Why doesn't anyone talk about about the blues that hit after nursing school?

It seems most of our class has experienced this, yet I've never seen posts, or heard it being discussed! I don't think we were an exceptionally close knit group or anything- community college, 55 grads. Anyone else experience it?

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Have you checked out the "First Year After Licensure" forum?

People are posting about being miserable worrying about the NCLEX, miserable worrying about the result, miserable with job hunting and miserable with their first jobs.

[aflahe00]

Hit me big time

Right after graduation but I felt it coming....

[YumCookies, BSN, RN]

You are definitely not alone! I was extremely anxious and depressed for the first two years of being a nurse. I think a lot of it had to do with working nights - to this day I can only get 3-4 hours in between my overnight shifts. For a while I wasn't exercising or eating healthy. I also struggle with keeping work AT WORK - I sometimes wake up in the middle of the day with my heart pounding, my first thought being that I forgot about something at work.

The best advice I can give you is to make health your priority. Eat healthy, exercise regularly, and do what you need to sleep well (especially on nights). Keep yourself busy on you days off and do the things you enjoy. I'm looking for a day position myself, hoping that working normal hours will make me less irritable and unhappy. Good luck to you!

Good advice, thank you!

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

Interesting, because this is actually one of the MOST talked about subjects on this board. Head on over to that First Year After Licensure forum and you will find tons of good company. Hang in there. It does get better.

[CardiacDork, BSN, RN]

What if we're still blue almost 4 years after licensure? I had a panic attack in my car in the parking lot of Starbucks. I had to really have a coke to Jesus moment and give myself encouragement from the bottom of my heart and remind myself where I came from and where I'm going. I'm still a little shaken, feeling a little blue though.

I had a 2 day training this weekend, and was so happy to be in a relatively stress free learning environment again! So silly, but true!

What if we're still blue almost 4 years after licensure? I had a panic attack in my car in the parking lot of Starbucks. I had to really have a coke to Jesus moment and give myself encouragement from the bottom of my heart and remind myself where I came from and where I'm going. I'm still a little shaken, feeling a little blue though.

If you are feeling down and anxious on a regular basis, you might want to look into talking to a therapist.