How did you cope with mind overload?!

I want to know everything! Everything I hear and see I have to go home look it up and write it in a pad so I can fully understand literally every illness, wound, dressing, medication I can think of! But it's hurting my brain now and i simply can't do it. I know not everyone knows everything but I want to know everything 😂 I want to be able to offer advice to my patients and put them at ease that I know what I'm talking about. Was anyone else the same? Have you any tips on how to research things and make them stick?! Any tips appreciated


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I should of worded it different....I have a desire to be the best nurse I can be by not only having the obvious qualities but also offer my patients the best advice I see fit. And I admire knowledgeable people enormously and think "I want to be like you some day!" I've met so many already


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This sort of thing doesn't happen instantly, it's a slow process and nursing is all about continuing to learn, even long after you've qualified. Generally it isn't until you've been able to put this knowledge into practice that you start to feel comfortable. I find explaining things to junior students helps me to solidify my knowledge, but really nursing is not like an academic course where you can read and research facts and retain them in a way that is useful to your nursing practice.

I would totally agree with this. I'm far more confident in understanding and explaining the common conditions and treatments seen on my ward than I ever was as a student. Students dive in and out of different placements. One thing I only properly learnt in my second year was that placements are a "Taster" more than a chance to learn absolutely everything about that speciality of nursing.

For the OP directly @wbnurse - love your enthusiasm, and love that your motivation to learn more is for the end result of better patient care. Two key things for you to learn here, I think, as I was very similar to you.

1) Get good at saying to patients that you don't know the answer. It seems hard at first, as you'll be nervous about the reaction you'll get, but I find patients appreciate your honesty. Promise to find out and get back to them asap - then you learn too.

2) Try and harness your enthusiasm to certain key skills or knowledge you know you need to focus on. It was something a few mentors I think worked on with me as I found by trying to learn everything I spread myself too thin, and subsequently didn't get the depth of knowledge or skills I desired (Or even required).

Just my insights from being in a similar position as you. Take from that what you want. I might be chatting nonsense, and I'm sure other posters will chime in if I am!

As someone going into the Nursing and who experiences a similar mindset as OP I find your post hugely reassuring. Also just to add, I have seen your posts regularly in this section of TSR and find your words really comforting and insightful from a person who is experienced and already in pratice. Especially as you're someone who can give those starting out or soon to start out some kind words. So thanks for that, I really do appreciate your advice! :-)

I find explaining things to junior students helps me to solidify my knowledge, but really nursing is not like an academic course where you can read and research facts and retain them in a way that is useful to your nursing practice.

I would totally agree with this. I'm far more confident in understanding and explaining the common conditions and treatments seen on my ward than I ever was as a student. Students dive in and out of different placements. One thing I only properly learnt in my second year was that placements are a "Taster" more than a chance to learn absolutely everything about that speciality of nursing.

For the OP directly @wbnurse - love your enthusiasm, and love that your motivation to learn more is for the end result of better patient care. Two key things for you to learn here, I think, as I was very similar to you.

1) Get good at saying to patients that you don't know the answer. It seems hard at first, as you'll be nervous about the reaction you'll get, but I find patients appreciate your honesty. Promise to find out and get back to them asap - then you learn too.

2) Try and harness your enthusiasm to certain key skills or knowledge you know you need to focus on. It was something a few mentors I think worked on with me as I found by trying to learn everything I spread myself too thin, and subsequently didn't get the depth of knowledge or skills I desired (Or even required).

Just my insights from being in a similar position as you. Take from that what you want. I might be chatting nonsense, and I'm sure other posters will chime in if I am!