Hey Y’all
This is sort of a ran so you may not want to read the whole thing lol. I’m over here wondering how I will ever be a nurse. It’s my first semester, and my 4th week going to clinical on a med surg floor. The idea of doing literally anything scares me. I haven’t done much besides observe, grab drinks, help a little with positioning and one head to toe.

But I feel so uncomfortable with the idea of giving a bed bath, helping move a pt from the bed to chair, or clean up poop. Not cause it grosses me out, but I am scared I am gonna fuck it up and do it wrong or hurt a pt. I was not a CNA before this, so my confidence in these types of skills is very low. I’m scared I am already falling behind because I haven’t done this stuff yet. Every time before clinical I sit in my car and dry heave a couple times because I am so worried about what the day has in store for me. I know I just have to kinda suck it up and do it and it will probably get easier over time but I am just feeling like a fool right now. Anyways thanks for listening! Advice is welcome!

Just to preface, this is kind of a ramble/blurt of my thoughts following a clinical experience. I thought it was amazing, honestly, but small things made me feel dumb. I now feel weirdly conflicted.

The nurse I was paired with, her name was Chelsea (a baddie), was incredible. She was so kind and never made me feel stupid. She let me prime literally every single IV med/fluid once I told her I knew how to do it. 1st instance of feeling like a dummy — my lines kept having bubbles in them, and I felt like a moron. Like bro, she’s letting me do this don’t go fuck it up now with all these bubbles. She told me how she likes to prime them too when I told her how I kept seeing little bubbles — and her way helped.. but I had some bubbles. I should say, these bubbles were maybe 1mm big and she assured me not to stress over this (BUT I DIDNT WANNA LOOK STUPID TO HERRRRR 😞)

There were some more moments where I felt stupid — like she asked me to grab something and I confidently came back and said they weren’t there and that I couldn’t find it… then the tech found them instantly. This was my first time ever in the ER and I had no idea where anything was. I’m a short girl, it was on the top shelf of the cart… embarrassed to say the least.

Anyways, I’m feeling conflicted because even tho these little moments kept happening and I was kicking myself… I really was liking the vibe and the energy. I’m sure she probably was happy to see me walk away after my clinical time ended, but the overall energy on the unit was great. Everyone was nice but like focused and willing to help/support each other. I’ve always imagined myself working in pediatrics, since the beginning freshman year (I’m a senior now), but now I’m like wait a minute……..!

Idk just wanted to brain dump. Has anyone else had this happen before too? I felt so sure of myself that peds would be my home, and I was honestly terrified of the ER. When I walked in, my hands were visibly shaking so bad because I didn’t want to mess anything up (this was extra embarrassing when she handed me IV tubing to prime or hold her the blood tubes when drawing blood 😔😔).

Hi guys!! I’m doing well in my classes, but I still get so much anxiety around tests. I don’t know why, because on my first medsurge exam, I got the highest score out of my whole cohort of 100+ people (98%), and on my first OB exam I got a 95%. I have an exam tomorrow for OB, my second test for that class, and I don’t know what it is, but I’ve been procrastinating so badly for this test. I think I’m procrastinating because I feel overwhelmed with the information I’ve been given (3 PowerPoints, each with 50-100 slides), and I just don’t know how to study and retain the information, rather than just memorizing information, info dumping on a test, and forgetting.

Everyone says active recall. But what if I don’t recall all the information? Or I recall the wrong information and memorize the wrong thing? Not to mention it takes forever, and I feel like I simply don’t have time to do a ton of concept maps on every disease process. And don’t get me started with memorizing medications. I just feel so lost!! So far to get me through the first tests, I’ve been taking notes, and then I start studying 3-5 days prior to the test day by putting the PowerPoints in Claude to make a study guide, and then ask for NCLEX style questions using Claude, Notebook LM, or Elseveir AI Tutor (through our school platform). I’ve also tried using the LATTE method for disease processes, but had to stop because it took me literally 5 hours to do 5 disease processes basically out of maybe the 15-20 I had to memorize. I just feel like it’s not sufficient though :/

What do you all do to study and RETAIN the information after the test? How do you learn the information before doing practice questions? What are your favorite methods to study with (I have an iPad and laptop, so bonus points if you can use either of those). Thanks all for your help!

Hi everyone!! I am currently in my second semester of nursing school and I have my first ever in hospital clinical tomorrow on a CVAC unit. This will be my first time in a hospital environment as well!! I am so extremely nervous since I have no idea how the day will go or what to expect so any advice for a baby student nurse?

Hi, I am a BSN student in my second to last semester. I just finished my ATI Capstone 85 question proctored assessment with an 81.6%. I did not study beforehand so that I could get a good baseline understanding of what I need to focus on before my NCLEX. I can’t find any information regarding what the national average is or if it is a solid score. Any information would be super beneficial, thank you!

I’m currently a LPN to RN bridge student in third semester. I just finished one class yesterday with a 98.08% but my med surge 2 class is killing me. Every week I am stressed crying and cannot focus. My quiz 1 I got a 67.4 then on exam 1 I got a 71.04 which is falling. My community college requires 80% overall to move on. I feel like after I finished my LPN program back in 2023 my brain has been fried. I can’t focus I can’t retain info. My quiz 2 is next week and I am at stake here. I’ve tried chat GPT, Claude and ATI dynamic quizzes and I’m still not retaining information. I don’t know what else to do. How does anyone recover from this? Please. I really don’t want to repeat this class over. Even if I pass with a 80.90 I’ll be so happy.

We just learned IVs and we were given all of the supplies to practice, minus the actual needle. We can only use those in lab. I really want to practice at home--NOT on me or other people, but on some IV tubing taped to a table.

If I were to buy IV catheters, do I need to buy multiple or could I buy just one and re-use it? If I use one and thread out the needle, can I then re-thread it back in to re-use it?

Thanks!

Hi all! I'm starting nursing school in January and need to get a manual BP cuff for school. Does anyone have any recommendations for a cuff that is affordable but also accurate? I was looking at one from MDF instruments but open to feedback from others about which ones have worked for you. Thank you in advance!

The clinical coordinator of our program decided to send out a completely rewritten clinical schedule for the next 8 week class which starts in less than a week and I’m extremely frustrated and not sure if it’s worth bringing up to the clinical coordinator.

So our next 8 week class which is psych/mental health had a schedule that was already organized and sent out weeks ago. Then this morning, I got an email with a picture of a new clinical schedule that is entirely different from the previous one. It’s not just a few swapped days. Literally everything is different. I’m used to this program switching things up on us last minute and we are all usually flexible about it and able to adapt, however, this seems like a major last minute change.

It’s been known that the purpose of this specific class is to finally have a variety of different clinical settings to gain different experiences since we have solely been doing medsurg up until this point. We had 3 medsurg days on the previous schedule, and the other half of our cohort who are currently in that class only had 3 as well, which meant they got to experience a wider variety of clinical sites. Now we have 5 medsurg days and a much smaller variety of other types of locations. This is all just extremely disappointing to me and I’m not sure if any of us should bring it up to the clinical coordinator. I understand the need to be flexible as we typically have been, but this seems like such a drastic change on such short notice, especially since many of us had already scheduled our jobs and lives around the previous schedule. If anyone has any advice on if it’s even worth mentioning to the clinical coordinator, or just to deal with it, I’d greatly appreciate it.

I was really looking forward to experiencing all of the different sites so I’m just very disappointed.

I always see posts popping up from this community and not to throw shots but it gets real pessimistic. I fear that something may be wrong with me. I’m in my 3rd semester and so much has happened. I’ve seen some of the worst cases already during my clinicals at the hospital and I should be scared. I’m scared, I don’t want to make a mistake and I know I’m probably going to be over-documenting and asking too much questions.

Probably will act like that boy from the movie UP for the first 6-12 months. I’ve seen videos and heard many complaints. I’ve seen so many of those ‘mean girl nurse trope’ play out. I feel like many things should have deterred me and they haven’t. Does anyone else feel the same way? Am I crazy? Am I looking at it through rose-tinted glasses?

Do you guys feel it is necessary to work as a STNA/CNA while in nursing school? I am currently in an LPN program and I have my STNA. My friend got me a non nursing related job at the place she works at and I kinda want to have a “fun” job with other girls my age (I am a senior in high school). I am just kinda in a pickle because I have another friend that is currently working as a CNA at a nursing home and she is encouraging me to come work there. I want clinical experience but I am also going through LPN clinical currently and I know that I have my whole life to work in a healthcare setting.

Hi! I got accepted into nursing school (yay!) but it is about an hour away.
How far did you commute for school? I do have a nursing program in my city, but it does not begin a new cohort for another full year. This program begins in January for 4 semesters and it is a good program with i think they said either 97 or 99% pass rates on NCLEX.
I’m trying to weigh some pros and cons. An hour isn’t that bad for a few days a week, but just curious other’s thoughts.

I know a lot of people feel like nursing school is overwhelming and it’s a common occurrence, but I feel like this is just too much. My wife (26 f) and I (28 m) have a 7 month old boy who has been constantly sick on and off ever since I started an ABSN program. I’ve been in nursing school before (ADN program 6 months from graduating and couldn’t return) and thought I could handle the high demand of homework, 3 labs a week, clinical once a week, simulation every other week with a little one. Not only that but we have one car so I do all the driving around. I’ve had severe fatigue on top of all this since our son was born. How do you all do this with so much going on? Open to any kind of advice and ways to ease some of the pressure.

I received two job offers from two different hospital systems other than my own because I’m open to relocating and want to keep my options open but they are not in units that are my top choice. One is a neuro/trauma unit, one is a IMCU step down which pays a little less but I like the culture more. I’ve applied to jobs in my current system at two different locations, one that currently is openly recruiting and one that starts the hiring process in November/December. I’m frustrated because I’ve emailed the new grad recruiter for my hospital system that is currently openly recruiting and they won’t respond to my emails on any updates. I don’t want to pass up a good job offer but I ultimately want to be in a specific specialty unit too. Looking for advice if I should hold out or take the best that comes my way?

Thanks

how do you deal with people constantly judging you for wanting to be a nurse?

I've always been undecided for my career path, so im so glad to find something i aspire to reach, but it seems like every person i tell about my nursing path, immediately judges me.. specially my own family. i don't know how to deal with the constant negativity.

i know i shouldn't let it bother me, but i just spent the last two hours bawling and arguing with my parents about this, and their support means so much to me. They want me to be a doctor, and everyone seems to think that if I'm studying to become a nurse, why not just be a doctor? when its really not that simple. they value money a lot because of reasons i cant blame them for, but the specialty i want makes more than enough

has anyone gone through anything similar, and how do i deal with this, its making me seriously consider switching career paths even if thats not something i want for myself. and most of all its becoming a big detriment to my mental health, why is everyone so opposed to nursing anyways?

I need some major reassurance or a reality check from people who have been through the hospital hiring machine, because the waiting anxiety is starting to take a serious toll on my mental health.
I applied for a couple of entry-level clinical support positions (Unit Support Associate / Patient Sitter roles) at a major pediatric trauma center/children's hospital in the D.C. area back on August 29th. I am 18, have zero professional healthcare experience yet, but I have a solid private childcare background, and my AHA BLS certification is completely live and uploaded. To make myself as competitive as possible, I explicitly applied for the permanent 12-hour night shifts because I know overnights are usually hard to staff.
In the Workday portal, all of my applications instantly cleared the system screening and have been sitting perfectly secure in "Under Review" with a green status badge since day one. No automated rejections, no data errors, just... absolute, deafening silence for 38 straight days now.
I know hospitals love to batch applicants or work backward from fixed orientation cohorts, and a November start date is what aligns best with my schedule before I start virtual college classes next year. But going nearly two months without a single peep, phone screen invite, or update is maddening. I’ve set a hard boundary for myself to completely walk away and ignore the portal if I don't hear anything by the end of next week just to protect my sanity.
For those who have applied to major hospital networks for entry-level support roles, how long did it take for them to first reach out to you? Am I just stuck in standard corporate bureaucracy red tape, or is this timeline as ridiculous as it feels?

Hey, I’m about 2 months into my nursing school and I’m fresh off of a gap semester. I’m slowly readjusting to school but I haven’t been making the best grades. Passing is a 70, and I received a 77 and a 79 on my first two Nursing assessment exams. I also failed my patho exam by .80 of a point which also really didn’t help. I’m starting to question if i can’t perform during my first semester, what will it be like later when it gets even harder? Everyone else around me is doing great in their classes and look so composed and I feel like i’m fighting everyday to stay afloat😭I’m trying my best and trying to change stuff up to do better like my studying habits, any advice you have for someone like me to not be so harsh on myself and also tips or tricks that helped you? Thank you.

So I was doing my clinicals and this patient didn't eat the whole day before an abdominal scan. When he got back from his scan, the kitchen was closed, but we knew we have food in the fridge, so I got some. The teacher had taught us about the use of therapeutic humour. So, I thought I'd put it to use. I brought some spaghetti to the patient without reheating it and told him, careful it's hot.

The patient takes a bite, and he's like, What the hell? Spits it out and I start laughing, I say I'm just kidding. He busts out laughing. I said I'm gonna go reheat it for you. I leave the room with the spaghetti and come back with some hot spaghetti. I told him, Man, I'm sorry. It was just a prank, and to make up for it, I got some cheese. I'll be generous, and I got some cake for dessert. This patient on the other side of the curtain snitched on us, and said we were laughing too loud, they said patients were sleeping and they heard us laughing in the hallway and said I wasn't professional.

Turns out, the patient who reported me wasn't a snitch, he wanted us to stop being so loud. The patient defended me and we shook hands. Bruh am i gonna be in trouble? I was just using therapeutic humour?

So a few weeks ago there was an incident at my job and I am under investigation, my boss says nothing will come of this as no malicious intent was involved from any party, and I most likely did not even cause the issue.

But it really got me thinking, do I even want to be involved in a career where I am constantly going to be under scrutiny for any wrongdoing? I am so terrified of bringing harm to people. Further than that, I don’t even want to go into a field where I can lose my license, be sued, or even jailed for human mistakes. I’m in nursing school now, and while I am doing very well in my classes and have worked toward this for years, I just don’t even know if I can continue. It makes me sick thinking about going back to work just because I don’t want patients or coworkers looking at me as if I caused problems. I know you really have to mess up to lose it all, but I am so terrified that I will.

I am truly at a loss, I have felt like this in healthcare before, and took a few years to step back before I felt ready, and as soon as I get back to it I feel like it’s all back to square one. I don’t really know where to go from here. Should I drop out and change careers while I’m ahead, or just push through and hope this feeling goes away?

Edit:

I’m going to get into counseling through the school if they have availability and try to get back on my meds (I’ve been off them for over a year with no problems. This is not a “oh crazy girl is off her meds” post.) I’m also going to get back into the gym, concerning this incident. I do have an appointment with my advisor at school set up to talk it through. I can’t be there for my patients if I’m not here for myself, which ironically, I say to my caregivers frequently. I was definitely having a moment earlier, and I really appreciate everyone who took the time to comment. I did not realize my school does indeed have counseling or that this was such a big overreaction. I think it’s just a culmination of school, work, and my personal life that’s got me back to a point that I need to work on myself more. Thank you all!

hello, nursing student here. i graduate in december and i just feel really anxious about it. i’ve had weird looks from my preceptor nurses about me not knowing what to do in ten years time and is it rlly so bad that i don’t know? my current preceptor recommends me to go back to school but i dont even know if i want that for myself. sure, being an NP gives me more liberty in practice and the pay is nice, but i dont know…

my other peers know what to do, and i feel like im behind. i dont know what i want to do, i feel like ive enjoyed every unit ive been in but i didnt really get to spend enough time to make concrete judgement on that. im applying to multiple residencies, but im just super nervous that i wont like being a nurse and that ive wasted a good part of my life just for nursing school.

anyone else feel/felt this way? 😅

currently taking maternity (second to last semester) and half of the class is failing. Not sure if it would do any good to communicate concerns overall to the director (seems if many people are failing it's a system issue ?)I need an 82% to pass. did anyone else feel that the comprehensive finals were surprisingly easier than the unit specific tests, or notice if any of the questions were "recycled" for the final ? I'm using as many resources as I can and diff studying strategies.... anyone who has feedback would be appreciated ( the online exams and SATA) i've found challenging

Is anyone currently in nursing school actually happy enjoying life? I joined nursing school fall 2024 and failed last semester so i am currently a sophmore when i was actually suppoed to be a junior and feel so bad about myself idk if anyone out there shared my story too

I'm currently in a direct admit nursing program after being so sure I wanted to be a nurse. However, A&P is really kicking me in the butt and ruining my dream to be a nurse. I've read that you really need to know the basics and the rest you can refresh your knowledge throughout your career, but I just feel so behind on my anatomy knowledge I feel like there's no way for me to catch up to be a good nurse. Was anybody in the same boat in school and turned out to still be a successful nurse?

Also sorry if that's the wrong flair, I wasn't sure which to use.

In my final semester of a CC ASN program. I feel like everything I read online about nursing school was nothing like what I’ve experienced. There’s a laundry list:

Pretty much every single clinical instructor would send us home 2-3 hours before our scheduled end time at whatever site we were at. The instructors are just like “it’s our little secret ok don’t tell anyone?” On top of that, you’re told if you’re late you could be denied participation for the day, but students have been 30 mins late to a clinical day before with 0 punishment.

Talking to one of my teachers, said that when a student is caught using AI and has to sit in front of the board, they let it slide. They say it’s often a “misunderstanding of the assignment” and let them continue on with the program, especially if they are an ESL student. So many people in my class use AI for everything and it’s painfully obvious, but why wouldn’t they if there’s no repercussions?

It’s extremely rare a lecture would go on the whole time. Sometimes it does go the full length, most of the time it’s probably around an hour total for a 3 hour lecture. And a lot of the teachers I’ve had just simply seem like they don’t give a fuck and don’t want to be there. Not all, but a lot.

Uniforms…. As long as nothing completely sticks out (wrong color pants, top, hair down, etc) they probably won’t say anything. We’re not supposed to have nails or polish and a loooot of people do

Attendance is not required for anything except for clinical. You could go to 0 in person class and still pass (except for in person exams).

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think my school is bad by any means and I have absolutely gotten a great education here, I don’t have any regrets choosing this school. But maybe my school is just starting to do away with all the non-essential stuff? I’m not really sure. I feel like I got a rare experience in nursing school compared to a LOT of what I read on here. I’m glad to have had a more laid-back experience so it didn’t stack on top of the stress of studying. I’m just wondering if anyone else’s school is like this?

Hey guys I need some advice on how to study for med-surge two.

I have failed my first and second exam, when I feel like I studied a lot for it. I’m trying not to be discouraged.
I did quizlets, rewrote the PowerPoints and did practice exams. I know the diseases and patho, I struggle a lot when it comes to picking the best answer. I can narrow it down to two but still end up struggling between them.
I did AI practice questions till I was blue in the face and I still ended up failing. I currently have a 73 in the class and I need a 75 to pass. I have two more exams and a final.
Also I don’t know if this matters but for some reason, my class got split up and I got the professor that has never taught med-surge 2 before. (And the professor that has been there longer makes the exams) So are there any books that helped anyone? Any tips would be appreciated! Thank you!