I'm am worried about myself in nursing? Advice needed!!

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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Hi,

I'm currently a first-year college student enrolled in my pre-nursing classes. I'm not sure if it's just my first year in college that has gotten me so depressed and unconfident, but now I am beginning to doubt whether nursing is for me!

I did really well in high school -- 3.8 GPA. I could've done well if I hadn't slacked off my freshman year. In college, I am also doing really well in my classes. I have a 4.0, and I'm still going strong with all A's this semester. My goal is to become a CRNA, but sometimes I feel I am just not smart enough!! I feel I will never learn real-world activities of nursing, and that I am only good for getting A's at college. I also read these threads, and the majority of nurses seem miserable with a few rare exceptions. I also have read about the "nursing shortage" myth, and all these things are discouraging me. I try to think positive, and that's when my self-doubt becomes my worse enemy.

I also have this crippling fear of killing someone or making mistakes on the job. But the bottom line is that I feel that my anxiety will overcome me because I know how fast-paced the job is. Is it normal to feel like this???? How did you cope as a nursing student with all these dreadful fears?

Once you understand your role as a nurse, you remove the fear aspect. You will understand your scope of practice of nursing throughout nursing school, especially through clinicals and rotations. If you follow protocols and understand what your role is, you did all you can as a nurse. You aren't truly independent enough as a RN to make those decisions to kill someone anyway. It's mostly the doctors who are more at risk with those decisions.

True - there is no nursing shortage of new grads, but there IS a shortage of experienced nurses with bachelors and higher degrees (nurse practitioners, CRNAs etc). It's really not impossible to find a job. With any job, you gotta start somewhere, so what new grads probably need to do is apply everywhere (literally EVERYWHERE) and be flexible with their choices and ability to relocate. The experience is key, and if you can get some of that in nursing school through externships, internships, and networking, you already have a huge leg up. Cliche, but nothing is impossible.

As for CRNA, you have so much time before you even apply to CRNA programs. Remember you need 1 year of ICU experience before they even look at you. Take that time to strengthen your sciences and ICU skills (all hemodynamic monitoring equipment, intubation, lines etc). If you really want it, you will get it. You have time now, so why not look up what a swan catheter is and be familiar with it? Review the cardiovascular system in detail. There is a lot you can do from now until then.

I am only a pre-nursing student myself, but the only advice I can really give you is to just follow your heart and have confidence in your decisions. You can't think about all the possible bad outcomes of your job before you even start. But if you do find yourself thinking about those, at least give yourself some credit and think about all the good you'll do. How many lives you'll change.

From what you say you're a smart person, don't doubt yourself. :) you can do it!

Im afraid a lot of the language you have used has confused me, I'm from the UK and i've never heard of a CRNA.

Have you had any placements in a hospital as a student yet? or has it all been classroom?

As for the crippling fear of killing someone and making mistakes on the job? You probably will, and if you don't you'll certainly witness death. You'll sure as hell make mistakes.

You'll also be able to come home every day and know you're making a positive difference to peoples lives. You'll know that your job has meaning and that people appreciate what you do.

Nursing is full of horror stories, but those are a footnote on a page full of good deeds, satisfaction, and joy.

Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.

Hold off on pursuing your CRNA until you've worked as a nurse for a few years. It'll make you more marketable, and you'll feel more confident in your practice.

I'm happy to see that you recognize the difference between someone who can get good grades and someone who can do a job well. In fact, I think that seeing that in yourself is what will help you succeed, if you do choose to pursue nursing.

I would disagree with you that most nurses are miserable. This site is a great place to vent where you can't vent in real life, so keep in mind that what you see here is just a snippet of reality. There are miserable nurses, of course, but most of the nurses I've encountered in the real world love what they do. Some do it for a paycheck, some are burnt out, but that can be said in any profession.

About the nursing shortage, you are correct. 2008 really killed the market for us, and we haven't recovered. In 2007, there were many, many job listings for nursing positions. Then 2008 hit, and suddenly, they were GONE. This is still the case, and even positions that ARE open aren't being filled because of budget cuts. There are 100 or more applicants for every position right now. It's tough, especially for new grads, and fewer and fewer places are hiring new grads, since there are a ton of experienced nurses applying for the same position.

I think most of us have a fear of making a fatal mistake. We ALL make mistakes, as we are human. There will be times when you drive home thinking, "I should have reassessed such and such," or "Should I have given that additional dose of blah blah blah?" It IS a fast-paced job, but you will get a feel for the rhythm of it in nursing school. Also, it takes at least a year working after school to really feel like you're comfortable as a nurse for most people. This is NORMAL. No one expects you to be perfect. You have very normal fears, in my opinion.

Have you considered shadowing a nurse for a day or two to get a sense of what it's really like? It might be worth trying this and getting yourself out there. You can also consider getting a CNA certification, which would have you elbow to elbow with the nurses. You will develop your basic skills, and get comfortable with patient care. It takes people awhile sometimes to get comfortable with the intimacy that exists in the nurse-patient relationship, so getting over that hump before school would be REALLY helpful. It will allow you, once you're in your nursing program, to focus more on the harder tasks and knowledge (not to say that you can neglect the basics, as they are equally important, but you'll already have this stuff down).

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