About five weeks away from graduation and terrified.

[glowinggreenlights]

Hi guys.. I'm new to this site but I just really need some encouragement and words of wisdom from nurses new or old.

I'm about five weeks away from graduating from LPN school. I'm 21. For so long graduation seemed so far away, but now its right upon me and I feel like this whole past year in school is a blur and I've learned so much so fast. I'm really nervous that I will soon be released into the world of nursing and responsible for people's lives. As with most nurses, my worst fear is to hurt somebody. With my last few clinicals coming up I feel extra pressure to do great because I will be on my own soon. I feel as though I'm almost too nervous in clinical and a few of patients have commented on how young I am and how I can't possibly be a nurse when I'm so young. I feel as though this also makes me feel like I'm not worthy of this title I will soon have, even though I know I have put in tons and tons of work to earn it.

So I guess my reason for writing this is to ask for advice on how do I improve my confidence and seem like I'm more competent? And did any of you guys feel this way when you were close to graduating?

I appreciate any responses and I feel like I usually hold myself together better but today I'm just really nervous and fellow nurses seem to give the best advice about this stuff.

[3peas]

Believe it or not it's good to be nervous; it shows you care. You will gain confidence with experience. Just put one foot in front of the other every day. You are not suppose to know it all and everyone knows it. Find the helpers, they are out there. The haters are out there too, stay away from those.

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Hi guys.. I'm new to this site but I just really need some encouragement and words of wisdom from nurses new or old.

I'm about five weeks away from graduating from LPN school. I'm 21. For so long graduation seemed so far away, but now its right upon me and I feel like this whole past year in school is a blur and I've learned so much so fast. I'm really nervous that I will soon be released into the world of nursing and responsible for people's lives. As with most nurses, my worst fear is to hurt somebody. With my last few clinicals coming up I feel extra pressure to do great because I will be on my own soon. I feel as though I'm almost too nervous in clinical and a few of patients have commented on how young I am and how I can't possibly be a nurse when I'm so young. I feel as though this also makes me feel like I'm not worthy of this title I will soon have, even though I know I have put in tons and tons of work to earn it.

So I guess my reason for writing this is to ask for advice on how do I improve my confidence and seem like I'm more competent? And did any of you guys feel this way when you were close to graduating?

I appreciate any responses and I feel like I usually hold myself together better but today I'm just really nervous and fellow nurses seem to give the best advice about this stuff.

I was 21 when I started my first nursing job. I had been on my own since age 17, so I felt more adult than retrospection would indicate. Yes, the patients thought I was young. But at 21 you ARE young, and no matter what you do other people will see you as young.

Believe it or not, lack of confidence isn't a bad thing at your stage of the game. Preceptors just hate seeing that over-confident new grad coming their way. It's impossible to teach someone who already thinks they know everything. An over-confident new grad may kill someone. A new grad who is nervous is less likely to do so because they'll ASK someone before they go ahead and do that stupid thing that cannot be taken back.

I'm awfully glad you're afraid to hurt someone -- that fear is likely to KEEP you from hurting someone. Confidence is a good thing -- if you have the competence to back it up. But you're brand new and you don't have the competence, so stay nervous.