Nurses Helping Nurses
allnurses Network: Central | Jobs | Books | Newsletter
allnurses: A Nursing Community for Nurses
Home General News Blogs Articles Students Region Specialty Degrees F.A.Q.
General Nursing Student Discussions /

Fear of Failure



Did You Know?
allnurses is the largest community for nurses on the web. We now have over 388,205 members! Join today to network with other nurses, laugh, share, and much more.
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >

Jan 14, 2009 06:58 PM

Fear of Failure


Here's the deal, I'm a first semester nursing student who is afraid of falling on his face. I've busted my butt for a year getting in, everybody I work with at the hospital is rooting for me. My family is rooting for me. I've visualized myself being a nurse for the last two years, so it seems that there is alot on the line for me. After going through the Orientations, I've realized that there is a chance that I could fall on my face. For instance, we have three opportunities to pass our Drug Calculation Exam, and Math has always been my weakness. Also, we have three chances to pass the check offs in lab, and they are Injections, Catheterizaton, dressing changes, and several more. We did adminstration of topical meds today and I learned that there is a mountain of details in just giving PO meds.
Ironically, I'm not worried about the Lecture exams, I feel confident that my reading and studying will pull me through, plus I've never really suffered test anxiety. But the dosage calculations has me scared of failing. Anybody have any tips? I really want to succeed at this....


Share

Search Tags
None
Top

 
Advertisement
Sponsored Links
 
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >
Reply
16 Comments
No. 1
from sproeber89
Old Jan 14, 2009, 07:00 PM

Default Re: Fear of Failure
I start clinicals next week and the advice i hear non-stop is take it one day at a time and breath. don't worry about whats going on in three weeks, focus on the task at hand, i had to do that with advanced ap, and it worked out well. and good luck, i have the same fear you do, don't be worried!
Top
 
No. 2
Old Jan 14, 2009, 07:06 PM

Default Re: Fear of Failure
I was exactly like you with being afraid of the math.

The good news is, the math isn't that complicated, and just a little tutoring is very likely to get you through this. I did very well on my dosage calc exams and I got a C in Basic Algebra. You can do this

Practice, practice, practice those lab skills and you'll do fine. I've never had a lab instructor that was extremely strict with the checkoffs. As long as you meet the minimum competency, you pass. It's really pretty hard to screw it up if you've practiced diligently.

Don't let your complacency with the lecture exams get you into trouble though - they'll be NCLEX style which are much tougher than your run-of-the mill questions (not to mention annoying!). I'd strongly recommend getting a nursing test taking strategy guide to help you through this first semester. It definitely takes some practice to be able to pick out the MOST right answer out of four correct answers.

I know it's overwhelming at first. Like previous poster said - just breathe and take it one day at a time.
Top
 
No. 3
Old Jan 14, 2009, 07:32 PM

Default Re: Fear of Failure
My advice is find a kid in your pharm class that is good with the calculations and make him/her help you study for those tests. I had a hard time with the dosage calculations, and I found that doing the workbook problems every night helps. Even if you can just get a couple in an evening, it will be beneficial. If you didn't get a workbook in class, you can get them on amazon for cheap.

I also agree with the poster that said not to get complacent about the lecture tests. I have heard that for nursing courses they are much more difficult.

Study hard and good luck!

P.S. I didn't do well with college algebra and I ended up getting really good grades on the dosage calcs. Just don't stress yourself into failing and always check your work.
Top
 
No. 4
Old Jan 14, 2009, 07:42 PM

Default Re: Fear of Failure
This is going to sound really weird to you right now, but by the end of the semester you will be begging for dosage calculations to be on the test, because they will be the easiest ones!
Top

3 Readers Gave Kudos
 
No. 5
Old Jan 14, 2009, 07:49 PM

Default Re: Fear of Failure
Do not be too worried but take it a day at a time and practice, practice. You will pull through...God has brought you this far and he is not about to leave you.
Top
 
No. 6
from Loner
Old Jan 14, 2009, 10:26 PM

Default Re: Fear of Failure
I picked up the book "Calculating with Confidence" by Deborah C. Gray Morris.

http://www.amazon.com/Calculate-Conf.../dp/0323029280

I haven't started school yet, but it was recommended on a few threads I've read. I'm about 1/3 of the way through the book and bored to tears (conversions, abbreviations, mg in pills) but I'm not sure what will be in the later parts. It went through 2 different "ways" of doing calculations (but, I seem to do fine doing them in my head). Regardless, it was a recommended book. And I'm only up to chapter 15 or so, it could pick up. =)
Top
 
No. 7
Old Jan 14, 2009, 10:44 PM

Default Re: Fear of Failure
To the OP: Consider yourself lucky, you have 3 attempts, my school only allows 2 and you have to get a 9/10 to pass for math, and two tries for skill checks. You have 3 attempts, if you mess up, know what you did wrong and study your butt off for the second one and get it then. I felt the same way when I started, but now I'm in too far to quit or fail. Good luck to you mate.
Top
 
No. 8
from That Guy
Old Jan 14, 2009, 10:48 PM

Default Re: Fear of Failure
Ok normally I say a little bit of fear really helps you out, but at test time it can really mess with your head. But for tests, just let it slide. Know the BASIC formula and it is so easy it is not even funny. If you know the basic formula and make things simple, you will do fine. It is when you make things complicated that you start to mess up and second guess yourself.

And trust me. I was there. Worried about falling flat on my face when everyone was rooting for me and I have made it so far. Best of luck. I will give you some cheers mate!
Top
 
No. 9
from coolpeach
Old Jan 15, 2009, 09:19 AM

Default Re: Fear of Failure
I felt just like you at the beginning of first semester. I made an A in skills, an A in clinical, A in dosage, and a C in lecture. In reality the skills lab is very stressful, but you will be fine. Those lecture tests are a monster. The people who didn't pass first semester did so because of those lecture tests, not skills lab. Its a whole new way of testing that is very difficult. I am going into semester 2, and still trying to figure it out.
Top

1 Reader Gave Kudos
 
Page 1 of 2 1 2 >
Reply




Thread Tools


Who's Online
450 members
3,986 guests
4,436

22

16th Philly area hospital to stop delivering babies: Mercy...

2

Really interesting article on Indian open hearts

1

High-Tech Pump Does What Her Heart Can't

0

Air Force RN Force RN Found Not Guilty

6

Hospital Falters as Refuge for Illegal Immigrants

6

California Imposes Stricter Rules Regarding Drug Abuse In...

34

Are older nurses being forced out of the profession?

3

An outlook in California?

8

Australian surgeons successfully separate conjoined twins

44

Disruptive behavior by doctors, nurses persists a year...



1

Society Needs Care Too

12

Why am I doing this, anyway?

2

Nurse Heal Thyself

9

My Papa, why I am the nurse I am today.

17

I made it through

11

An angel's gaze

14

A Sister Never Forgets

16

Ruby's Marbles

37

What Do Operating Room Nurses Do?

14

My Little Old Jedi

20

I love this job......

23

"I hear voices"

19

Preventing FRUTI (Foley Related Urinary Tract Infection) in...

24

Error and Attitude

10

It's Just a Shower





Sponsored Links

Currently Reading This Page: 1 (0 members & 1 guests)

Interested in the hottest topics of the week? Subscribe to the Nurse-zine Newsletter.
Enter email address: