Im starting to doubt myself and feel like crap because of it :(.........

[tiredemma]

I feel like crap, im "supposed" to be going to Uni in Oct to do a nursing degree, and tbh- i dont think im up to it, im seriously doubting my academic abilities and feel like im just going to be stressing my partner and family out in pursuit of my "dream".
i feel so sad because of it, i have done my access course for two years now and leave college in 4 weeks, and im terrified of Uni- the workload, neglecting my family to sit in front of a pc everynight etc etc.
but then another part of me feels angry that im allowing myself to feel this way, i have worked so hard at college- im so scared that i wont be able to cope with uni and that after all the stress i have put myself and my partner through, ill end up jacking the course in and back to square one.
i dont think i have ever been so unhappy about something in all my life, i want to be a nurse so much, i know that in a practical sense i could do the job no problem, but the theory work behind it all, and sitting up until the small hours after working on a placement fills me with dread.
i have two college assignments that need to be in by tuesday- i know i can do then over the weekend- in between working full time, so i wont realy get any time with Dp or kids over the weekend.......now im just moaning arnt I?

Poor you - you must be knackered. I think it's natural to be scared of starting something new - but I'm certain that if you've managed the access course, you will be able to cope with the workload and the academic side of your nursing degree. You say "I want to be a nurse so much" - that's what you need to hang on to. If you don't do it, you will always look back and wonder "what if.."

I think once you start in October, you will be fine - it's that fear of the unknown.

And you're not neglecting your kids and your dp - you will just have to work harder to make the time ou spend with them 'good' time (I'm not going to say quality time - it's such a naff expression!)

Have faith in yourself. Good luck!

thanks...

Look you have managed to do an access course for 2 years which has put you in an excellent position for your degree. have faith in yourself. Fwiw I think alot of women with children lack in confidence where academics is concerned, its completely normal but unfounded

you go girl:)

In my limited experience of Access students entering university (I used to work in a university which pioneered Access), the real hard slog and the culture shock is actually behind you tiredemma. You've succeeded at Access, a degree is not going to be as daunting.
You have your burning desire to be a nurse, May is always pitsville for any student because assessments are everywhere, you can do it :)

i think that my main concern is that once i start uni, the whole workload thing will really knock me for six. im gearing myself up into thinking that a degree is way above achievable for me, does this make sense? also the fact that im the only person out of a massive (and i mean massive) family to go to uni, puts a bit of a strain on me, i feel that because of my background/education - i sometimes think- who am i trying to kid that i can go to uni and do a degree???

thnaks for your kind words though, i know deep down that im over-reacting, the idea that im off to uni in a few months after being spoon fed at college makes me feel queasy!!

I am doing nursing at uni, I started in September.

Every uni is different so I don't know if this will be any help but I know for my uni the workload is not that bad at all!

For my degree so far I have had 2 exams (and 1 tomorrow!) and 1 2500 essay. Thats it. I find the work load to be consistant and the exams to be unthreatening. As long as you don't try and cram everything in at the last minute its absoltely fine. All the lecture notes are on the internet which makes revision and reading easy.

For my quite hard exam tomorrow we have had 15 hours worth of revision, thats on top of 2 practice exams and 6 hours of teaching a week for 2 semester. Nursing is probably the most supportive degree at my uni.

And it IS worth it. I love being on the wards, I love my theory and practise coming together.

None of the access students have dropped out on my course BTW, only younger people who didn't really want to be nurses after all.

Good luck!

I don't know how old your children are, but I reckon they're going to be incredibly proud of you. And you'll be a great example to them when it's their turn to study. And you'll have a good idea of what they're going through. It will be GREAT!

I'm sorry, but you've done access and are scared of Uni?

Was discussing this with a fellow student today (at Uni)- we both reckon if you can do Access, you can do ANYTHING! Right up to masters.

Seriously, we've also suggested to the Uni that the Access study skills should replace the current rubbish modules as they put us way out at first.

I seriosuly doubt you'll spend as much time as you think by the PC (I don't and I am averaging B+)

I willa dmit I don't have placements, but I do have three under 7, one with AS and a DH with health problems.

I am not that bright or hardworking and certainly not as dedicated as you. I bet you can do better than me and I have every confidence in you from your post alone.

gosh... got a big lump in my throat after reading those posts, thanks so much you lot. I feel a bit better after reading how you are all coping at uni.

thanks so much again, it really means a lot to have such nice supportive posts on here.

Hi, Just want to offer some support and advice from a fellow Uni student.

I also did the 2year access course, and have to reiterate the comments made above about being able to do anything if you have just done that! My first year of Uni is almost over, and I have not had as much stress as I thought I would have. My degree isn't nursing though and there isn't a practical side to it, all books and studying and assignments and exams.. I haven't really sacraficed that much time with my family if I'm honest. What I have tried to do is work it into a routine (haven't really been that very successful this yr but will manage it next year ) I have tried to put away some time to do research and stuff between lectures and use my time economically whilst in Uni so as not to impose too much on my time with my hubby and 2 kids (dd is 4 and ds is 17months)Ialso sechedule a couple of hours on a Sunday morning when DH is on duty for whatever the children need and I don't panic through the weeks knowing that I haven't managed to squeeze work in as I will have the time on Sunday morning to do it.

Honestly, access/mature students tend to make the best students, I have been told this by numerous tutors throughout my years of studying and now at Uni I can see it firsthand.

Go for it Emma, you will regret it if you don't! Will be looking out for pics of your graduation

Did I just kill this thread? Have lost count of the amount of threads I have been the last poster on :(

Have to second what FFF2 said, mature students generally fare extremely well on their degrees.

Also, an awful lot of first year degree students think they were given a place to study because of a clerical error (imposter syndrome!).

Hi tiredemma

I felt that I had to post because I really know exactly how you feel. I was in your position 3 years ago just before I started my degree and was terrified that I'd let everyone down, wouldn't cope with the work, wouldn't have enough time for my family, wouldn't have enough money, wouldn't make friends, wouldn't get a job at the end of it.......... Sounds familiar?

Anyway, 3 years on, I have 5 weeks to go until the end of my degree and am starting a postgraduate course in September. It has been hard work - most evenings I'm on the computer and I have to put time aside at weekends as well. However, if you have a supportive partner/family/friends who are willing to help, it is manageable, and gives you a real sense of achievement. Look at it this way - although there will be times when you're tired, wish you hadn't started and so on, think about how you'd feel if you weren't doing the course and living your dream. Nobody went to uni. in my family either, so it is a strange and new experience, but you'll probably find you are not the only one. On my course there are lots of mature students, many with children and part-time jobs. In fact, one girl had a baby at Easter and has come back to attend the rest of the classes!

I am sure that you have the ability and drive to do it. Don't settle for less than you are worth!!

Thanks everyone for your re-assurance, i have pulled myself together over the past few days and all of your comments have really, really helped.

This time next year ill probably still be moaning and stressing (SALLYSTRAWBERRY-- YOU WILL HEAR NO END OF REQUESTS FOR HELP FROM ME!!!!!)
but the past two years at college have flown by so i suppose three years at uni will go just as fast ( Just hope there is a job at the end of it for me!!)

Thanks again ladies for all of your advice, it gave me the boost i needed.. (back to my maths assignment now!)

tiredemma, I am so glad you have had so many uplifting replies from people doing nursing at uni.

If that's what you want to do - and it very much sounds like it is - please go for it!

You say you "feel like im just going to be stressing my partner and family out in pursuit of my "dream". But pleased think how proud they will be when you pass your degree! And think how much nicer a person you will be to live with if you are fulfilling your dream.

I have been there. I have bitter experience of seeing my partner give up his nursing degree course just weeks into it, after successfully finishing his nursing access course. He then plunged into depression for a good year as he was so cross with himself.

He could have certainly have coped with the work - he is bright but suddenly decided, once he got on ward placements, that nursing just wasn't his vocation.

Everyone tried to help - his classmates who knew him from his access course, his friends, his parents(his mother is an ex-nurse) and of course, me. I still feel that he made a too hasty decision, however, it is his life and I do see that you must really love nursing to be good at it.

Anyway, had he not ran away from university so quickly, he could have investigated lots of other health related careers as he had his access qualification. He refused to do this :(

I did lots of research at the time and found out that an access to health care background is really useful for all sorts of other jobs. So if by any chance you decide nursing is not for you, do look into all the other career options.

good luck

I work in a university in a support role and I'd just say that as a more mature student you have lots of advantages- the main one being that you're used to organising yourself. The main skill most students need is the ability to run a diary, plan and prioritise their work, get work in on time, etc etc. The 18 year olds just can't do it. If you've been running a family and doing an access course you've got it sussed! You also know who to ask and that's vital. If a student asks me for help, having made a reasonable effort to sort it out for themselves I'll do everything I can to help them - and most support staff are the same. We get so peed off with stroppy youngsters who don't think that a nice normal person will get the earth. Kind of...

Oh, and nurses are traditionally lousy at using computers - you're obviously not so you're ahead of the game there

tiredemma - glad you are feeling better about it all now. I had similar reseverations before i started my nursing course, Nearing end now (Sept - yikes) and it has been worth it. Is normal to have doubts :)