Anxious/depressed

Nursing Students General Students

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Hi all,

I am in need of some advise. I am a first semester nursing student. Things were going good until I started clinicals last week. The day went well. I did what I had to do and my patient was really good to me. But NOW I find myself getting really anxious about clinicals to the point where I feel I am getting depressed. I get this gut feeling in my stomach and get super nervous!! Is this normal? Will it go away after a few clinical days?

Sigh............

Any advice is much appreciated! :crying2:

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Specializes in Allergy and Immunology.

I just finished LPN school in May. I totally remember that feeling, It wont totally go away, at least it didnt for me. I am a spaz naturally anyway because I like everything to go the way I imagined it and if it doesnt I really freak out. I would just say try to practice your skills and prepare as much as you can for your clinical day and have a vision of how you want things to go. My anxiety mostly came from performance such as testing out on skills in front of the instructor, there were times I was so nervous I almost fainted. I made it through and my instructors would tell me that Im doung so great and Ill be a great nurse and such and I really had a hard time believing them. So its about confidence and with that comes great preparation. I just got my first job and I still struggle with the confidence thing, but Im working on it. Just hang in there do what you gotta do to get through clinicals and graduate, then its less pressure when your in the real world and your instructor is not leaning over your shoulder, mabe just your preceptor.

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i totally agree with ella26. i m a 2nd semester student and i also get nervous, anxious every morning i have my clinical.

i like to listen to loud music while driving. that kinda wakes me up :lol2: and i am dancing all day long (less strssful). i dont like coffee because it speeds up my HR ..lol.. but yes on a serious note, i am early at my clinicals (like 1hr early if i know i am getting difficult patients). i like to prepare beforehand :pumpiron: . i dont think you are passing out meds yet. (that will bug you later :sstrs: ). but just stay organized. i know you are not scared of your patients. just think of it like a way of helping patients. :loveya: i am sure you are going to be fine and make an excellent nurse in the future because we all go through similar phases. :bdyhdclp:

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I just finished LPN school in May. I totally remember that feeling, It wont totally go away, at least it didnt for me. I am a spaz naturally anyway because I like everything to go the way I imagined it and if it doesnt I really freak out. I would just say try to practice your skills and prepare as much as you can for your clinical day and have a vision of how you want things to go. My anxiety mostly came from performance such as testing out on skills in front of the instructor, there were times I was so nervous I almost fainted. I made it through and my instructors would tell me that Im doung so great and Ill be a great nurse and such and I really had a hard time believing them. So its about confidence and with that comes great preparation. I just got my first job and I still struggle with the confidence thing, but Im working on it. Just hang in there do what you gotta do to get through clinicals and graduate, then its less pressure when your in the real world and your instructor is not leaning over your shoulder, mabe just your preceptor.

Almost makes me feel good knowing that there are others out there who feel the same way...=]..My anxiety/nervousness has gotten weaker since clinicals have gone on, but there are still times when I feel as though I am going to run out of a patients room freaking out:no:

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You are not alone poster. I have my days too. I'm sure everyone does, some just hide it better than others...:yawn:

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Specializes in hospice.

I agree with the previous posts; that feeling never fully goes away. I have four clinicals total left (WOOHOO!!!!) in nursing school. I feel more confident, and there are days where I feel like I've really had a great experience, when I've earned my (soon-to-be) nurse stripes. But then I can come back in the next time, and it feels like it all falls apart. You just have to get back up, dust yourself off, and keep on keepin' on. Trust me, I know what you're feeling, and I know that feeling of dread when you wake up at the you-know-what crack of dawn to go to clinicals. It's not fun. But believe me, you will have those wonderful days (really, I swear!) when you end the day certain of the path you've chose for yourself. That's what keeps me going!

Keep in mind, not everyone is perfect. You are there to learn, and as long as you stay open to everything (and that includes all of the the yucky stuff), you will make it through. :loveya:

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