Anxious About Clinicals

[guest1122560]

Hi everyone, I am starting my first semester of nursing school this fall. All my prerequisite courses are done! I'm very excited to start nursing school, but I'm nervous about the clinical experience. I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder. I am currently on SSRIs and have resumed therapy in preparation for the stress that comes with nursing school. My biggest fear is having a break down during clinicals. I'm afraid I'll buckle under the pressure and I'll cry if a nurse makes me feel dumb.

My question is how do I grow thicker skin? How do I keep my composure and succeed in nursing school?

[zbb13]

I’m not going to repeat all the good advice. If you begin feeling stressed, concentrate on taking some deep breaths. Center yourself. Repeat to yourself that it’s not personal. Don’t be nervous about making mistakes...we all did! Make yourself available for learning opportunities. Push yourself to try new things. Learn to laugh at yourself (a little, and not out loud lol). Remember you’re a newbie. All this takes practice. You’re not going to become an experienced nurse in clinicals, you’re just going to get a taste of it.

[Snatchedwig, BSN, CNA, LPN, RN]

I'm going to give you thr advice I tell everyone. Get over it. Anxious or not no one else is going to accomplish your goal but you. I hated clinicals with a passion I even told my teacher I wish I could switch sites because I don't like her. That's the level of annoyance I was on. I was the only one in all my classes that never had to do a make-up day because I didn't miss one day.