APRIL 5 LIVE SHOW | The Nursing School Show | ASK US ANYTHING!
In this live YouTube episode, hosts Christina Rafano and Matthew field audience questions about nursing school challenges. They define burnout, distinguish it from ordinary fatigue, and discuss early detection and coping strategies such as taking breaks, pacing, and honest self‑assessment. The conversation moves to procrastination, emphasizing the importance of daily, incremental study habits, detailed planning (syllabus review, scheduling exams, care plans) and protecting one’s “future self” by avoiding last‑minute cramming. They address the fear of failing exams or an entire term, encouraging a “so what?” mindset to reduce pressure, reframing failure as a learning opportunity, and noting that failing a term can actually improve odds of passing the next one because half the material is already known. Throughout, they promote their Nursing SOS membership and the newly released Nursing School Study System, outlining its step‑by‑step frameworks for pre‑class preparation, note‑taking, post‑class review, and a four‑core method for mastering topics like fluids and electrolytes. The hosts conclude with calls to subscribe, follow on Instagram, and engage with upcoming content on electrolyte symptom mnemonics.
Chapters
Go live. Going live. One, two, three.
Clap.
Hello, hello.
Hello.
Hello, everyone. Welcome to the Nursing school show.
Welcome to Wednesday.
Hi. For those that are new, are there any new people? Let us know if you're new here.
This is Christina, which is funny because we never introduce ourselves because we just are here.
Yes, we never do introduce ourselves, but hello. Welcome back. If you guys know the drill, we're answering nursing school related questions.
Oh, yeah. What do we got today?
We do have some questions from before that we will.
They were good ones, too, so we.
Will definitely do that. What just happened? I just did something. All right, but go ahead and burnout.
That's right. We're going to talk about burnout. Yes, we're talking about burnout and critical thinking.
Yes.
And then what to do if you fail. We'll talk about what to do if you fail an exam or if you even fail out of a term, because that comes up a lot.
Very good.
Yes.
Very good. Yes. And if you have any additional questions, go ahead and pop them in the comments below. Bloom. Hello.
Good morning. Hello, hello.
Hello. Hello, everyone.
Hello. Hello. Patrick. Good morning. Sing. Good morning. Hello, everyone.
Happy Wednesday, right?
Yep.
Yes.
Today is the Wednesdays.
All right. Well, shall we jump into it? Is anyone interested in burnout? Would you like a nice plate of burnout? No one would like a nice plate of burnout?
No.
Okay. Do you feel like, like, this question. Burnout is crazy. How do you remain sane?
Mm.
All right.
Yeah. I think that that is really. When you're talking about that inside our community on Monday, that it is so often just a. It's a mind thing. Right. Like nursing school. You guys notice this nursing school is, like, not even mostly about the content. It's really just a mind game. It's like this huge, like, mindset obstacle course that you need to get through because there's always something. It's like you have clinicals multiple days a week, you've got a thousand care plans to write, you've got tons of exams coming up. There's so much to do, and it's just like, it messes with your mind.
Yeah. We talk about it a lot. The whole idea of mindset and how important a mindset is. And Bloom had to withdraw from my program devastated, but not defeated. And that's an appropriate response, I think. Devastated, sure. Not defeated. Of course.
Yes.
So definitely, like we're saying, it's definitely a mindset thing.
100.
Yes.
Yep. It's just because so often you're jumping through all these hurdles in nursing school. Right. You've got your care plan submitted, you're working on research papers, you're studying for your three exams next week that all happen to be on the same day. And then you have clinical the next day. It's just, it's all these things all at once and it can be very overwhelming.
Mm.
And I think that when we. So often the burnout comes from the stress that we put on ourselves and then also like when we procrastinate or put things off and then we just get behind, which is so common. I was, we were just talking to several of our nursing associates members on Monday that like, they really struggle with procrastination because you just. There's just so much to do and you don't know where to start, do you guys?
So you don't start.
So you don't start.
Yeah.
Do you do this too? It's a thing.
And actually, since we're talking about it, let's just dive into this because we kind of talk about. We talk about burnout a lot. It seems to be a pretty common topic with nursing school, which is understandable, but sometimes we glaze over some of the basics. So I do want to back up. And what is. Is burnout? Let's define some stuff. So what is burnout? Like you said, we talk about how it can occur, which I agree with. It's like the stress and build up of those things. But what really is. How would you define burnout?
Kind of how we've talked about it in our membership community is that there's a difference between burnout and just you're just tired. There's a big difference between you're tired and you have a bunch to do versus when you're burned out and you just physically cannot keep going like a burnout. I love how Nicole always talks about it on our community calls is she says it's like when you read the same thing over and over and over again, but like nothing's going in because your brain is just so fried, so frazzled that literally nothing else will be absorbed. Like, no information, like, no amount of studying is going to overcome burnout. So that's really when you need. You can recognize that and then take a break. You know, we always tell our members, like, go for a walk, take a nap. Like sleep. Sleep can really, really help with burnout. And then just kind of a reset. You just need a reset really, after you hit that wall.
And I was just kind of curious too, because like I said, we talk about burnout a lot and burnout seems like a serious Thing like that, that term, even burnout. Oh, I'm burnt out or I've burned out. And so I'm wondering if there's kind of a levels and kind of recognize it before you reach that like, really terminal burnout, like becoming tired. So. So you don't reach that point of saying, I am burnt out. Yeah, so. So I think that it is a level and recognizing that you're heading towards burnout is important so that you can do the right things. Protect yourself to stop it early before you really feel I cannot continue or I cannot do anything else, because really, to me anyway. And let me know in the comments or let me know if. If that's right, that like, burnout is really kind of the terminal. And it feels like that anyway in your mind, which again, is a big.
Mindset, it's hard to, like, get through. You know, burnout is different than stress or like, you just have a lot going on in your brain. Burnout is just, well, bloom for Jesus. Thank you. Burnout is more like you have no desire to keep going and your mind is not functioning properly. And that's really it. Like your brain is just not functioning. And I do like how Nicole says inside our communities that, like, just nothing else will go into your mind. Like, you. You like no amount of information, no amount of studying, no amount of anything will get through. And you're just so, so tired. Like, your brain is just so, so tired and exhausted that you cannot learn anything new. And that's not a good place to be because it takes a long time to recover from. Oftentimes like weeks sometimes.
And that's the other thing too, about catching it early is when you catch it early, you can recover from it quicker or recover from that path quicker and get back to things quicker. So again, the original question, the burnout is crazy. How do you remain sane? So, yeah. Stopping it early.
Yeah.
Or stopping it on the path.
Yep.
Will go a long ways with helping.
With that, like pacing yourself. I think that's a really big thing. Like with our members, we always talk about, like, procrastination. Such a big deal. Because there's just so much to do and you don't know where to start. So you don't start. Like, that's really the thing. And so we talk about it with our members all the time. So many of them do struggle with procrastination. And that does not help when you are putting everything off until the exam. That will lead to burnout. When you're like constantly cramming or you're Going through kind of think about it like waves. Like you have these ups and downs, ups and downs of nursing school, but when you are procrastinating, you are, you have bigger ups and downs. But if you are just doing a little bit every single day, then you can bring that more to like an even, like even level and then it's not as up and down. You see what I'm saying? So if you can like really even out your studying and do, do some every single day, don't put things off, you know, just make sure that you stay on top of stuff. Like that is a huge, like that goes so such a far, far way, such a long way to really decreasing the overall stress, overall burnout, overall anxiety of nursing school because you just, you're staying on top of it.
Yeah. Really, it's, it's putting, it's that saying, oh, oh, future, Future Matthew, Future Matthew is going to deal with it. That's not a problem for me. That's a problem for future Matthew. Which is a funny way to put it, but it is not a helpful way to put it because really that's, I mean essentially that is true, it is future you. But the more you keep stacking on future you. We talked about this on Monday is everyone has 24 hours a day. Yep. And if you keep pushing it off and pushing it off, eventually you'll have to deal with it.
Yes.
And that's not good when you, when you stack up all those things on future you. So be kind to future you and do stuff now.
Yes, do stuff now. Have your own back in the future and just know like, make a plan. Right. Like every, we all have the syllabus for class. Right. List out when your exams are. List out when you're going to study. Like write everything down. We always talk about that inside our community. Write everything down. You have to, you have to keep track of everything because there's just so much to do. You have three exams to study for next week. You have tons of care plans to write. You've got clinical days, you've got, if you're working in nursing school, like that's a whole other level, you know, you have to be staying on top of it. Absolutely.
Yeah. Yeah. I think another part of it is being, being true to yourself, which is very woo woo. But no, just being, no, we don't.
Use that phrase.
Being honest with, with how you are feeling too because it is really easy to say, oh, I'm headed towards burnout. I don't, I should not do this when. No, you're just being lazy and not wanting to do things right.
Yes.
So be honest about where you are feeling. But if you are really feeling this is, this is a lot, then also give yourself the space that you need. So it is, it is definitely a balance. And it's knowing yourself mostly, most of all, but also being honest. Honest with yourself. Because if you're dishonest one way, then you're putting off everything.
Right.
And that's not good. If you're dishonest the other way, then you're. You just say that you still. You always need to get stuff done without even thinking about how you are. And that's not good either. So it is definitely a balance. Have to hit.
That's what I do. I just push through. Then I get really tired. Yeah, yeah. Don't be true to yourself. Your heart will lie to you like the Bible says. Yeah, really? I think that's a really key point because. Yeah, that's a funny phrase too. I'm glad you brought that up because I, we, we were kind of talking about that on. Well, we talk about this all the time. You know, if given the choice, you will just sit on the couch and watch Netflix. Right? Like, if given the choice between studying and eating ice cream, you're gonna eat ice cream. So. No, don't be true to yourself. Do what you need to do. Okay. Get the work done.
I think, I think that that's the accurate thing is do what you need to do and be aware of. Of yourself.
Yes. Like, yeah, of course. When you need a break, take a break. But also put in the work. Like don't procrastinate. That is that. I just think that's such a big deal with burnout. It's like really, the procrastination. It's almost like we just do it to ourselves. Like burnout. So much. It's just so much of that is just when we put things off. Put things off, put things off, like you were saying. And then we just, we hit that wall. Not helpful though. So write everything out. Like, when are you going to study? When are you going to write your care planes? When are you going to do that? You know, when is everything gonna get done? Write it out so you have a plan, make a plan, stick to your plan.
And also another part of it too, that I just want to touch on is something else that we talk about is not letting everyone around you get to you as well, or what you're told get to you. Right. Just because everyone's saying, oh, the burnout is crazy. In nursing school. Or, oh, everyone goes through burnout in nursing school. Or, oh, you have so much things to do and you're gonna get burned out. Just. Just prepare for that. Don't let that psych you out.
Yes.
Right.
Yes.
You. You have the ability to protect yourself and you have the ability to overcome it and to not get burnt out.
Yes.
Just because everyone's saying it's true doesn't mean it's true.
Right. We have YouTube videos on that. Like, don't listen to the nursing school rumors, because the nursing school rumors, they will lie to you and then they will, just like Matthew said, they will, like, freak you out so that you don't. I think that's really the key. Like, when we get in our own brains, when. When we are freaked out or stressed or burned out, then we don't take action on the things we need to take action on. We don't study, we don't put in the work and all those things. So if you are listening to those nursing school rumors and everyone's saying that it's going to be really hard and no one passes this class and everyone fails this exam and this instructor is really hard and all those things, that's not helpful for you. You get stuck in it. Don't get stuck in that. Okay.
Matthew, why aren't you a nurse?
That's a fabulous question.
Because I didn't go to school for that.
Yeah, because he has absolutely no interest in being a nurse.
That is true.
Yeah. Yeah. That is funny. You are very, like, very intellectual.
My bedside manner could use some help.
Sometimes I think mine could, too. I'm pretty sassy.
Yeah. So just one nurse in the family is fine.
One nurse in the family is fine. That's me. That's funny. That's a really great question.
Yeah.
Yes. By the way, everyone, Matthew's not a nurse.
I am not a nurse.
He's here for the fun of all of it.
Yes.
Yep. Yes.
Is there anything else about Burnout is crazy? How do you remain sane?
Hey, Chris. Good to see you again. Okay. If you want to remain sane in nursing school, I think that really is the key that you have to plan. Like, you have to make a plan and stick to it. There is no other. There are no, like, ways around that, my friends.
Yeah, it's just.
That's how it is. You. You can't. Well, I kind of like how you said about your, like, have your own back for your future self. Right? Like, don't put it all on your future self. We do it all the Time, not helpful. Like, you do not want to tell yourself that you're just going to study after a 12 hour clinical day. Don't do that. Tell yourself you're going to sleep after your 12 hour clinical day. Okay. Like have your own back. That's how it is. Yep.
Making a plan, sticking to it.
I really think that's why. Yeah.
Realize again, common thing we say, realizing you are in a season. So this is the nursing school season, so buckle up and do the work. You're in nursing school. Season goal, setting appropriate goals and yeah.
Just getting things done when you say you're gonna do them.
Yeah.
Really?
Yeah.
Yeah, that's it. Yeah. Getting things done when you say you're gonna do them. Which is a very difficult thing to do when you just want to watch Netflix all day. Right.
Oh my.
Oh, so next one. What happens if you fail an exam? Let's talk about it. Let's see. And yeah, Chris, you had that comment earlier that we were talking about rumors. Like, you hear all the rumors, right? Everyone says that it's terrible and you know, you hear all the things about all the things. And that if you get in your head about that, then it's going to be so hard to overcome it. Like if you really believe that no one passes that class or you really believe that no one passes that exam, that's not really helpful. Right? Like you're going to study well, you're not going to study as efficiently as you would if you were telling yourself, yeah, I can pass this exam. It's going to, it's going to happen. So I wanted to do that one. The talking about failing. If you fail an exam or fail a whole term, then what? Okay, so it is a really interesting thing. I did a coaching call inside our community on this because it's such a fear for so many nursing students that they're going to fail an exam or fail out. And my question is, so what? So what? Like genuinely ask yourself that. Okay, so track with me here. Okay. If you have questions like that in your mind, answer them. Okay. Answer them in your mind. Don't let questions just like throw. Float around your brain. It's not helpful. So if you're, if you are telling yourself, I can't fail nursing school or I can't fail this exam, or what happens if I fail? What happens if I fail this class? Ask yourself, so what? So what if I fail? Actually answer that question for yourself because oftentimes, like what we did on our coaching call, I think this was last month inside a Nursing As a membership community, I walked through with it with one of our members, like, so what? Okay, so let's, let's walk through this. If you fail this term, so what? So what happens? Okay, and then she was saying, well, I'll just petition the school. Okay, so what? Okay, you'll probably get accepted back in or you go find another school. Okay, so what? Like it. It come. Basically what happens is it comes down to. It's really not that big of a deal. You know, you are going to be a nurse. Really, the only thing you miss out on is time. That's it. But here's the, here's really the problem, you guys. Hey, Kathy, here's really the problem. When you keep telling yourself you can't fail. Can't fail. I can't fail. I can't fail. I can't fail. I can't fail out of school. I can't fail this exam. I can't fail. That is so much pressure on yourself. Are you going to study as productively and efficiently in order to pass your exams as you would if you were thinking, I've got this, I can absolutely do this? Of course not. If you keep telling yourself, I cannot fail, I cannot fail this, I cannot fail this. That is not a good healthy place to be in. That's just not a good, like, mindset to be in, you're really going to sabotage your own success. That's not helpful. So I really encourage you to ask that question.
So what?
Who cares? Who cares if you fail an exam, you'll just do great the next time. Who cares? So what, it's really an interesting thing.
Yeah. What are your. What is helpful for you? What are. What's the mindset that you need to be in in order to do well in what you're trying to do? And fear is not a good place to be.
No.
Fear kind of drags you down.
Yes.
And so it's fear of the unknown or fear of the what if. And that's really the. So what question is doing is. Is. Is trying to answer the what ifs, trying to answer the unknowns, because the unknowns are more scary than the knowns. And so if you can go through that practice and if you can answer all of that, then that's a big load off because now you know the answers, now you know the goals, now you know the next things. But really, ultimately the thing is that you don't want to operate from a fear mindset.
Yes.
So operate from that more positive mindset. So what are the positive thoughts that you can have about it.
Yep.
And go with that.
Yes, 100% fear will take you down. In nursing school. If you are constantly afraid of passing, that's not a productive way to keep yourself studying and not procrastinating like that is. That is like, the key to procrastination is telling yourself you can't do it. That will cause you to procrastinate. If you're scared of failing the exam, if you are scared of failing out of your program, that will cause you to procrastinate. Not helpful to you. Not helpful at all. A bloom for Jesus. Failure is okay. Giving up is not 100%. That's exactly it. Like, it's not like you're going to give up. You're not going to give up. Right? Failure is okay. Just don't give up. All right, now here's also what I want to say about failing an exam or failing out of a term. So oftentimes what happens is, nursing students, if you fail out of a term in nursing school, if you fail out of your, whatever term you're taking and you have to retake that term, oftentimes you'll get so caught up in that, you know, failing out that you think that it's going to happen again. Like, you tell yourself if you fail out of the term, you're more likely to fail out the next time. But the opposite is true, and here's why. You already know half of the content, you already know half the information. Now you just have to learn the other half. So let's say you got like a 70% in your class. Okay, great. You know, 70% of the information, now you just have to learn the other 30. Right? You are more likely to pass the next term because you failed out. Does that make sense? So don't tell yourself just because I failed out, I'm never gonna pass nursing school. That's not the case. It's the opposite. Because you failed out of a term, took a term off or whatever, now you're more likely to pass the next one. It's kind of this weird thing, but we always tell ourselves, like, members tell us this all the time. We get emails about it all the time in DMs that, you know, students saying, I'm so worried about failing, I'm so worried about not passing. But really, I mean, that, that is it. Like, even if you fail out of a term, you are more likely to pass the next one. That's just how it is.
Yeah. So, yeah, Tara emailed my petition for nursing school yesterday.
Yeah, very good.
So thanks for joining. And we're answ. Your question, if you have noticed from Monday.
Yeah.
So that is really great that you did that. And yeah. Everything that Christina says is, is accurate. That really, I mean, you've already gone through it once. Right. So you know what to expect. And this is the kind of thing in general about nursing school and about. And about life.
And about life is.
It's all a learning process. Right. So instead of, again, focusing on negatives. Oh. And beating yourself up. Oh, I, I did so bad. And in worrying about what it's going to be like.
Right.
It's just another learning process. Okay, so what did I do that worked? What did I do that did not work?
Yes.
And do the things that worked and change the things that did not.
Yes.
Right. And even if you didn't fail, even if you passed, for those that are going through the process, it's the same thing. Okay. This test I did, I got an 85. Okay. What did I do good? What did I. What can I improve on? And you work on that.
Yes.
Right. So sitting. What is that saying? Sitting on your laurels or whatever.
Rest on your laurel.
Resting on your laurels. That doesn't help because you just get complacency.
What does that mean? Oh, yeah, complacency. Right.
Like, like just, oh, I did so good.
Okay. Yes.
But there's always room for improvement and there's always things that you can do better. So make sure that you're also learning from your experiences whether you fail out or whether you're in the process or whether you did okay on your test.
Yes.
Right. So. Or even if you got 100 on your test, there's still things that you can improve on. Right. So focus on the improvement. Focus on the learning process. So when you're petitioning, focus on that and look on the bright side and think positively. On. Okay. I. I already know what to expect, and I know that I need to do these things differently. This is great.
Yes. That's a fabulous question, Tracy. And actually, I'm going to go back up here. I don't know about that one. Tracy, starting second semester in two weeks, we were just told that we will not be able to work and do nursing school here on out. Tracy, you're on YouTube. What I want you to do. When was it? Maybe back in January, I think.
Just.
It wasn't very long ago. We just did a video on. Can you work during nursing school? I suggest you watch that video. Yeah. It's going to help you a lot.
We also talked about it. During. Was it just Monday that we talked.
About it working during nursing school? Maybe it was last week. Because seriously, everyone's going to tell you that. Tracy, like, that is not. That is not abnormal. Like all nursing schools tell you that you can't work in nursing school. I don't believe that, to be honest. I do not.
Analina, just go ahead and email us and we'll get you set.
Yeah, Analina, email us. Yeah, try to. Try to keep up on your videos. I will look for that. Yeah, Tracy, I think it's back from, I want to say January. I mean, it's just. You'll find it. It's. It's just a few videos ago because, I mean, it's only April now. Now, so it was a few months ago, but yeah, it was a good one. So definitely check that out. You can absolutely work during nursing school. My humble opinion, Hannah, That's a fabulous question. How to remember the different symptoms of electrolyte imbalances. And actually, I think we're going to save that for Monday because I'm going to probably bring in the nursing school studies system on my. Okay.
All right.
I'm gonna bring it down here. By the way, you guys, I haven't posted this on Instagram yet and I have not emailed about it yet, so you guys are the first to know that we just released the brand new nursing school study system. And let me just tell you, it is fabulous. I can't even. I can't even. You've got to go check it out. Okay, where can they check it out? Has not even in my bio yet on Instagram.
How do you go to it?
This is brand new.
You know what? Right now, anyway, go to nursingsos.com oh yeah, and it's right on the front page there. So that's where our membership. Some of our membership information. That's where our shop is at.
Everything there is nursingsos.com nursingsos.com yes.
Yes. So definitely go ahead and take a look at that. It's really our framework for.
It is like studying. It is literally step by step. Hannah, how to study in nursing school. Everything from what to do, how to prepare before class.
I need to go check on that one.
Who hears crying children in the background? We do. It literally walks you through what to do to even prepare for class, how to set yourself up for study success before you even go to class, what to do during class, how to take notes, what to do after class to really make sure that you are learning the information you're focusing your study time on the things that actually matter. Right. That is such a huge problem in nursing school. You do not need to know everything about everything about everything. We walk you through three study frameworks that help you to know exactly what to focus on so you're not wasting your time. All right, so that's all inside the nursing school study system. We're going to walk you through how to retain information for your exams, how to pass your exam. I cannot even tell you, Hannah. I'm so excited. It is fabulous. So go check it out. Nursing sos.com youm'll see it there in the shop.
All right, and here's what I want you guys to do if you have not yet.
Oh, fancy.
Hit, subscribe, hit the bell. If you're on YouTube, on Instagram, follow us. Yep. Hannah, Especially you, Because, Hannah, I'm calling you up. What's the easiest way to remember the different symptoms of electrolyte imbalances? Because we are going to be talking about that on Monday.
Yes.
Don't want you to miss it. So be sure to hit, subscribe, hit the bell. So you do not miss that.
Yes. Because you guys. Okay, here's also the thing. Okay. I love fluids and electrolytes because we have the best, like the best, hands down, the best fluids and electrolytes course ever inside the nursing as well as membership community. Like no one teaches fluids and electrolytes like we do. It is just it does not have to be as complicated as your textbooks make it to be as nursing lectures in like your class make it to be like it does not have to be that way. We have a very defined step by step process to teach you fluids and electrolytes. Oh man, it's just amazing. So I will, we'll talk about it on Monday. It's going to be fabulous. Yes. Great.
Yeah.
Check out the nursing school study.
Definitely check it out.
Hannah, what you're looking for when you get the nursing school study system, you're looking for the four core method. That is our core framework for learning everything from med surge disorders to topics to fluid and electrolytes. Make sure, Hannah, you walk through that four core method because it's going to show you exactly what to study in nursing school. Look for that framework inside the nursing school study system. You guys are the first to know.
Yes.
Do you feel so special?
We've been working a lot on that. Again, that's the framework that we use inside a membership community as well. It's our brand new nursing school studies system so that we're making it available as a handy dandy book? Pretty much, yes. So it's fun.
So special. You guys are special. Analina. Yes, just email us hello@nursingsos.com. yes. Yep. Hello@nursingsos.com if you have questions. All right, friends, we will see you on Monday. Yes. We'll talk about fluids and electrolytes. It's going to be fabulous. Oh, Annalene, you just asked a question about health assessment. We can talk about that too on Monday, all right? Okay. All right, friends, you know what to do. Bye. Same time, same place on Monday. Bye. Bye. Ta. Take care.
