How Are You Easing Your First Day Jitters?

Fear and self doubt are very powerful emotions. It can control you and debilitate you if you allow it. The mind is also power. With confidence and the right attitude, you can overcome those fears and do anything you put your mind to. Students General Students Article

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How Are You Easing Your First Day Jitters?

A month ago, I wasn't nervous. I was pretty much just excited. The reality of nursing school didn't start to sink in until I had put in my notice at work, but still, my first day still felt so long away.

My last day of work was 2 days ago. I've given myself 2 days to veg out, get our house and affairs in order. We're going to be poor. It's going to be very hard. This is the only way for us to do this. Next week my daughter will be home from daycare with me. We'll spend my last free week trying to get into a routine.

Now that I'm officially unemployed, I'm terrified. The reality of it all has sunk in finally. I'm a nursing student. Our lives are forever changed from this point on whether I become a nurse or I fail out.

I've read through numerous threads about how hard classes are, how tough clinicals can be, putting in IVs, blowing veins, writing up care plans, etc. As I read, I could feel the blood drain from my face. Self doubt became stronger and more uncontrollable. I've gone to my husband numerous times already and have asked him how I'm going to do this and that I'm going to fail out.

He (kindly) reminds me all the time that I will learn. This is what I'm going to school for. All of my classmates are right there with me, learning with me. I just have to be sure to study hard.

I've since decided that I have control over this. I want this, so I'm going to make this happen. I've realized just how powerful the mind is, how powerful fear is. Fear has the capability to hold us back. Fear has been holding me back for nearly 30 years now. I'm tired of letting fear control my life. I want to reclaim my life and be the person I want to be and the person who I feel I really am.

I have another obstacle to get through though: shyness. During my interview with the director of nursing, I was asked what my weakness was: shyness. I don't feel shyness is necessarily a weakness in general, but in the nursing program, this is my weakness. It's held me back so many times in my life. I've missed out on life because of it.

Now, every opportunity I get, I work to overcome shyness. On my last day of work, I was called into the kitchen where I found all of my coworkers waiting for me. My face turned beat red. I could feel my insides churning. Then I thought, "You're going to be a nurse. Buck up." Suddenly, the way I felt changed. Parts of me were still trembling, but my face no longer glowed a fierce red. I had more confidence. Why shouldn't I?

I'm done sweating the small stuff. I'm done worrying about things that I don't have control over. I'm done worrying about the unknown.

I think back to when I took my TEAS at the beginning of July. I read thread after thread about how hard the TEAS were. I've been out of school for 10 years with less than 2 weeks to study. When I was worried or consumed in self doubt, I was absolutely useless. Once I accepted it is what it is, everything fell into place.

I've realized that confidence and a positive attitude go a long way. I'm now looking ahead to my first day with confidence and excitement.

I'm an ASN, RN.

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RN403, BSN, RN

1 Article; 1,068 Posts

Great post! A positive attitude goes a long way. Your feelings are normal and your hubby is right. You will learn...that is what you're going to school for. The amazing thing about nursing is you learn something new every single day...as long as you are learning you are doing things right.

Very best wishes to you on your journey.

dorkypanda

671 Posts

Hi augurey,Take it one step at a time and remember to breathe. You can do this! You getting into the program was one hurdle, the next will be graduating in the near future. Being positive and optimistic will help get you far along with your hard work. I'm rooting for your success.

LoriRNCM, ADN, ASN, RN

1 Article; 1,265 Posts

Specializes in Hospice.

That's awesome! I too suffer from shyness, sort of. Well, I used to. Not so much anymore. One way to get over your shyness in nursing school is to participate, and your instructors love it. Join class discussions, volunteer for cool stuff at clinicals (and help the CNAs). You can do it.

Specializes in NICU.

Awesome post! I have been so excited all summer and this last week of freedom I have become terrified and nervous. I have wanted this for so long and now it's happening in 2 days. Thanks for the encouraging words. My husband just laughs when I tell him I'm scared.... He's tells me I'm gonna do great and I have earned my spot in my BSN program. He has so much faith in me I'm scared to let him down.

augurey

1 Article; 327 Posts

lorirn2b said:
That's awesome! I too suffer from shyness, sort of. Well, I used to. Not so much anymore. One way to get over your shyness in nursing school is to participate, and your instructors love it. Join class discussions, volunteer for cool stuff at clinicals (and help the CNAs). You can do it.

That's one of the things I've been thinking about a lot lately. I was in a Medical Assisting program during my last 2 years of high school. My grades were excellent, and I thoroughly enjoyed the class, but I always dreaded lab because I never had the confidence in what I was doing. At the end of my junior year, we learned injections. We didn't have to give an injection; it was optional. I actually opted out because I was too scared!

I've always looked back on that and thought how silly that was and how I missed out on such an opportunity.

I've been trying to psych myself up for school, especially for labs and clinicals. I've talked to some new grads and every one of them has said to just throw yourself into the clinicals. I'm ready for it (I want to add 'sort of', but I think that's just gives me an out and excuse to not be, so I won't say 'sort of'). It's just a matter of reminding myself that it's essential.

I've already noticed a difference in how I feel with just the small steps I've taken. While I was grocery shopping the other day, I asked another customer on her opinion on a product. Without hesitation or increased heart rate, respiration, and perspiration. Normally I, mentally, go back and forth on whether or not I should and if I do, what will they think. This evening I was able to talk to my husband's extended family (that I don't know well) without the physical symptoms that would normally accompany these conversations.

It's paying off. I know I have a long way to go still, but I've seen the progress that shows that this is working and that it'll be okay. Talking in a group is the hardest for me which I know I'll have to wait for school to start before I can start working on that.

I went into this knowing that I had to get over shyness. I know that it may not completely go away, but I can't be a nurse being so shy (I used to be much worse actually). How can I speak up for the patient if I can't speak up for myself?

Specializes in NICU.

Thats awesome. LOL I know I'm definitely not shy...not even a little. Im that person that will start a random conversation to avoid silence. Im a social butterfly and I love being busy. Thats a large part of why I chose Nursing. I love helping people and I love being busy. Over the summer I did not work or have any classes. I actually took a break from life LOL and now because of that I just feel like my brain has brain dumped everything. One more day....

Dranger

1,871 Posts

You need to just chill, if school is freaking you out this much work will kill you. School is the time to learn and grow while work is game time.

LoriRNCM, ADN, ASN, RN

1 Article; 1,265 Posts

Specializes in Hospice.
ScrubGirl88 said:
Thats awesome. LOL I know I'm definitely not shy...not even a little. I'm that person that will start a random conversation to avoid silence. I'm a social butterfly and I love being busy. Thats a large part of why I chose Nursing. I love helping people and I love being busy. Over the Summer I did not work or have any classes. I actually took a break from life LOL and now because of that I just feel like my brain has brain dumped everything. One more day....

"Brain dumping", like Dumping Syndrome, only withholding fluid during meals won't help. :roflmao: Yeah, class starts tomorrow for me, third semester, and the thing that scares me the most is how much I feel like I've brain dumped.

allandave

4 Posts

Excellent post!

I haven't yet felt the inevitable nervousness of nursing school just yet; I still have this final year of prerequisites to finish out. I definitely feel that my shyness is going to be a weakness that I will need to work on, as well. I'm naturally introverted, and I often prefer to keep to myself because that's normally how I work; but I realize that nursing is a team-oriented job, so that's something I'll have to work on if I want to excel as a nurse.

Good luck with nursing school! Focus, study, and keep your head on straight; you can only go up from here!

OhWow

5 Posts

I'm going through the same thing at the moment. I always feel like I'm not as smart as everyone else and that I'm going to fail out. I've been stretching out my prerequisites to the max (almost ten years) out of pure fear and self doubt. I don't know how I'm going to do on my teas exam. But after reading this I feel much better. Not saying that I'm mighty mouse just yet but I'm at least up to atom ant status. Thank you so much for this post.

thinwildmercury

275 Posts

Nursing school is really not that hard, you'll be fine! I quit my job to start nursing school and two months later, I regretted it and started working again. I'm sure I'm not the only one who thought nursing school was no more difficult than any other school I've been in. Time management will be your best friend. You'll learn the rest =)

I recently graduated and am now working as an RN, for reference.