Nursing School Blues

As an undergraduate nursing student, I suffered from a condition I’ve come to term, “Study Denial”. I thought that because I made great grades in high school with minimal effort, the same must be true for college. The first few semesters were a breeze because they were an extension of lessons and subjects learned in high school. Once I was admitted into upper level nursing courses, I learned that nursing school was a beast I had never encountered. From the amount of reading, to in depth studying, I often found myself unprepared for classes and exams. I slipped further into the red zone of failing and refused to admit I needed assistance. I allowed my pride to overshadow my goal of becoming a Registered Nurse.

I decided not to take a math my senior year of high school because I had met all of my math requirements my junior year and quite frankly, I hated math. That decision came back to bite me in the ass once I found myself retaking college algebra and trigonometry. Not only did I fail the class, I failed the class without a care in the world because I could not comprehend the reasoning for needing algebra as a nurse. Once I enrolled and struggled through Pharmacology and Math, I learned that reason expeditiously. Looking back, I realize a lot of my decisions were based on my level of maturity and my lack of any level of independence in high school. My ignorance of credit scores, student loans and adult life allowed me to make careless mistakes while in undergrad without guilt.

Although my university offered student support services, instructors who were enthusiastic about tutoring and upper classmen willing to assist any student needing extra help, those options remained unused. A lot of students felt the same as I did and struggled with the thought of failing nursing school while previously excelling in high school. Students fail to understand that nursing school is not an average college major. Nursing school is one of the hardest undergraduate majors in the world and they graduate less than half of the students they admit. Attending nursing school requires sacrifice, discipline, ambition, dedication, a support system, time management skills and impeccable study habits.

Sacrifice: It’s homecoming season, I get it. You want to attend all the events on the Yard, go out to all the clubs and the after parties but you can’t. You can’t go because you have clinical in the morning, a 26-page care plan that’s due accompanied by 217 drug cards. As a nursing student, you must learn what sacrifice is now because this word will continue to be a part of your nursing legacy. When I was a new grad nurse I would have loved to spend weekends and holidays with my family but I couldn’t. I tethered on the edge of sacrifice in nursing school so the impact of what I had to sacrifice as a real live nurse was new to me. It smacked me in the face hard and it took me several major holidays to embrace that my sacrificed time with my family was to provide care to other people’s family members.

Discipline: Two chapters were covered in class and you said to yourself, “Self, I’m going to study tonight after dinner.” One Netflix show season later, you realize it is after midnight and your nursing book is looking at you like a neglected pet. There’s not going to be someone standing over your shoulder making you study! You must learn how to be disciplined in the face of every type of distraction. Don’t allow temptations to sneak into your space and cause you to lose focus. Turn off your phone ringer, study in a library or coffee shop, don’t use a computer to take notes. The tiniest distraction soon turns into hours of wasted time.

Ambition: There is not a person on the planet that should want more for you than you want for yourself. There also should not be another person that you are going to nursing school for except you. You should have a stirring so deep in your soul that it drives you closer to your dream every minute of every day. Your ambition should be focused on changing the lives of your future patients, to make a difference in someone’s life. Any other reason is subject to change and is unrealistic. If ever you find yourself not wanting to be a life changer, an advocate, a light in someone’s life please reconsider becoming a nurse.

Dedication: Nursing school requires dedication and thoroughness. There is nothing that can be half assed because you are building your foundation for nursing practices. I know 7am clinicals are crucial but guess what? Those are very real nursing shift hours. You started the journey to become a nurse, remain diligent and finish nursing school. Remain dedicated to the desire you have to assist patients through some of the hardest days of their lives. Remain dedicated to becoming a apart of a profession that is respected throughout the world. Follow through with the plan you created for yourself.

Support System: I would be lying if I said everyone would support you on your journey throughout nursing school. When I mention support system everyone automatically assume I mean family and friends. Wrong! Your support system should include your nursing school peers! Who else will understand your frustrations of being given a test with nothing on it that was covered in class? Who else will be able to help you come up with two more nursing goals for your care plan? Also, who else will be sitting with you at the library while everyone else is at the step show? Your classmate, that’s who. Your nursing classmates will become closer to you than friends from high school, trust me.

Time Management: I became the “list master” while in nursing school. I had to make lists to ensure that all of my tasks for the day were completed. These lists were prioritized and helped me tremendously while trying to juggle work and school. I know that it is recommended to not work while enrolled in nursing school but some people have no other options to generate an income. Other time management skills include studying on breaks or downtime and preparing for the week in advance. Meal prepping, household chores and uniform ironing can all be completed on an off day from school or work. Preparing in advance allows for more time to accommodate unforeseen disturbances in your daily schedules.

Study Habits: I’ve never met a first-year nursing student that knew how to study and I’ve rarely met seniors that knew how to study. Nursing students study techniques range from the notorious flash cards to the hours of highlighting books until they glow. Please stop! Visit your student support center to discover what your learning style is. There is nothing worse than studying by taping the lecture and listening to it repeatedly only to later realize you learn best by visualization. Take breaks at a minimum of every 50 minutes to prevent your mind from wandering. Adult learners have a shorter attention span than children because we have more responsibilities to worry about. Our thoughts go from learning about antihypertensive classes to what side dishes we want for dinner tonight, to how many payment arrangements can be made on a utility bill. Breaks are needed to help us regain focus and ward off fatigue.

There is no fail proof way of navigating through nursing school without feeling some of the stings and burns of the illustrious profession along the way. There will be many sleepless nights, frustrating days and all kinds of speed bumps in between. My hope is that you will see it was all worthwhile once you sit for and pass the NCLEX. Most nursing students start claiming their specialties while in nursing school. Many choose OB/GYN or PEDS because they love babies or kids. For me Psychiatric nursing came easily. It was a natural attraction to help our most vulnerable population, so in a way it chose me. What my med/surg instructor will tell you is that although Mental Health nursing chose me, I chose nursing education. From my first year in upper level nursing until now, nursing education has remained my heart. I love hearing the excitement in my student’s voices when they finally make a connection. I enjoy educating the people who have chosen the most selfless profession of all and I absolutely look forward to taking this journey with you all! I wish you the best on your nursing goals.

~Nurse K

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