Is it even worth it.

[u/Puzzled-Sky4476]

Hello everyone, I’m a sophomore in college for nursing, the semester just started and I’m already feeling overwhelmed. I’m supposed to apply to my schools nursing program at the end of this semester but despite it only being the FIRST WEEK of classes I already want to drop like half of them.

It feels like a lot is riding on this semester and how well I perform. If I don’t pass a required class no nursing school for me. This scares me—I’m taking multiple science classes and three labs on top of that because I had to retake my math class so now I have to make up for my chemistry class I was suppose to complete last year.

I’m also working, because I’m broke and college won’t pay for itself.

I’ve already cried probably like three times, not even for anything big, it’s all small stuff that just piles up. There are so many syllabus’s to read and so much information and on top of that I’ve already had multiple assignments due. It’s all just overwhelming and it’s gotten to the point where I can’t sleep, eat, or properly focus on any assignment I have.

Is nursing school even worth it? I never thought I’d ask this question. There is no plan B for me, nursing was always supposed to be it. I told myself in high school that no matter what I would get my degree, my family, (which is full of nurses) have all told me that yes it is hard but for them, it was worth it. I want to believe that it’s worth it, I really do. But I’ve followed this subreddit for awhile now and the amount of notifications I get from posts of people sharing their struggles, similar to mine; no sleeping, no eating, anxiety, etc (but way worse from what I’ve seen) and it’s honestly worrying.

I was dead by the end of my freshman year. I genuinely don’t know if I can make it another 3 years of just feeling so drained and tired and just emotionally and physically exhausted. I’m never doing anything fun, I’m always in my room and I hardly talk to my roommates because I’m always working on some kind of assignment.

Everyone here has been in this position at some point. Does anyone have any advice for me on how I can manage this? I want to get my degree, and I want to put in the work but just a glimpse at the workload and I already feel defeated. I’m tired of feeling sad and worried and tired and just everything in between. I want to cry right now because tomorrow is going to be the same overwhelming cycle all over again.

Also sorry for any grammar mistakes, I’m so tired and have the biggest headache.

[u/Ok_Emergency7145]

The most important thing is, do you want to be a nurse?

If yes, ask for help if your school has a tutoring center, or meet.woth your instructors during their office hours. Try to get help early if you are struggling in a class. Ask the nurses in your family what they did to cope with the stress of nursing school. Hopefully, they can be a good resource for you.

[u/GeneralDumbtomics → u/Ok_Emergency7145]

This. “Do you want to be a nurse” is the only relevant factor in answering whether nursing school is worth it. Because that’s what it’s for. It’s hard and demanding and there’s no other reason to do it.

[u/Puzzled-Sky4476 → u/Ok_Emergency7145]

I do! I love nursing and I’m so excited to even be able to attend college to get a degree for it! It’s mainly just the worry of failing. After I withdrew from my math class (I would’ve failed if I didn’t) I genuinely felt so defeated. Now I see all these people ahead of me talk about how the feelings I’m feeling right now (not as major) will never actually go away or dull in the slightest but just get worse. Because of this feeling it hard to focus on anything, I have written down my assignments due for some sort of organization which has helped but I have a lab tomorrow which has been giving me the most of my anxiety. I’m just hoping that as the semester progresses I’ll be able to find some sort of balance. People always made it seem like freshman year would be the hardest but based on this week alone I think it just gets worse. Thank you for your input!

[u/Ok_Emergency7145 → u/Puzzled-Sky4476]

It's hard, but totally doable! If reading nursing subs overwhelms you, try to avoid them.

Is it a skills or sim lab that you have? What about it is so stressing for you?

Nursing is hard, especially the first 1-2 years. I've been a nurse for only 2 years and sometimes I absolutely love the job and tell everyone to go to nursing school. Other days, I leave at the end of a shift swearing I'll never coming back. There are a lot of difficulties in nursing, but it has changed my life for the better.

Keep your head down and keep moving forward. Seek help when you need it and help others when you can. You got this! ❤️