Something Serious

Classmates/Teamwork
Stress

I want to write about something serious-the mental health of nursing students and how the nursing school experience might potentially affect you. Mental health issues are often hushed up and not talked about. Certainly they are not treated with the same openness as physical illness and there is still stigma attached.  Don't let this stop you from getting help if you need it. Please! A quote from the link at the very bottom of the page: "It is a serious mistake to believe that you can manage depression on your own. You cannot treat any other illness by yourself, so why would you think that you could do so with depression?"

A week or so after I graduated my husband looked at me and said, "I think you have post-traumatic stress syndrome." He was joking, but there was actually a kernel of truth in what he observed. Depression, stress and anxiety seem to be part of the landscape of nursing school for many people.

Nursing school was the fifth most stressful thing I ever had to do in my life. The fact that it even ranks up there with a hurricane, a seriously ill child (twice) and a death in the family is pretty darn telling. This quote sums it up nicely, "Nursing students are more doubtful
 than other college students about their academic performance. They encounter stress in adjusting to a rigorous program of theory and practice. The reality is often far different from a prospective student's image of it."

I saw classmates of mine have to get on anxiety meds or anti-depressants. But I can't stress this enough - if you think you need help-go see someone and get the meds you need. This is not an easy experience by any means. The stress levels can be quite alarming at times. If you have anything else going on in your life to add to the stress, it can rapidly become overwhelming.

Consider this quote from the article linked below that appeared in 'Scrubs' magazine:

"The stress level of nursing students is higher than those in most other academic programs, and some studies have even suggested that their stress levels are higher than their counterparts in medical school, social work and pharmacology programs. The workload of nursing students is profound."

At orientation, Ms. V came in and said, "At some point or other during the next two years most of you will be in my office crying." I kind of sneered at that. Yeah, right! I managed to avoid the office completely for ANYTHING for a year and a half. But guess what?- during my last six weeks of semester four I DID actually find myself find Ms. V's office crying. I was so completely and utterly overwhelmed. I didn't think I was going to come out on the other side. I was having some serious self-doubts. She gave me some interesting advice, the gist of which was NOT TO STUDY SO MUCH and relax a bit (she also gave me a book suggestion, but we won't get into that). In retrospect, I think she was right. It does help to have a little bit of a life beyond nursing. You can love nursing, but school can consume your whole life and being if you let it. It also was reassuring to know that I could talk to someone who could give me advice. 


I am going to say this loud and clear. Your faculty ARE there for you. If you need help, they WILL help you.

Depression In Students

The last six weeks were the absolute worst time for me. In my last six weeks of school, I had the following to do:

 2 tests, 2 finals, one HESI, a trip to Nashville, 3 clincials, one 
(hopefully) exit HESI, jigsaw assignments, service learning 
hours, 3 day NCLEX prep and the NCLEX to go. 

No stress, right?

On the plus side, I lost 30lbs which almost made up for the darn weight I gained during the other three semesters. It also inspired THIS blog post:

HELP ME

At one point I was taking melatonin to go to sleep and then drinking 2 diet cokes every day to stay awake. Not good, people! Try to eat well. Try to exercise. Try to STOP once in a while.

This is another area where nursing school friends can be so very, very important. They understand what it is like. They have felt the same feelings. They let you know that you are not alone. I guarantee you are not the only one feeling the way you do. They can help you through some tough times.

Our Facebook group is supposed to be a resource for this kind of support according to its mandate:

"This group is designed for current Southwest Tennessee Community College (STCC) nursing students to seek mentoring and advisement from STCC nursing graduates. The goal is that support from STCC prepared RNs will promote the academic, professional, and mental health status of current students."

Our Group

Dealing With Stress In Nursing School

This is a nice article about taking care of YOU for a change:

A Care Plan For Nursing Students

Free Mental Health Resources In Memphis:

Mental Health Resources

Take the summer between semesters 2 and 3 off if you possibly can. The temptation for me was to try and find an extern position. Yes, it would have looked good on a resume later and given me more experience, but it was not essential. I got hired without it. A friend of mine had just lost her mother and said something profound to me, she encouraged me to go and see mine while I still could. Some things ARE more important than nursing school.


If things get REALLY serious:

The Crisis Center

24 hours / 7 days

(901) 274-7477

or

1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)

or

The Tennessee Department of Mental Health (TDMH) announced a new statewide number for mental health and substance use crisis services in an effort to create a more user-friendly service. The new number,

1-855-CRISIS-1 (1-855-274-7471)

 For Tennesseans experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis.”

The state’s mental health crisis system includes a 24-hour, seven days a week, toll-free telephone hotline, mobile crisis services, crisis stabilization units, crisis respite services, medically monitored crisis detoxification units, mandatory pre-screening agent services and peer support services. State certified peer support specialists work with crisis specialists to assist adults in alleviating and stabilizing crises and to promote the recovery process. 

College Student Stress

NIMH How To Deal With Depression As A Student And How To HELP A FRIEND

FROM THE STUDENT HANDBOOK:

Available Drug and Alcohol Counseling, Treatment, Rehabilitation Programs, and Employee Assistance Programs

Southwest Tennessee Community College's Advising and Counseling Office has on staff qualified counselors who are available to students to discuss any drug and/or alcohol related problems. Information concerning specific programs and activities may be obtained by referring to the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention program in the Counseling Office. Referrals may be made to the agencies listed on the attached sheet or individuals may contact the agency directly:

AGENCY REFERRALS

Al-Anon/Alateen Information Services..................................................................... 278-5953

Alcoholics Anonymous.............................................................................................. 454-1414

Baptist Hospital Therapy Center............................................................................... 522-4900

Charter Lakeside Hospital Crisis Care....................................................................... 377-4733

Cocaine Anonymous.................................................................................................. 725-5010

Delta Medical Behavioral Health.............................................................................. 369-8190

Family Service of Memphis....................................................................................... 324-3637

Frayser Family Counseling Center............................................................................. 353-5440

Memphis Mental Health Institute.............................................................................. 524-1324

Alcohol and Drug Outpatient Treatment Center....................................................... 275-0056

Memphis Recovery Center........................................................................................ 272-7751

Methodist Hospital Behavioral Unit.......................................................................... 276-5401

Midtown Mental Health Center................................................................................ 577-0200

Narcotics Anonymous............................................................................................... 276-5483

NO CAINE Hotline.................................................................................................. 722-2463

Northeast Community Mental Health Center............................................................ 382-3880

Southeast Mental Health Center, Inc........................................................................ 369-1400

St. Francis Hospital Behavioral Unit......................................................................... 765-1400

Teen Challenge.......................................................................................................... 272-2308

Employee Assistance Program.......................................................................... (877) 237-8574

United Behavioral (Substance Abuse).............................................................. (877) 237-8574

VA Medical Center Alcohol & Drug Center............................................................. 523-8990

Whitehaven Southwest Mental Health Center.......................................................... 774-7811

[I STILL haven't read the book]