Why Is Giving Up So Appealingly Right Now?

Nursing Students LPN/LVN Students

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Specializes in New Grad.

Normally, I enjoy just reading what people post, but I need to vent....

When I graduated high school I decided to pursue nursing. I got rejected from RN programs a total of five times. I wanted to achieve my goal and move on with my life, so I applied to and got accepted into a vocational nursing program. Yes, the first semester and a half was stressful, but I was doing well and I really enjoyed it. This semester has been a real struggle though. I went from getting A’s and B’s on tests to barely passing. Plus, I’m trying to fight burnout, and the responsibility of caring for people’s lives isn’t making me feel good anymore; it’s overwhelming me! I’m so scared of accidentally making a mistake doing more harm than good for my patients. Every time I get something wrong or make a mistake I tell everyone I’m fine and try to look like I’m put together, but inside I’m tearing myself to shreds for making dumb mistakes on tests etc. long story short I’m not enjoying theory or clinical like I use to. This month has felt like one long anxiety attack. I’ve worked for 4 years to get into a program only to want to give up?! I can’t stand it!!
We are starting our peds and ob rotation and after we have one semester left. I want to persevere hoping it will get better, but doesn’t look like it will. I hate the idea of being a quitter. I want to continue to fight, but I need energy.
Do you think this is a phase? Has anyone else felt this way? If so, did you stick with nursing and regret it?
sorry for the long post

Hey! I won't be any help here. I dropped after the first semester because I got behind in fundamentals. I was in my first semester and found it incredibly hard to remember the amount of information that was thrown at me each week. The teachers did not really teach us so it's all on us. I've thought about looking into other schools or changing fields altogether. I enjoyed learning the material; however, I did not enjoy learning six-chapter each week along with writing papers, practicing nclex questions, practicing clinical, and learning drug calculations. The fundamental teacher reads power points which were basically the same information in the book and never gave clues of what might be on the test which would help a lot. I also had all A's except for communication which I hated because I am shy. Wished Although I've started reading chapters in Fundamentals, I am not sure I am returning to nursing school in January. One thing that helped me with stress is counting pages. It helps me focus on what needs to be for that week. Example: Chapters 1-3, 17, 21 was the first test. I counted how many pages were in each chapter excluding review questions, and end of the book review. I add the number of pages that I need to learn that week and divided it by 5 so that left me two days to study drug cal and write papers.

I could be more help here. Good luck.

Specializes in ICU.

nursing school is way different than working as a nurse. Clinicals are a TERRIBLE guideline to actually being a nurse. I seriously don't think clinicals helped prepare me what so ever for bed side nursing. You have gotten this far- just stick it out. You can do it ?

2 Votes
Specializes in New Grad.
On 11/22/2019 at 10:55 AM, Lurkndmurk said:

nursing school is way different than working as a nurse. Clinicals are a TERRIBLE guideline to actually being a nurse. I seriously don't think clinicals helped prepare me what so ever for bed side nursing. You have gotten this far- just stick it out. You can do it ?

Thank you so much for the advise, I stuck it out and have no regrets

2 Votes
Specializes in retired LTC.

Good for you! And good luck as you move on!

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