What are you most worried about in regards to starting nursing school??

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I'm a junior in a university BSN program. I remember last summer I was very anxious to start and I had a lot of questions.

Post your concerns and maybe we can help!

I start in September hamner76....and I agree 100%....I'm excited, and deep down I KNOW that I can do it....but I'm TERRIFIED of failure...it's a horrible mixture of emotions. I'm a 34 year old woman who has been married for quite a few years and I have kids - 2 with special needs. It's going to be a lot to juggle.

Just tell yourself that you CAN and you WILL do it - you have came this far.

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the big thing that kept me on my long long long educational journey (have been basically taking classes for nearly 18 years-did lvn, adn, bsn, extra classes for grad school, etc) was that time will continue to go by. It doesn't matter if I take a program or a class or whatever, the years will still turn. I work with nurses that four years ago when I was halfway from my bsn program they said 'yeah, I need to start that'. four years later they haven't, they could have chipped away at it, only a class at a time, and have been done by now. I also think about whatever job it was that I liked the least prior to nursing-if I don't continue, would I want to do that for the rest of my life?

doseage calc-these are usually taught with dimensional analysis. It is actually very easy when you learn it. look it up!

killing pts-you will fear this for years. on the way to work your tummy will be in your feet worrying that you will kill someone that night, on the way home you will worry that you missed something. But it makes you careful, and think. just always assume you don't know everything and ask someone that knows more than you do if you can't put your finger on something or need help. it's really okay to ask for help, always. still do it 15 years later.

critical thinking - usually comes with experience. You won't really learn it in nursing school. Always just remember that you need to know the why of every action (why are they allowing that pt's bp so low? or u/o to get so low? and not the other pt)...

I have a lady I really aspire to be like, I thought I had it rough growing up and my young adulthood, no support in any way from friends/family, had a child die, lived from couch to couch during school, etc etc etc. but she has done way more in her life than anyone else I know, worked 6-7 days a week since starting college and has continued 30 years later to do the same to support her family, homeschooled her kids, cares for her invalid husband who has radiation 3 times a week they have to pay out of pocket for, sleeps 2 hours a day, aspires to climb everest, and and and. She is awesome, if she can push herself, so can I. You will see people like this in nursing school.

it is true, if you want it bad enough you will make it happen.

good luck to everyone!

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Define basic calculations. I heard from a current student we will have to take a math exam on orientation day for my bsn program. ANy information about that you may know. What to expect?

As far as I know "basic" meaning turning Lbs to Kg. And apparently some drug calculations. I do not know yet, its just what I heard from a student in the program from last term.

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Thank you to everyone who has shared their fears. It is so nice to know I am not alone. My biggest fear, like so many others, is failing. I have worked so hard to get where I am at. There have been many sleepless nights, test anxieties, and cram sessions. I have overcome them all. It would crush my spirit to come this far and then fail in nursing school. Good luck to everyone!

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Since I'm on the cusp of getting my CPR training, I've become a bit apprehensive about real possibility of death, and how I will personally and professionally handle it. That is, I know I will spring to action once I master the skills - but how to deal with the reality of failing to revive someone? How will I deal with seeing life ebbing away? My imagination is running on overdrive.

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Wow there are so many things I'm nervous about. Thanks everyone for sharing your fears; it helps me feel less alone.

My fears list includes

- explaining things to patients/families

- not having enough confidence

- freaking out and/or passing out (it's happened)

- failing

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I'm afraid of totally embarrassing myself in clinicals, by getting sick.:barf02:Or doing something stupid. :banghead:

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Specializes in Hospice/Infusion.
I know that nursing school is not going to be easy. I know that we will have to get dirty and do things we have never done before, but when we begin clinicals will we be put into situations where life and death are a possibility? Like if someone crashes, as students, would we just sit back and watch the professionals do the work, or will we be having to make the right choices then and there to keep this person alive?

I was just curious as to what we will be doing, specifically, while at a clinical site?

As far as I know, in a pt crash situation you would just observe because you are not educated or licensed to make any decisions.

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My biggest fear as of now, is finding childcare early enough for my clinical days. My husband works a 24 hour 8a-8a shift, so the mornings he's gone -I'm really stressing about! :uhoh21: My clinical time starts 45 minutes prior to the earliest opening daycare in town!!! My daughter is not yet capable of being home by herself to get on the bus, and I'm probably going to end up hiring a babysitter for two hours once or twice a week at $25 each visit.

Once I work out that problem, I'll find something else to stress about!

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Specializes in CMSRN, hospice.

Don't mind if I do!

My two fears right now (I'm sure I'll pick up more):

1) Balancing work and school. I'm hoping to start an accelerated AA program next May, and I'm sure that keeping up with a job (part-time at that point, I hope) and a fast-paced program will be difficult.

2) Basically appearing incompetent or, worse, insensitive in front of a patient. I am about to start a CNA course so I can work directly with patients in the year before I start school, and I just don't want to make anyone uncomfortable with my inexperience! Obviously I fear hurting or harming a patient in any way, but I also just really-really-really don't want to do anything unprofessional or rude while I'm learning the job. I'm sure there will be a lot of new things to see/hear/smell in my first weeks on the job, and I just really hope it doesn't register on my face or in my voice. Any advice on how to avoid this would be awesome!

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I'm afraid of totally embarrassing myself in clinicals, by getting sick.:barf02:Or doing something stupid. :banghead:

I agree!

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My biggest fear is now that pre reqs are finished, and I have made it into the program I will find out that nursing isn't for me. That i have wasted two years studying to get into a nursing program and when I go to clinical I just can't handle it! Then what????

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