Anxiety Before Nursing Shool

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Has anyone had anxiety before beginning nursing school to the point they were unsure if they are making the right choice of going to nursing school in the first place? Any info is appreciated.

Originally Posted by mariedoreen

"And ORTHORN: thank you for that piece of advice about not letting nursing school consume you. I basically allowed my pre-reqs to consume me for years because I had to have a GPA as close to a 4.00 as possible in order to make it into a program. But now I'm here and while I intend to study hard and do my best, I also intend to try and maintain some semblance of balance in my life. (Those of you who've already been through school can quit laughing now)".

Absolutely - me too, got straight A's for all my pre-req's, but drove my family crazy and didn't have a life. I'm straightening out my priorities for nursing school. I read the 'Seven Habits of Highly Effective People' halfway through my last pre-req, and it was like a shot to the head. I realised I had turned into a monster!! Since then, I've been really thinking about 1 or 2 important things I can do for/with each member of my family (including the dogs & myself) each week, and trying my best to make them a priority. At the end of the week, I can look back and NOT feel guilty for a change LOL!

Am I having second thoughts about nursing school - a big YES, but I'm trying to ignore those thoughts. Problem is, this isn't my choice (nursing school), it was sort of decided for me by family and by results of various tests to try and find me the ideal career LOL! I'm just going with the flow - willing to give it a try, because I might suprise myself. I've certainly been trying hard to be optimistic about the whole thing, to concentrate on the good things it will mean for us, to get excited and inspired by it - however, the deep, gut feeling I get whenever I think about actually being a nurse is still DREAD :o I'm already dreaming about retirement LOL! In some ways, it's empowering & comforting - because if for any reason I can't complete the course, I won't be devastated, because this is not my dream. (I may be very relieved!). However, I am going to try my best and make it succeed - for the love of my family, Love often means doing things you don't want to ;) and MY dreams can wait a while.

Best wishes, Paint.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

in my mind i know i'll do well. and if i don't...oh well. i'll just have to try harder next time. that's the way i think about things.

i guess i'm just weird like that.

ah see, that's where you're one up on me! in my mind i don't know that i'll do well... i suspect that i will... but i'm never completely confident until the exam is returned to me with my a on it. until that point, anything could go wrong! kind of reminds you of chicken little doesn't it? "the sky is falling, the sky is falling!!" also, around here when you're working on nursing there aren't a whole lot of "next times" to ease your mind. you pretty much need to do it right the first time or start searching through your files for your back up career plan. :chuckle

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Specializes in Med-Surg.
You sound EXACTLY like me. I fret over less than a 3.8 in any class. It's ridiculous, I know, but it's like I have to prove to myself that I can do it. I was not a good student in HS, because I didn't apply myself at all. Now that I'm paying for my education, I want to get all out of it I can, and to me, obtaining the best grades show that I'm getting the most I can. That probably makes no sense in words, but close to how I feel. I know that once I start nursing school I'm going to have to tone all of that down.

And nervous? Oh, yes! I have a feeling Imodium and Pepto Bismol will be my friend for a few days at the beginning! :p

LOL, yes I know I'm going to have to tone it down too. Someone around here said something like "B's and C's get degrees" and I kind of liked that! I need to give myself permission to be less than perfect when it comes to my grades now. I'm going to still shoot for it, but you know what I mean, I need to not freak out when they fall a little, because I have a feeling they will. When I threw out my new philosophy of relaxed self-expectations to someone I did my pre-reqs with tho, they gave me an appalled look and said, "What about your BSN?! You want to be able to get into a good BSN program don't you??!" Oh Lord, pressure, pressure everywhere!! :uhoh21:

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Originally Posted by mariedoreen

"And ORTHORN: thank you for that piece of advice about not letting nursing school consume you. I basically allowed my pre-reqs to consume me for years because I had to have a GPA as close to a 4.00 as possible in order to make it into a program. But now I'm here and while I intend to study hard and do my best, I also intend to try and maintain some semblance of balance in my life. (Those of you who've already been through school can quit laughing now)".

Absolutely - me too, got straight A's for all my pre-req's, but drove my family crazy and didn't have a life. I'm straightening out my priorities for nursing school. I read the 'Seven Habits of Highly Effective People' halfway through my last pre-req, and it was like a shot to the head. I realised I had turned into a monster!! Since then, I've been really thinking about 1 or 2 important things I can do for/with each member of my family (including the dogs & myself) each week, and trying my best to make them a priority. At the end of the week, I can look back and NOT feel guilty for a change LOL!

Am I having second thoughts about nursing school - a big YES, but I'm trying to ignore those thoughts. Problem is, this isn't my choice (nursing school), it was sort of decided for me by family and by results of various tests to try and find me the ideal career LOL! I'm just going with the flow - willing to give it a try, because I might suprise myself. I've certainly been trying hard to be optimistic about the whole thing, to concentrate on the good things it will mean for us, to get excited and inspired by it - however, the deep, gut feeling I get whenever I think about actually being a nurse is still DREAD :o I'm already dreaming about retirement LOL! In some ways, it's empowering & comforting - because if for any reason I can't complete the course, I won't be devastated, because this is not my dream. (I may be very relieved!). However, I am going to try my best and make it succeed - for the love of my family, Love often means doing things you don't want to ;) and MY dreams can wait a while.

Best wishes, Paint.

Very nicely said! I think I can relate, I originally set out to be a social worker but nursing can put food on the table a lot quicker. So here I am starting nursing school in 2 days. Will I try my best to get through it? You bet!;) But if something happens and I don't pass, then I will pursue my other career choice, which I hope to do anyway later, down the road afte I've been a nurse for a while!~:) And who knows, nursing may be my niche, after all there are several aspects that really interest me...I just know that my goals will eventually evolve.
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Specializes in Telemetry and ER.
As said before, of course! I also am starting my 2nd year and I think the biggest cause of my anxiety is fear of failing! (You work so hard to get here, so many fail, etc.)We start next Thursday and I'm having the same feelings again this year too. Two more semesters and I'll be finished but I just have to get there!!!

Good Luck in School and enjoy (really)!!!

I am starting my second semester (of 4) and I am terrified of failing!!!!! :angryfire I am more scared now than before I started the program because now I kind of know what to expect. I think this pure "terror" will never go away!!!!!! :crying2:

Its comforting to know that we are not alone.

Good Luck

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Have to ask yourself a couple of questions about your anxiety.

Are you anxious because you are not sure if you want to be in this profession?

If the answer to this is yes, you need to take a step back and think real hard because this isn't an easy profession to go into.

Are you anxious because it is going to be hard?

It is but you'll be fine.

Are you anxious because you are scared?

This was me. I don't like starting something that I am not used to. I hate not knowing everything, but I already know that I am going to love nursing (halfway through school). It is scary but you'll be okay.

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I am scared, anxious, excited, all at the same time! Just like all of you.....

I don't know if I will make it, or if I will like it!

I plan to study hard and do the best that I can. The hands on part, I will have to get used to. I have absolutely NO medical background... that worries me.

If I flunk out or hate it, I will just have to swallow my pride and use my college credits for something else.... always have a plan B (B is for backup), that way all your eggs are not in one basket and you can have peace of mind that if things go wrong with plan A, your covered!

I can't wait to get started to see if nursing is for me.

To me there is no way to tell if nursing is for you from the outside looking in, you pretty much have to get in there and start working with patients to really know if you are cut out to be a nurse, and that is one reason I am anxious for clinicals to start... to see if I can handle the nurse-to-patient (physical contact) area. I am not used to actually touching other people, (besides my children and husband, of course).

I know that probably sounds weird.

I will just have to try my best.

That's all any of us can do, if we don't try, we certainly won't make it!

Good Luck to all of you! Hopefully one day we can look up these old post, and laugh at ourselves!

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Specializes in cardiac/education.

It is really comforting to see that others are feeling the same uncertainty as myself and that this is not some big dream to everyone. Some of us are just here to try this out, give it a chance, and see if it is for us. My gut feeling tells me the same. I come from an abusive family and have some problems being really social and am pretty introverted. But, I am hoping nursing will open my eyes and show me a more compassionate view of the world as well as teach me to relate to people better. It is all one big experiment. My biggest fear is that if I don't really want this bad enough I will not have the diligence required to pass. When the going gets tough, will the tough get going? I hope so.

What is funny is what is driving me right now is the desire to prove my family wrong. I know they all think I would be a horrible nurse. They don't say anything to encourage me and make fun of my choice as often as possible! I saw another post on this forum relating to this, and it helped me zone out their negativity. But, it is hard. You want your loved ones to think you are going to be good at something, and it pisses you off when they don't. Don't even acknowlege that it is brave of me to try. Sucks. (sigh) but oh well. Hubby is very supportive, thank goodness, but my family really plants the seeds of self-doubt. If I had not found this forum, I believe I would have quit without even starting. While the negatives of nursing are posted here as well, I try to keep it all in perspective.:)

I am only starting NA classes this fall, applying nursing Spring 05'. But, I really really hope these classes coming up will tell me if I want to move forward. But, then again, everyone tells me you won't do the same things as a RN than a CNA, so I hate to make up my mind for absolute sure till I hit the RN program. Unfortunately, in order to attend that I will have to quit my full time job. It is very hard to make a life change like that and be unsure. I think going in to this as we are....the ones that are unsure...is very brave. I am going up against some of my absolute biggest fears in life entering nursing. Now......the question is, will I grow to be a better person and a good nurse or will I fail?

Good Luck to all of you starting your programs. For sure, it is very exciting and nerve racking!!

Janice

Absolutely - me too, got straight A's for all my pre-req's, but drove my family crazy and didn't have a life. I'm straightening out my priorities for nursing school. I read the 'Seven Habits of Highly Effective People' halfway through my last pre-req, and it was like a shot to the head. I realised I had turned into a monster!! Since then, I've been really thinking about 1 or 2 important things I can do for/with each member of my family (including the dogs & myself) each week, and trying my best to make them a priority. At the end of the week, I can look back and NOT feel guilty for a change LOL!

"Am I having second thoughts about nursing school - a big YES, but I'm trying to ignore those thoughts. Problem is, this isn't my choice (nursing school), it was sort of decided for me by family and by results of various tests to try and find me the ideal career LOL! I'm just going with the flow - willing to give it a try, because I might suprise myself. I've certainly been trying hard to be optimistic about the whole thing, to concentrate on the good things it will mean for us, to get excited and inspired by it - however, the deep, gut feeling I get whenever I think about actually being a nurse is still DREAD :o I'm already dreaming about retirement LOL! In some ways, it's empowering & comforting - because if for any reason I can't complete the course, I won't be devastated, because this is not my dream. (I may be very relieved!). However, I am going to try my best and make it succeed - for the love of my family, Love often means doing things you don't want to ;) and MY dreams can wait a while.

Best wishes, Paint.

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The biggest comfort is knowing that once you have that degree, there are many, many opportunities. Nursing doesn't necessarily mean working in a hospital for 12 hour shifts. There are workplace nurses, school nurses, home care, teaching, preventative care, complementary medicines, legal nurses (who advise lawyers on certain cases).

In England, I trained to be a Clinical Aromatherapist - highly trained complementary therapists who are allowed to work in hospitals and who often have practices attached to Doctors clinics. Because there is government legislation in process to regulate the education and qualification of Aromatherapists, Doctors can safely refer patients with the confidence that their patients will be in the care of a professionally trained therapist. Sadly, this is not the case here in the USA, where there are still many, many 'quacks' and 'con artists' around to deceive a naive public :( Even though I cannot legally practise as a 'Clinical Aromatherapist' over here, it may be a possibility if I have the extra credentials of a Nursing Degree. That is what I would really love to do - it's just going to take several years and more money to do what I was already qualified to do back in England LOL!

Best wishes, Paint.

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it is really comforting to see that others are feeling the same uncertainty as myself and that this is not some big dream to everyone. some of us are just here to try this out, give it a chance, and see if it is for us. my gut feeling tells me the same. i come from an abusive family and have some problems being really social and am pretty introverted. but, i am hoping nursing will open my eyes and show me a more compassionate view of the world as well as teach me to relate to people better. it is all one big experiment. my biggest fear is that if i don't really want this bad enough i will not have the diligence required to pass. when the going gets tough, will the tough get going? i hope so.

what is funny is what is driving me right now is the desire to prove my family wrong. i know they all think i would be a horrible nurse. they don't say anything to encourage me and make fun of my choice as often as possible! i saw another post on this forum relating to this, and it helped me zone out their negativity. but, it is hard. you want your loved ones to think you are going to be good at something, and it pisses you off when they don't. don't even acknowlege that it is brave of me to try. sucks. (sigh) but oh well. hubby is very supportive, thank goodness, but my family really plants the seeds of self-doubt. if i had not found this forum, i believe i would have quit without even starting. while the negatives of nursing are posted here as well, i try to keep it all in perspective.:)

i am only starting na classes this fall, applying nursing spring 05'. but, i really really hope these classes coming up will tell me if i want to move forward. but, then again, everyone tells me you won't do the same things as a rn than a cna, so i hate to make up my mind for absolute sure till i hit the rn program. unfortunately, in order to attend that i will have to quit my full time job. it is very hard to make a life change like that and be unsure. i think going in to this as we are....the ones that are unsure...is very brave. i am going up against some of my absolute biggest fears in life entering nursing. now......the question is, will i grow to be a better person and a good nurse or will i fail?

good luck to all of you starting your programs. for sure, it is very exciting and nerve racking!!

janice

wow, i could have written this myself, especially the part about the family situation. i just wanted to say good luck to you, i think you'll make it through!:) just keep on hanging in there!~

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Specializes in cardiac/education.

Thank you Melanie! You too!!:):)

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Hi-

I know most of these posts are 5 years old, but I am having anxiety about nursing school too. I am not in a program yet but I started dosage calculations and they are talking about nursing now and it is freaking the **** out of me. I just keep on thinking how about I start my clinicals and hate it. I know that I can just find something else that suits me if I hate it but I am just so nervous, this is something that totally brings me outside of my comfort zone.

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