Lessons I Learned in Nursing School
Lessons I Learned in Nursing School
Being a mom who was nearing my thirties, I thought I had life figured out by the time I got to nursing school. Spoiler Alert: no one has it all figured out. Through motherhood and being an adult learner, I have grown and learned more about myself in the last 3 ½ years than any other span of that timeframe throughout my life. And with each passing day, I am learning more and more about myself, what is important, and what never mattered.
One of the greatest lessons I have learned: stop comparing yourself to others. Don’t compare yourself to other people your age, other mothers, students, or anyone. The only person you should compete with is who you were the day before. Everyone’s strengths are unique to them, as are their struggles and circumstances. Comparison is the thief of joy, and the quicker you realize that the grass is greener where you water it, the happier you will become. If you allow outside distractors to influence your peace, it can stunt your progress, and the only person you should focus on throughout your journey is you.
Another lesson that I’ve learned is to let go of the idea of “perfection.” Nursing school is a marathon, not a sprint. Some exams you may ace, while others you barely scrape by. It is almost impossible to do perfect on every exam or assignment, so I had to let go of the idea that I was a failure if I didn’t get an A. Nursing is one of the most challenging degrees to obtain, and with good reason. Nurses are the people who spend the most time with the patients and often detect changes and intervene with lifesaving measures. It is important to do your best and realize that you are human when going through school. The sooner you realize that you may fall short at times, the sooner you will have humility…which is an important characteristic of a nurse.
And the last lesson I want to make sure to pass on to others is to know when you need a break and when you need to push through. There is a fine line between needing to take a step back and perform some self-care and knowing that, despite being tired, you need to keep going. While I understand that every time I want to take a break, I cannot… they can suit your mental status and productivity level. If your mind or body is trying to tell you something, listen up. Taking a break is nice; it is necessary and can play an essential role in your success in nursing school.
In all, make sure to be kind to yourself. Nursing school is a roller coaster of emotions and a very stressful time in your life. It is a marathon, not a sprint, and it is essential to give yourself grace and understand your needs as you go through the process. Focus on your own journey, and don’t let other distractions get to you. While it is difficult, it is only temporary and will lead you to amazing opportunities in the future. Keep your eyes on the prize, study hard, and while you may not always be motivated, you must always remain consistent.
Written by: Kym Wisniewski
Instagram: @kymstagram_bsntobe
