Confused

quiltynurse56, LPN, LVN · Sep 10, 2016

What was it about nursing that drew you to it? What were you expecting? I do know that I found clinical experiences to be anxiety producing to me.

Cat365 · Sep 10, 2016

Clinicals are stressful. Working it depends a lot on the environment and coworkers.

Im a natural introvert, but most people who don't know me well would never guess it. If you want to work on those skills I would suggest a part time job like waitressing. Someplace you have to interact. If you are nervous hold your head high and shoulders back meet people's eyes and don't let them see it. Remind yourself of what you do well, know that your a smart person, a capable person.

Be polite, not apologetic, don't apologize for everything, but dot become arrogant.

its amazing how many things that will help you through.

Davey Do · Sep 10, 2016

I want to be able to help people. I like the aspect of continued education and learning something new everyday. I want a job where I do something substantial to better the lives of others. I would be lying if I didn't say the salary as well.

Joseph Campbell said "If you follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. Wherever you are â€” if you are following your bliss, you are enjoying that refreshment, that life within you, all the time".

The things that make me question nursing is the constant anxiety and self doubt that I feel. I don't have confidence in even the most basic skills. I worry that I won't be able to handle the stress. I've read that the hours are not as flexible as they seem. Mostly 12 hour shifts unless you somehow manage to land a job in a clinic or school. Im an introvert and tend to be more quiet. I tend to be sensitive and really take things to heart.
I guess I'm just looking for advice from people who know the career and what it really takes and also to see what areas of health care would you consider to be lower in stress?

Years ago, a Psychologist at a seminar said something like "In order to learn how to adequately deal with stress, we must experience stress".

Adequately dealing with stress is an endeavor which is learned through a trial and error process. If we can learn and use the tools in order to adequately deal with stress and feel confident in ourselves, we rise to a higher level of consciousness and, of course, dramatically reduce stress.

We also learn to adequately deal with stress through both good and bad Teachers by emulating the techniques of the good Teachers and avoiding the ways of the bad ones.

Emulate the ways of the good Teachers and institutionalizing those techniques within the realms of our own personality, applying those techniques as who we truly are and not as an Actor playing a part, will result in favorable outcomes.

These are general, and perhaps vague, concepts mischeerful. Specific examples given upon request.

The very best to you.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Sep 10, 2016

I am also introverted and reserved. In addition, I was once anxious.

I have gotten around my limitations by working in lower acuity areas such as long term care, physical rehabilitation, psych, and case management. The high acuity levels at acute care hospitals triggers my anxiety, so I avoid working at hospitals.

misscheerful · Sep 10, 2016

Thank you all for the responses. I knew nursing was going to be stressful but it's one thing to read it but a lot different when you actually are experiencing it. I have so much respect for nurses and what they go through.

Im going to for sure finish the semester and give it my best but I'm thinking maybe being a PTA might be a better fit for me. I know it's not stress free but it doesn't seem like there's as much risk associated with it.

ORNurseCOS · Sep 17, 2016

You seem to have the right foundation for wanting to be a nurse, so that is a good start. Don't let fear and anxiety be the determining factor in your career choice, if you are NOT afraid in the 1st semester your arrogant or delusional - being afraid is okay and expected. Confidence comes with experience and practice, your not just going to feel good one day, its progressive. By the time I got to my capstone in the SICU, I was doing about 90-95% of the work with almost full confidence. If you work hard and face those fears you can do it. I think it really comes down to what drives you to do this job. Do you have a mantra? What do you do b/f you go in for a shift? For me, I remind myself of a few things, that the person in that bed is having the worst day of their lives, and that the 1st shall be last and the last shall be 1st and that love know no better measure than this, that a man lay his life down for his friends. For me, that is not physical death but death to oneself with the purpose of beating back sickness and helping those who can't help themselves. This gives me the right mindset and the rest follows.

Make mistakes now and don't be afraid to try everything while you are in a supportive environment.

Best of luck!