Worried mom of nursing student

[mom2mom]

I'm hoping someone can give me something positive to hold on to. My child is in semester 2 of 5 semesters of an accelerated BSN program, beginning the program just 2 days after graduating with his BS in Kinesiology (which is where he got all of his nursing prereqs). I'm really worried about him. He's generally a happy-go-lucky fellow, but I can see a recent change in him. I know how terribly difficult nursing is, and I'm sure the stress and pressure is getting to him by this point, not to mention he has not had a single break since last Christmas, almost a year ago. He's never been that 4.0 student, but he managed to graduate with a 3.7 in Kines. However, I've heard nursing is a completely different animal, and I'm sure the adjustment has been brutal. All the reading and research I've done seems to only speak of how likely it is to fail out of nursing school, and I just haven't read much of anything positive to give me any hope that'll he will be able to push through and not give up. He hasn't said much, except that the NCLEX style questions he's just beginning to have are tough & tricky and that he feels like he's not always retaining what he learns. However, he does love what he does learn, just as he loved all the info he learned in kinesiology. He loves talking about it. He probably doesn't have the best study habits in the world, but I'm hoping he will learn to work on that quickly and figure out what works for him. Do you have to be that lifelong strong 4.0 student to pass nursing school? Can an average and slightly above-average student make it through somehow? I guess I'm just being a worried mom. Please tell me something positive so I can be positive for him. I don't want him to ever know how much I worry or think that I don't believe in him...because I do. Just hoping someone can share some encouraging words. I admire all of you who have been through it and who are going through it now. Y'all are awesome!

[BAY AREA RN, BSN]

i believe your son is going to be ok. no you don't have to be a 4.0 student to pass. in this field C'S can still get you the degree. nursing school is very stressful and if you meet his classmates family they may tell you they feel the same as you.

[missmollie, ADN, BSN, RN]

Somethings I would've loved to hear from my mom, but heard from my sister (who was already a nurse) during school:

"I know you can do it and you'll make a great nurse"

"I'm close by, want to get out of the house and eat? I will run through your flashcards with you"

Also call and find out how the test went, and let him talk. Just let him vent, and you can be there for him. He doesn't need a 4.0 to be a great nurse or make it through nursing school. He just needs a supportive family who understands that he is busy with school.

Kudos to you for reaching out to get some explanation on what you can do! He will get through this, but he'll be better if he has someone to just vent to during the process. Just be that person.

[Ohm108, MSN, NP, CNM]

YOU are a great mom! Kudos to you for reaching out and trying to learn more to understand where he is at in his life. He will be fine. We all go through stresses in life beit work, school, or relationships. We will get through it. Just continue to be the supportive mom that you are and when he looks back he will be grateful that you were there for him. Part of learning is not only celebrating the successes but also taking the lumps as well. Good luck!

[AnLe, ASN, RN]

You can pass your classes, in my school, with a 76. Sometimes a break, be it for lunch, helps. A nice calm moment where you can focus on one thing and breathe. My sister would take me out to eat once a month where I wouldn't worry about school.

My friends, who have no interest in nursing would hear me out as I would explain a disease process or tell them something exciting I learned. Their questions helped me with the pathophysiology part.

Just being there with words of encouragement is all one needs. You have no idea how much they help.

[elkpark]

I don't know where you've been reading about "how likely it is to fail out of nursing school," but the reality is that the large majority of nursing students do fine and graduate, and most of them are "average and slightly above-average student(s)." Many don't get as good grades as they would have liked :), but they get through school, graduate, get licensed, and have successful nursing careers. What many people find challenging is how different nursing programs are from other subjects they've studied in the past in order to get to nursing school, and it can be a difficult adjustment, but nursing school is not impossibly difficult.