Nervous reck....

[OnMyWay2B12010]

I will be graduating in December and feel like I don't know enough. Everyone keeps telling me that it is natural to feel that way. But just think that people lives are about to be in my hands is making me very nervous. Did anyone else feel this way when they graduated?

[Brea LPN]

Every nursing student ever felt this way. Its actually a good thing-shows that you care. You can do this.

[Horseshoe, BSN, RN]

No reason to be a "wreck." You are about to leave your safe nest and that is understandably scary. But you will learn and grow every day of your professional career, and one day you will realize that somewhere along the way you became competent and confident. The great thing about nursing is that there is always something new to learn no matter how experienced you become.

[Good Morning, Gil]

Yes I felt that way! Like the previous poster mentioned, most new nurses do. It's a big responsibility and stressful job! But, like many nurses before you...you can do it! Just be motivated to learn, show up early, be positive, try to feign confidence (don't want the patient to know it's your first time doing a procedure lol), and always, always ask questions when you are unsure, even if it's that not-so-kind nurse or MD whom you need to ask again for clarification.

It will get better day by day...and eventually the nervousness will lead to confidence as you become a more skilled and knowledgeable nurse. I'm kind of in your shoes again (if that helps any) as I just started in a new unit, new area, so I have much to learn...except this time, I feel much better as I have conquered the "new nurseness"....(that will become very clear as you start, things like being intimidated to call the intimidating doc.....well, you learn that it's their job to be on-call, and it's your job to call them when you're concerned for your patient, so you call them with confidence instead of saying, "Sorry to call you so late..." lol. No need for apology; you're just doing your job :).

[Biffbradford]

I will be graduating in December and feel like I don't know enough. Everyone keeps telling me that it is natural to feel that way. But just think that people lives are about to be in my hands is making me very nervous. Did anyone else feel this way when they graduated?

You do not know everything, but you do know enough. You'll learn something new everyday until the day you retire. Trust me on this.

[merlee]

Anyone who DOESN'T feel this way is probably overconfident! I look back now on my first job, in Neonatal ICU and I am amazed at my chutzpah!!!

Couldn't do it now!!!