I have worked really hard to get into a nursing program at a big ten university and just started my classes this week. I have never felt so overwhelmed and fustrated in my life. My classes are really hard. My physiology class is single handedly making me want to walk away from nursing school.
I guess I thought nursing school would be more about learning nursing skills rather than studying every function in the body and receptors, neuron channels, etc. Stuff that I cant see the everyday nurse knowing or needing to know.
I have one week to drop out and get a full refund.
I have told this story before, but here it is again. Every year our program would admit about 25% more students than we knew we would be keeping, because no matter how well-qualified the applicants, in about three weeks about that many would be in our offices crying because they 1) didn't know they'd have to see naked old people, 2) didn't know school would be so hard, 3) thought it would be more like on TV, 4) thought they could just do mother-baby and didn't have to do med-surg and psych and all that other stuff too in school, 5) didn't know how much responsibility a nurse has, 6) were shocked that they had to see/hear/smell/touch things like .... etc., etc. "I always wanted to be a nurse like my mother/my auntie/my neighbor/my pediatrician's nurse/Cherry Ames," they wail as they come to withdraw.
I don't know what you thought about what nurses need to know to do their work but you are wrong if you think the "everyday nurse" doesn't need to know a great deal of physiology, the function of every system in the body, receptors, and more. We do, and a lot more than that.
Get your refund. You aren't ready to meet the challenge that is inherent in a scientifically-based major.
LOL @ naked old people and senses regarding "nasty" things
I can certainly understand how overwhelmed you feel. It seems like physiology may not pertain to nursing but really it's almost the center of it. A nurse is pretty much the last line of defense for a patient. Doctors spend minimal time with patients compared to nurses. Knowing physiology is going to save your patients lives. Knowing how the body works and how the drug that you are going to administer to them is going to affect them is majorly important. Anyone can be taught skills. I used to be a hair stylist and we always said "anyone can slap some color on your head, but a hair stylist knows how to formulate it to compliment your skin tone, hair type and style" Same goes for nursing, you can teach anyone to insert an IV but knowing how your immune system works and how infection occurs and knowing what to do with all of the data you gathered in your assessment is what makes a nurse. Sepsis is a huge issue, knowing physiology will teach you how to catch it before it becomes severe. Nursing is much more than a set of skills. It's critical thinking. The science classes and physiology are your foundation. If this isn't what you expected then maybe reconsider your major, BUT know that it is hard, it's supposed to be hard. Lives are in your hands. If you want nothing more than to be a nurse, you will make it through it. Hope this helps! Good luck![/quote']
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
I guess I thought nursing school would be more about learning nursing skills rather than studying every function in the body and receptors, neuron channels, etc. Stuff that I cant see the everyday nurse knowing or needing to know.
The 'everyday nurse' is not paid for the skills he/she performs. Rather, we are paid for the the things we need to know.
Skills-based training programs include the CNA (certified nursing assistant) program and the MA (medical assistant) program.
I think people have that misconception quite often. We can teach a layperson to do most of the skills we do with not much effort. It's the knowledge that sets us apart from everyone else. It's new and overwhelming but it won't be that way forever. You might find you enjoy it :)[/quote']
And...THIS.
I'm not sure how much research you put into being a nurse as you worked hard to get into the program; but there seems to be a disconnect in your idea of what a nurse does.
I will add that you are not the only one that has had this attitude about "real" nursing; there are nurses that feel the same way as well.
We MUST HAVE the same knowledge as a physician, therapist, pharmacist, etc., because we have to be the front line in order to navigate and advocate for our patients; our nursing knowledge is formatted in a different way, however, we must be cognizant of EVERYTHING that is occurring for our patients in order to make the right decisions in terms of management of our pt's care. Not to beat the drum any harder, but how can one perform "tasks", and not know the WHY and be a nurse? That's sets us apart, nursing knowledge, the nursing process; the nursing model of care we provide to our communities.
You have a decision to make: either you plan on making an imprint and have nursing as a career, and go for the long haul...if you are, contact your instructors and meet with them to ensure your success; and for your nursing courses, get the NANDA-I book and a critical thinking and nursing judgement book; as well as a good NCLEX review book to help guide and shape you to be able to understand nursing knowledge and judgement. I also suggest getting the "recommended" books as week; these are reference books that transcend student nursing and can be used as references once you become licensed. Find these books on Amazon, and get them at a reduced price.
Now, if plan on staying: best wishes and hope to see you in the trenches.
I have worked really hard to get into a nursing program at a big ten university and just started my classes this week. I have never felt so overwhelmed and fustrated in my life. My classes are really hard. My physiology class is single handedly making me want to walk away from nursing school.
I guess I thought nursing school would be more about learning nursing skills rather than studying every function in the body and receptors, neuron channels, etc. Stuff that I cant see the everyday nurse knowing or needing to know.
I have one week to drop out and get a full refund.
You're at the very bottom rung of the ladder leading toward becoming an expert nurse.
Anybody can be taught the basic psychomotor skills of nursing (that is, IVs, NGs, etc) in only a few hours. The intent of nursing training is to equip a person to identify what is happening to patient, what risks they face, the early indicators of complications, appropriate interventions, etc.
Part of that is learning how the body works, how it fails, and how various therapies impact its function and dysfunction. The foundation of that is basic cellular and tissue function.
Personally, I found that to be the interesting part of nursing school - and the most useful topics in my daily work. All the "nursiness" of nursing theory, careplans, and nursing diagnoses and such were the drudgery... and the least applicable to my daily work.
If such a small challenge already has you considering dropping out, you should seriously consider doing so.
I wish I could go back and study super hard and really throughly learn all that stuff. I'd say dig in, get a study group, don't whine about no social life like some other posters, and learn. It won't be a waste, I promise.
DatMurse
792 Posts
LOL @ naked old people and senses regarding "nasty" things