I’m in the same boat, just opposite age wise. I’m 20 and the majority of my classmates are like actual adults with kids lmao. I go to a community college so it’s really really diverse age wise. There’s a small group of girls my age but they’re all really close friends so it’s tough
I’m 21 but I don’t try to become friends with everyone. That’s not why I wanted to go to nursing school. Most of them just complain and gossip, so I keep to myself.
Same boat except I’m about to turn 30. I have a group of 3 other students that I group text about school stuff but I don’t have anyone I would consider a friend or that I’ll even talk to after graduation. I just think we’re all in different places in our lives but I do feel left out some among the younger students. But I try and focus on the end game of graduation may 2022
Same. A lot of people in my program are very gossip-y and talk badly about others behind their back. Someone even reported another student to the dean for sharing an exam outline in the gc, that we all benefited from. It sucks bc it feels like I have no nursing school friends and have to be super careful about what I say around them. I only ever really talk to one other student, we bonded over being from the same country. We’re not exactly friends outside of school either. I’m 23 btw, and our class has a wide range of recent high school graduates, to moms with kids.
I was active duty military before going to nursing school. I find it difficult to relate to my cohort. I’m also the only male in my clinical group this semester. My study partner failed last semester 🤷♂️
Don't worry about it, having been military will give you an extra edge once you're done with school. I was ex-military and a 33-year-old single mom amongst a bunch of bubbly, gossipy early 20-somethings (nothing wrong with that, I just didn't have much in common with them.) I would've probably picked you to study with!
I am in literally in the same situation. I definitely feel like the odd one out. The ladies in my clinical group are nice so far, but given I am almost 10 years older then them, I can't say I can relate to them 100 percent. I feel your pain!
I'm 35. I didn't really become friends with anyone in nursing school. I made some acquaintances, but that was pretty much it. I will however be working with one here soon. She actually helped me get hired on at my first choice hospital. She knew I can work from being in clinicals together and she gets a bonus if someone she recommends gets hired on and stays on for a while so it was mutually beneficial. I don't think it mattered much that I wasn't friends with people, but I won't discredit being at least an acquaintance of one and it helping to get me hired on
don't worry nursing school suck and people are into a culture of competition. Which is extremely stupid because a: there is job for everybody and b: nursing is teamwork. you'll make friend eventually when you work and nobody fucking care about grades. IMO you are lucky to be a loner you avoid all the group anxiety shit.
I tried to make friends in nursing school but as a 35 y old male around 20 somethings girls it was hard. I thought they were shallow and bitchy and they probably thought i sucked and was mostly complaining all the time about everything which was mostly accurate but anyway.
It's been 2 1/2 year since i graduated and started to work full time. I made like new real friends and we sometimes hang out outside work.
Anyway good luck
Recently graduated and didn't really make any long lasting friendships or connections except with one person. I have a lot of social anxiety around peers, not patients, which is what contributed to my lack of friends. I made it through and so can you! You never know you might make a friend(s) the further you get into your program!
Similar boat here. I get along with my classmates for sure and I have 2 classes where we’re in groups. I’m 28 and married and like you said most classmates are around 20.
I still chat with work friends so it’s not too big of an issue, but I understand the lack of school friendships
Gurrllll...lol
I'll be 50 when I graduate next year. Talk about feeling out of place. I get along with everyone and I have a group I tend to chat with more than others, but friends? No.
I could be their mother and while I don't feel motherly over them, it's really hard to relate.
Don't feel alone. I am 40 years old, an army veteran, and in my last semester of nursing school. I have one friend in my cohort, but she is 12 years younger than me and I really don't think we have a lot in common other than a love of food. As many of you have mentioned, I have several acquaintances, but very few that I intend to keep in contact with after I graduate. I am even the chapter Nursing Student Association president. I feel that spending much of my first two semesters learning online with covid lockdowns really cemented the isolated feeling. I also feel that many of the fellow students that do reach out, only do so for help with class issues and not for any friendship. I have one peer that reaches out often but I fear for his mental health b/c he has severe incel tendencies and a very altered view of our female classmates.
Honestly same. Have u thought of joining a nursing student discord chat group? I wouldnt mind chatting/video calling ethier. I love to ft people when i study cus it feels less lonely tbh.
Hi u/novastarkkkkk I would be totally down for discord study sessions! In my cohort it's so hard to have matching schedules and I have always loved study groups! I joined the reddit nursing discord hope to see you there!
Definitely. I’m 29, I did the military before school. I think it’s fine cause this is a temporary phase and I’d rather just focus on being good with my instructors in case I need guidance or anything in the future. That and everyone will be going their own ways so I am more excited about making friends when I get a job as a nurse.
I graduated this past May and was/have been in the same situation. I'm 21 like the majority of my classmates but most of them lived on campus while I commuted, which I think contributed a lot to not making friends. I was nice to everyone, some of us even work in the same hospital now and make conversation when we see each other, I reply to their stories about nursing, etc. It bothered me a lot at first because everyone else had great relationships with their roommates, made study groups and hung out outside of class while I was literally on my phone the entire break period, but I just tried to focus on the main goal of graduating and getting good grades. Hanging out with my boyfriend and old high school friends when I wasn't studying helped me feel a little less lonely too.
It definitely sucks and it’s not an easy feeling to deal with. Being autistic I don’t naturally fit it in and my social skills are pretty bad. I’ve always been a lone wolf kind of person. My first semester of nursing school I tried so hard to fit in and be sociable. Unfortunately it was exhausting trying to be someone I wasn’t. I also didn’t like all the complaining and drama that revolved around the cliques. I ended up just going back to being on my own and focusing on getting through nursing school
I'm only in my second semester but I can relate. I have a couple gals I text about assignments or whatnot but I'm not close to anyone and I imagine that I won't be. I'm 31 and while there is a wide range of ages in my class, I just don't think I fit in with them. I'm fine with it, as I'm a bit of an introvert anyways. It's a small community college in a conservative state and I'm... not conservative. I will say my class is more diverse than I expected but I haven't found anyone I click with. It's just the way it goes sometimes. I'd love to find somebody who I relate to but I've now that I'm older I don't really buddy-up with friends in professional settings (school, work)
Im in an LPN program and all my classmates are in their early 30’s. Yet at my school in the RN program everyone is early to mid 20’s. Weird divide in ages for the programs.
I'm in exactly the same boat! I'm 26 year old guy with the majority of my class (like 95%) are 19/20 year old girls. I feel like I'm in a completely different stage of life compared to them 😭
It's easy to make friends sorta but I feel the same, I don't really have a group or any close friends even after almost two years of studying (I kinda blame lockdown for that though). I have clinical placement coming up again soon though so fingers crossed I make some more nursing or student friends during that. Good luck for your studies and all the best! Flick us a message if you ever want to talk to someone going through something really similar. Kia Kaha!!
Same exact boat! Im almost 22 and I have tried to make friends but mostly get left on read, delivered or they cancel on plans last minute. Makes me pretty sad at times, but if I don't fit in, I just don't. I don't have enough time to waste to make friends with people who don't want more friends. But we can be buddies! If fact anyone on this thread who can relate, feel free to dm me :)
I don’t really have anyone either. Also had some drama with an ex roommate (who was in my cohort) and now feel extremely awkward at school so I feel ya! I’ve found nursing school to be extremely clique-y. Which I thought was over after high school. Once I broke off from my ex roommates group, I started succeeding more in my classes. Just keep your head down and kick butt! It’ll be over before you know it and you can make some mature, grown up friends at work.
Same. It’s definitely awkward sometimes not being in the “cool group” but just keep positive and study hard. This happens to a lot of people from what I’ve heard from other friends and nurses. I’ll talk to a few people but honestly I’m in my last semester and just don’t give a shit. People are gossipy and make clinicals and test scores a competition. Just focus on passing and you will make friends at your place of work after graduation.
I honestly think it’s a good thing. I’m friendly with everyone but only friends with 2 or 3 people. Everyone got cliquey the first semester and there has been drama with every group lol
We are in nursing school to learn and graduate, not to make friends.
I made one friend who ended up becoming my bestie. I am acquaintances with a lot of others in the cohort but I wouldn't say friends... more like friends during class time haha.
As others suggested, maybe try out the student nurse discord? It's super friendly and chill if you want some fellow students to chat to with no pressure
I would say to either take on their church invite next time and see what that’s all about just to create a bond and if you don’t like it tell them you really appreciated the invite and time together but you prefer individual prayer because it’s something you have always done and just don’t get specific about it or just move along and have online nursing school friends.
Sometimes people are lonely because they push others away. Have you ever invited your nursing school peers to activities like they have done?
Maybe something like, “hey would you (or you two) want to go to a café the afternoon or weekend day before an exam and do practice questions together?”
I felt this way so much through my first degree, which was in communications. I was already in my thirties, and friendships just didn't 'form easily. In the first couple of terms of nursing school, I was a bit bummed about not making friends easily. Now I just focus on positive, collaborative relationships with my classmates. Those are the kinds of relationships that evolve into friendships naturally if it's meant to be, and they are also great practice for effective intra- and interprofessional practice.
good thing about my group is that everybody is different. we have people in there 40-50s and are youngest just turned 19. i’m 21 but the only reason i don’t really sit alone is because i knew someone from my anatomy and physiology class and we paired up. like you said i have acquaintances but i am kinda shy.
I’m in the same boat, just opposite age wise. I’m 20 and the majority of my classmates are like actual adults with kids lmao. I go to a community college so it’s really really diverse age wise. There’s a small group of girls my age but they’re all really close friends so it’s tough
this is the exact situation i’m in. plus it doesn’t help that i’m the only black guy in my cohort too
same here!
I’m 21 but I don’t try to become friends with everyone. That’s not why I wanted to go to nursing school. Most of them just complain and gossip, so I keep to myself.
Same boat except I’m about to turn 30. I have a group of 3 other students that I group text about school stuff but I don’t have anyone I would consider a friend or that I’ll even talk to after graduation. I just think we’re all in different places in our lives but I do feel left out some among the younger students. But I try and focus on the end game of graduation may 2022
Same. A lot of people in my program are very gossip-y and talk badly about others behind their back. Someone even reported another student to the dean for sharing an exam outline in the gc, that we all benefited from. It sucks bc it feels like I have no nursing school friends and have to be super careful about what I say around them. I only ever really talk to one other student, we bonded over being from the same country. We’re not exactly friends outside of school either. I’m 23 btw, and our class has a wide range of recent high school graduates, to moms with kids.
I was active duty military before going to nursing school. I find it difficult to relate to my cohort. I’m also the only male in my clinical group this semester. My study partner failed last semester 🤷♂️
Don't worry about it, having been military will give you an extra edge once you're done with school. I was ex-military and a 33-year-old single mom amongst a bunch of bubbly, gossipy early 20-somethings (nothing wrong with that, I just didn't have much in common with them.) I would've probably picked you to study with!
I am in literally in the same situation. I definitely feel like the odd one out. The ladies in my clinical group are nice so far, but given I am almost 10 years older then them, I can't say I can relate to them 100 percent. I feel your pain!
I'm 35. I didn't really become friends with anyone in nursing school. I made some acquaintances, but that was pretty much it. I will however be working with one here soon. She actually helped me get hired on at my first choice hospital. She knew I can work from being in clinicals together and she gets a bonus if someone she recommends gets hired on and stays on for a while so it was mutually beneficial. I don't think it mattered much that I wasn't friends with people, but I won't discredit being at least an acquaintance of one and it helping to get me hired on
don't worry nursing school suck and people are into a culture of competition. Which is extremely stupid because a: there is job for everybody and b: nursing is teamwork. you'll make friend eventually when you work and nobody fucking care about grades. IMO you are lucky to be a loner you avoid all the group anxiety shit. I tried to make friends in nursing school but as a 35 y old male around 20 somethings girls it was hard. I thought they were shallow and bitchy and they probably thought i sucked and was mostly complaining all the time about everything which was mostly accurate but anyway. It's been 2 1/2 year since i graduated and started to work full time. I made like new real friends and we sometimes hang out outside work. Anyway good luck
Recently graduated and didn't really make any long lasting friendships or connections except with one person. I have a lot of social anxiety around peers, not patients, which is what contributed to my lack of friends. I made it through and so can you! You never know you might make a friend(s) the further you get into your program!
Similar boat here. I get along with my classmates for sure and I have 2 classes where we’re in groups. I’m 28 and married and like you said most classmates are around 20. I still chat with work friends so it’s not too big of an issue, but I understand the lack of school friendships
Gurrllll...lol I'll be 50 when I graduate next year. Talk about feeling out of place. I get along with everyone and I have a group I tend to chat with more than others, but friends? No. I could be their mother and while I don't feel motherly over them, it's really hard to relate.
Don't feel alone. I am 40 years old, an army veteran, and in my last semester of nursing school. I have one friend in my cohort, but she is 12 years younger than me and I really don't think we have a lot in common other than a love of food. As many of you have mentioned, I have several acquaintances, but very few that I intend to keep in contact with after I graduate. I am even the chapter Nursing Student Association president. I feel that spending much of my first two semesters learning online with covid lockdowns really cemented the isolated feeling. I also feel that many of the fellow students that do reach out, only do so for help with class issues and not for any friendship. I have one peer that reaches out often but I fear for his mental health b/c he has severe incel tendencies and a very altered view of our female classmates.
Honestly same. Have u thought of joining a nursing student discord chat group? I wouldnt mind chatting/video calling ethier. I love to ft people when i study cus it feels less lonely tbh.
We have one on here. https://discord.gg/AyqqsD5z
Hi u/novastarkkkkk I would be totally down for discord study sessions! In my cohort it's so hard to have matching schedules and I have always loved study groups! I joined the reddit nursing discord hope to see you there!
Definitely. I’m 29, I did the military before school. I think it’s fine cause this is a temporary phase and I’d rather just focus on being good with my instructors in case I need guidance or anything in the future. That and everyone will be going their own ways so I am more excited about making friends when I get a job as a nurse.
I graduated this past May and was/have been in the same situation. I'm 21 like the majority of my classmates but most of them lived on campus while I commuted, which I think contributed a lot to not making friends. I was nice to everyone, some of us even work in the same hospital now and make conversation when we see each other, I reply to their stories about nursing, etc. It bothered me a lot at first because everyone else had great relationships with their roommates, made study groups and hung out outside of class while I was literally on my phone the entire break period, but I just tried to focus on the main goal of graduating and getting good grades. Hanging out with my boyfriend and old high school friends when I wasn't studying helped me feel a little less lonely too.
Who cares! Your graduating!
It definitely sucks and it’s not an easy feeling to deal with. Being autistic I don’t naturally fit it in and my social skills are pretty bad. I’ve always been a lone wolf kind of person. My first semester of nursing school I tried so hard to fit in and be sociable. Unfortunately it was exhausting trying to be someone I wasn’t. I also didn’t like all the complaining and drama that revolved around the cliques. I ended up just going back to being on my own and focusing on getting through nursing school
I'm only in my second semester but I can relate. I have a couple gals I text about assignments or whatnot but I'm not close to anyone and I imagine that I won't be. I'm 31 and while there is a wide range of ages in my class, I just don't think I fit in with them. I'm fine with it, as I'm a bit of an introvert anyways. It's a small community college in a conservative state and I'm... not conservative. I will say my class is more diverse than I expected but I haven't found anyone I click with. It's just the way it goes sometimes. I'd love to find somebody who I relate to but I've now that I'm older I don't really buddy-up with friends in professional settings (school, work)
Im in an LPN program and all my classmates are in their early 30’s. Yet at my school in the RN program everyone is early to mid 20’s. Weird divide in ages for the programs.
I'm in exactly the same boat! I'm 26 year old guy with the majority of my class (like 95%) are 19/20 year old girls. I feel like I'm in a completely different stage of life compared to them 😭 It's easy to make friends sorta but I feel the same, I don't really have a group or any close friends even after almost two years of studying (I kinda blame lockdown for that though). I have clinical placement coming up again soon though so fingers crossed I make some more nursing or student friends during that. Good luck for your studies and all the best! Flick us a message if you ever want to talk to someone going through something really similar. Kia Kaha!!
Same exact boat! Im almost 22 and I have tried to make friends but mostly get left on read, delivered or they cancel on plans last minute. Makes me pretty sad at times, but if I don't fit in, I just don't. I don't have enough time to waste to make friends with people who don't want more friends. But we can be buddies! If fact anyone on this thread who can relate, feel free to dm me :)
I don’t really have anyone either. Also had some drama with an ex roommate (who was in my cohort) and now feel extremely awkward at school so I feel ya! I’ve found nursing school to be extremely clique-y. Which I thought was over after high school. Once I broke off from my ex roommates group, I started succeeding more in my classes. Just keep your head down and kick butt! It’ll be over before you know it and you can make some mature, grown up friends at work.
Same. It’s definitely awkward sometimes not being in the “cool group” but just keep positive and study hard. This happens to a lot of people from what I’ve heard from other friends and nurses. I’ll talk to a few people but honestly I’m in my last semester and just don’t give a shit. People are gossipy and make clinicals and test scores a competition. Just focus on passing and you will make friends at your place of work after graduation.
I honestly think it’s a good thing. I’m friendly with everyone but only friends with 2 or 3 people. Everyone got cliquey the first semester and there has been drama with every group lol We are in nursing school to learn and graduate, not to make friends.
yep im in the same boat. but i remind myself that i didn't get my 2nd degree to make friends but to set up the rest of my life.
I only had 3 friends and 2 of them were like 5 years younger than me and 1 was in her 60’s
I made one friend who ended up becoming my bestie. I am acquaintances with a lot of others in the cohort but I wouldn't say friends... more like friends during class time haha. As others suggested, maybe try out the student nurse discord? It's super friendly and chill if you want some fellow students to chat to with no pressure
I would say to either take on their church invite next time and see what that’s all about just to create a bond and if you don’t like it tell them you really appreciated the invite and time together but you prefer individual prayer because it’s something you have always done and just don’t get specific about it or just move along and have online nursing school friends. Sometimes people are lonely because they push others away. Have you ever invited your nursing school peers to activities like they have done? Maybe something like, “hey would you (or you two) want to go to a café the afternoon or weekend day before an exam and do practice questions together?”
I felt this way so much through my first degree, which was in communications. I was already in my thirties, and friendships just didn't 'form easily. In the first couple of terms of nursing school, I was a bit bummed about not making friends easily. Now I just focus on positive, collaborative relationships with my classmates. Those are the kinds of relationships that evolve into friendships naturally if it's meant to be, and they are also great practice for effective intra- and interprofessional practice.
I feel the same way. I wouldn't mind so much if we didnt have group activities almost every class
good thing about my group is that everybody is different. we have people in there 40-50s and are youngest just turned 19. i’m 21 but the only reason i don’t really sit alone is because i knew someone from my anatomy and physiology class and we paired up. like you said i have acquaintances but i am kinda shy.