if other people had similar feelings.:uhoh3:

Specializes in critical care transport.

Wow, what nursing school is doing to me:

For one, making more forward and to the point. You are FORCED to get a spine if you don't have one. It's been the best thing for me personally- making me just "do it" without worrying that I am inconviniencing someone. I feel like I've become the person who I authentically have always been because of school.

School makes you brave because you have no choice but to "get the job done" if it's at clinicals or if it is lecture. You are almost forced to ask questions if you don't understand something, even if you are uncomfortable doing so. It's a great opportunity for personal growth.

It also has makes you sort unresolved feelings about illness and health, your role in the world, how to "let it go" when dealing with others who can't, and instills a strong sense of unity (maybe some places it isn't like this) with your fellow students. You learn how to depend (and not depend) on others, you learn that you actually "can" when you've previoiusly told yourself you can't.

Not only do a lot of us go through a metamorphosis, our families (and the biggie here is your significant other) has to learn how to do some things on their own every once in a while. My daughter is getting a perfect example on why you don't wait until you have kids to go to school.

In some instances, if you have a "controlling" significant other, this is the time where they get very insecure, because if you were previously submissive, you can change into a very able bodied person who realizes that they are in a relationship because they want to be, NOT because they have to be. Sometimes education indimidates people, like your husband, boyfriend, etc.

If you were a stay at home mom, this is one of the biggest times of your life, truly branching out, realizing how much is out there for you to experience. For me, a former "swear off school" person, school has been the greatest thing for me intellectually, psychologically, spiritually... I am SO glad I made the decision to be my own person and to try to be an example of a strong woman for my daughter. And believe me, I KNOW she is taking down notes in her head.

My husband and I have had some rocky times, but I do not get the "divorce card" played to me to scare me into "submission" anymore (after all, wouldn't a mother who had no job skills be easily persuaded to back off of something?) For the most part, it's made him respect me. It was hard for him at first, because everything was about "him" and the "work he does to support the family" (which is still valuable, don't get me wrong). I had to sell school from the "we'll make more money" standpoint, even though, for nearly 3 years when it came time to pay for school, I got the "we can't afford it this quarter" bologna. I told him that was fine, then I'd charge it. He began to understand that I was serious.

Best thing I've ever done in my life- period. I am truly a better person because of school.

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Chewed me up and spit me out is right. I passed boards yesterday!!! Still have the 25 extra pounds, got grey hair, ground my teeth to the gum line, lost my confidence, lost all feelings of competence, but not my desire to be a nurse. I did not feel like this during college. I graduated cum laude in Political Science at the age of 30 and have had a career with lots of responsibility. I adopted a child from Russia with a cleft lip/palate and learning disabilites. In short, I was a very competent person. After all of the torture of nursing school, It is my opinion that unhappy, miserable vicious people populate the faculty of lots of ADN and LPN programs. I did meet one GREAT clinical instructor of Maternal/Newborn. She was working on her MSN at the time. I can honestly say that other than the nurses working on the floors, the clinical faculty and lecture faculty lacked any kind of empathy, intellectual curiousity or just plain kindness.

I am going to apply to grad school in a year or two because our profession will not prosper until these "Eat our young" (and I am not young) miserable types are removed from contact with nursing students. So there!! Good luck to all of you who are about to finish school. You survived intact and because you did, you will be great nurses.

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Specializes in Hospice, Med/Surg, ICU, ER.

My pinning is in two hours.......

Nursing school taught me:

(1) to NEVER trust a schedule

(2) take all advice from an instructor (a State employee) with a grain of salt

(3) there is the "school way" and the way it is done in the "real world"

(4) "mandatory" is usually negotiable, especially if it conflicts with the schedule (altered at the last minute) mentioned in (1) above.

School has been a PITA: I learned many very valuable skills, but it could have been done in 2/3 the time and cost if the "program" had its shizzle together. :imbar

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Specializes in RN, Cardiac Step Down/Tele Unit.

Here are the negatives...

1. Torn up my knee (not directly related to school, but running around clinicals delayed rehab)

2. Tore up my back (directly related to clinicals)

3. Weird GI symptoms (epigastric pain, N/V, possible gastric ulcer doc says)

4. Migraines returned that I have not had in a few years

5. Seriously damaged relationship with husband - possible divorce when I get out of school

Wow, I really sound like a hypochondriac! All true, and all obviously stress related.

Positives:

1. Makes me more confident in my abilities

2. Really humbled me - I am nowhere near the smartest person in the class anymore!

3. I quickly got over my obsession with A's (I'm hoping for 3 A's and a B this semester, so not completely given it up yet, but Bs are ok too!)

4. I met 19 of the coolest people in the world that I am lucky to call friends and colleagues (accelerated program and we are a tight group)

5. The biggest thing - nursing school has changed who I am and how I look at others. I am way less judgmental about people and far more liberal than I used to be. Not that I was not a good person before, but I think I am a better person and more compassionate to others. In clinicals I have cared for convicted felons, homeless people, and others who my former self would have judged harshly and I learned that all people are worthy of the same dignity and respect regardless of their choices or life circumstances, and I have alot to learn from every person.

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Specializes in Skilled.

I think we all go to the same school. Honestly. We are overwieght, need a drink and some better profs. We all ought to go celebrate when we get out. And although I am a woman, I agree with morte.....I do not know if woman are jealous of my LPN, grades, or looks. Nontheless. I don't talk anymore--I just concentrate. It is way too much stress and way too little support in all aspects. God Bless us all. We are all floating in this boat together.:o

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I did have what seemed to be sadistic teachers with some personal problems, who abused their authorty and picked on certain students. My first semester clinical instructor was a hotshot young ICU traveler who was like a Jr High pupil in her emotional maturity, and her fawning favortism for some students, and ruthless nastiness to others was rather appalling. They were desperate for clinical instructors.

My last semester theory teacher, Eileen Hackett of College of the Desert was my heroine. I loved her! She really taught the upper level concepts so well, and was so encouraging to me, I still love that woman! I need to email her, I usually send a card this time of year, she was still there a couple of years ago.

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it was nsg school that truly showed me what i was made of.

sheer determination made me part of the person i am today.

despite all the negatives i encountered, there was nothing but positive results.

and i'm quite happy with that.

leslie

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Wow...

I'm starting an Accelerated BSN program in January. I'm moving away from friends and family in Southern California to Des Moines, Ia..... a place I've never been and all on my own. The prospects of a new career and lifestyle have been very exciting the last few months as I've been preparing to leave.

After reading this thread, however, my emotions are getting crossed and instead of excitment and anicipation I'm starting to feel sad and scared. I'm hoping that it's just the nurses who were jaded by school who posted on here and that they are a smaller percentage then those who enjoyed it.

(By the way.... this is my first post. I think this is an awesome site and a great resource for nurses and future nurses)

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Specializes in CMSRN.

I can related to everything that has been posted so far. I just finished my Psych rotation and I considered it the best and worst experience so far in school. (I know I do not want to be a psych nurse) It gave me a tremendous insight as to who I am and that it is ok. Plus it helped me understand that everyone has faults and to expect others to make mistakes.

If anyone were to go through nursing school and not find it insightful and challenging (a nice way of saying hard as heck) then I would wonder about there ability to care for others. I just hope that even if nursing turns out to be not for everyone who graduates then they at least will have a different perspective on life.

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Specializes in Float.

After reading this thread, however, my emotions are getting crossed and instead of excitment and anicipation I'm starting to feel sad and scared. I'm hoping that it's just the nurses who were jaded by school who posted on here and that they are a smaller percentage then those who enjoyed it.

Hmm well...I wouldn't count on this thread just being the jaded and a smaller percentage than those who ENJOYED it lol. Even my teachers admit they HATED nursing school lol

But there really are great teachers out there who will boost you and help you. I've learned something from all of my instructors.

Honestly we like to gripe and moan but you know what - my school is out for the semester and I miss the chaos lol. :roll

You will see more when you are in the program - it's crazy, irritating, fun, challenging, you will make some great friends, you can all gripe and moan together lol, I do great the first half of the semester, by the end I'm ready to be DONE because you just get sooooo tired of homework and assignments and alllll the studying and the crazy tests with too freaking many "right" answers and you get to read the instructors mind and pick the "most right" answer.

But it passes quickly. It's like childbirth - it's heck getting through it - you cuss some, you cry some, but in the end you start to forget and maybe it doesn't seem quite THAT bad (well that's what I'm hoping..I have 4 more months til deliverance hehe)

Mommy

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Specializes in Skilled.

I too can relate to all who posted on here. Nursing is a very 'hard' profession--meaning both psychologically and physically. Nursing school is extremely hard....and I am already an LPN....almost finished with my RN. Good Luck in your move and studies.:welcome:

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Specializes in Medical Telemetry, LTC,AlF, Skilled care.

Lord I'm glad I'm not the only one going through this! I have gained so much weight, my blood pressure is constantly elevated, I have been sick it seems almost every other week, it NEVER ends lol one more semester left: OB, Psych, Peds, and geriatrics oy sometimes it seems as though graduation will never come lol

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