Anyone else doubting their abilities to do this??

gonnabanurse · Feb 22, 2005

Don't know if I'm just having a bad day or what, but I'm really starting to doubt if I can do this. I've been thinking about going to nursing school seriously for the past couple of years. I've researched the field, spoken with nurses, asked questions ad nauseum:chuckle, prayed about it, you name it, I've done it. I'm due to start my prereqs for my ADN this summer. 95% of the time I feel confident about my decision and can't wait to start, but it's the other 5% of the time that has me so bothered. Is it normal to have these fears and doubts? Or is someone trying to tell me something??:uhoh21: Maybe I'm overanylizing this, I don't know. I'm not afraid I'll get into it and not enjoy it, I'm afraid I'll get halfway through and not be able to make the grades. I've been out of school so long (over 20 years) and I know this is part of my fear, but I'm really scared I won't be able to do it. Anyone else feel like this?

You'll do just fine. I sometimes have my share of doubts but I think of my daughter and how proud she will be and also the challenges as well as the rewards of nursing.

katesmom · Feb 22, 2005

Oh my gosh -- you just wrote exactly what Im feeling! Ive researched, prayed, asked ? too. Ive actually changed my mind at least 50 times.

Keep this in mind We will be nervous & lacking confidence until we are taught the skills necessary for the job.

The unknown is scary!

Im sorry I dont have a success story to share with you....Good luck!

cc367 · Feb 22, 2005

Hello wannabe, dont worry you are not alone, I have just started my pre reqs and l feel lost alone and unsure, but be assured you wont be alone you shall get into study groups that will help you out and boost that evil 5% out of your mind, its a lot of work but its going to be worth the trials and tribulations. I to have been out of school for some 20 odd years and feel like l am losing my battle BUT DONT GIVE UP!!.

the old addage is this. "try try again" strive to beat the odds and do YOUR BEST!!. I plan to succeed and so should everyone and anyone who reads this article..

Don't know if I'm just having a bad day or what, but I'm really starting to doubt if I can do this. I've been thinking about going to nursing school seriously for the past couple of years. I've researched the field, spoken with nurses, asked questions ad nauseum:chuckle, prayed about it, you name it, I've done it. I'm due to start my prereqs for my ADN this summer. 95% of the time I feel confident about my decision and can't wait to start, but it's the other 5% of the time that has me so bothered. Is it normal to have these fears and doubts? Or is someone trying to tell me something??:uhoh21: Maybe I'm overanylizing this, I don't know. I'm not afraid I'll get into it and not enjoy it, I'm afraid I'll get halfway through and not be able to make the grades. I've been out of school so long (over 20 years) and I know this is part of my fear, but I'm really scared I won't be able to do it. Anyone else feel like this?

Fun2, BSN, RN · Feb 22, 2005

YESSSSS!!!!! I almost gave up a FULL ADN Scholarship because I was scared I couldn't do it!!!

You are not alone in feeling this way.

Just to let you know, I graduated high school in '91. I started college the fall after, and now am retaking those classes.

I am doing so much better now than I did at 17-18.

If this is really want you want, GO FOR IT!!!! Good luck!

nananurse2 · Feb 22, 2005

Don't know if I'm just having a bad day or what, but I'm really starting to doubt if I can do this. I've been thinking about going to nursing school seriously for the past couple of years. I've researched the field, spoken with nurses, asked questions ad nauseum:chuckle, prayed about it, you name it, I've done it. I'm due to start my prereqs for my ADN this summer. 95% of the time I feel confident about my decision and can't wait to start, but it's the other 5% of the time that has me so bothered. Is it normal to have these fears and doubts? Or is someone trying to tell me something??:uhoh21: Maybe I'm overanylizing this, I don't know. I'm not afraid I'll get into it and not enjoy it, I'm afraid I'll get halfway through and not be able to make the grades. I've been out of school so long (over 20 years) and I know this is part of my fear, but I'm really scared I won't be able to do it. Anyone else feel like this?

Omigosh, I take my NET test this Thurs and I seriously suck at math. I've been out of school 30 yrs! I've been working as an MA for 3 yrs and KNOW I can do the job, but I'm so afraid I'll not be able to keep up.

Fun2, BSN, RN · Feb 22, 2005

Omigosh, I take my NET test this Thurs and I seriously suck at math. I've been out of school 30 yrs! I've been working as an MA for 3 yrs and KNOW I can do the job, but I'm so afraid I'll not be able to keep up.

I take the NET on the 12th. I know I can do the test, and make a decent grade. However, I'm still scare to death about it.....so much at stake! Good luck to you!!

BTW, I'm a MA also. I love the medical field, and I know I'd make a good nurse after I get used to everything, just getting through school with a passing grade is what I'm scare about at this moment. LOL

cn2007rn · Feb 24, 2005

Don't doubt your ability to get through nursing school and become a great nurse! I graduated from college in 2003 with a degree in Business, as soon as I graduated I realized that I love the medical field and did not want to sit in front of a computer chained to a desk for the next 40 years. So I will hopefully be starting the ADN program in the fall of 2005. I have doubts everyday-about taking the NET test, about working part-time while in school, about passing my clinicals, learning all the information we have to learn, figuring out if I have the personality to handle the hard work of a nurse!! You name it I have doubted it, but I know if I don't do this now, I will regret it, and life is too short to have a regret!! I know all of us will make great nurses, hang in there, and take one day at a time!!

Good luck!! :)

nananurse2 · Feb 24, 2005

I just took the NET test today. I thought it was kind of strange. There were 2 parts that were right/wrong; the others were agree/disagree and no wrong answers. Math is where I struggle, so will be interesting to see how I did.

I noticed that the other students had "Net Study Guides" given to them by the school. I wasn't told about it when I registered for the test. Hmmm. I've been on the internet for 2 weeks: "Math.com"! And I have an LPN that graduated 1 1/2 yrs ago and she gave me her books to review.

Now I have the Compass is 10 days. If I can just get past these entrance test, I know I can do the school work. Whew. Thanks for all the encouragement.

And best wishes to all those still waiting to take tests or get results!

monjord · Feb 25, 2005

yes! i know exactly what you mean!! i get overwhelmed just thinking about the challenges ahead. i am yet also excited. that is very corny i know. i am taking prereqs and in my 1st one, a&p 1 i made a "c". that made me even doubt myself even further. i just don't know. i too have prayed about it and i guess i am just going to go for. can i even get into a school w/a "c"? they always say c or better, but i don't know if that is what they really mean! is "c" considered a dummy in nursing school?

pancake · Feb 26, 2005

. . .I'm afraid I'll get halfway through and not be able to make the grades. I've been out of school so long (over 20 years) and I know this is part of my fear, but I'm really scared I won't be able to do it. Anyone else feel like this?

My husband and I separated two years ago, so I went back to school at age 42 to take the prereqs for nursing. I was sooooooo scared :chair: I started with Microbiology and on the first day of lab I had a panic attack. I thought, oh my god, I'm old, separated and starting over . . . alone. My confidence and self esteem were so low after my marriage.

But you know, I really didn't know what else to do but push ahead, so I stuck with it. I made friends with some of the other older women in class and they became a great support system for me. We studied together and built up each other's confidence. And, we all got A's!

Two years later, I'm taking my last prereq, Statistics, and I've applied to three nursing schools. I can't believe it, because I had no confidence, but I've gotten all A's. I think my lack of confidence drove me to work harder because I was so afraid of failure.

Another thing that helped me was to not overwhelm myself in the beginning by taking too many classes. Start easy. And make friends as soon as possible in each class. Get together and study. You can learn so much more with study partners and it keeps the fears at bay.

If you are committed and really want to do this, you can. Good luck to you!

Good Luck! I'm sure you'll do well.

smile123 · Feb 27, 2005

yes! i know exactly what you mean!! i get overwhelmed just thinking about the challenges ahead. i am yet also excited. that is very corny i know. i am taking prereqs and in my 1st one, a&p 1 i made a "c". that made me even doubt myself even further. i just don't know. i too have prayed about it and i guess i am just going to go for. can i even get into a school w/a "c"? they always say c or better, but i don't know if that is what they really mean! is "c" considered a dummy in nursing school?

Monjord, don't despair! OK, so you got a "C" in A&P 1. That doesn't mean you cannot get a "A" in A&P 2! Schools want to see steady, solid progress. If all the rest of your grades are A' and B's, they can see the one C as a fluke. Most schools want a 3.0 GPA (so if you have 1 C, you better have an A to average out to a 3.0.)

But if all your grades are B- or C's, then you have to ask yourself: are you really applying yourself? Could you be taking on too large a load in your life right now? (I am taking pre-reqs with other pre-nursing, vet techs, dental hygiene, and radiology tech wannabes. Some of them are married, have kids, some are single parents, most of us work during the day and go to school at night. So we all have demands on our time.)

Are you spending the time you need to understand the concepts? Can you get some help like a tutor or go to the resource center at your school? Instead of stressing out about the one grade (is it a grade on a single test or the final grade in the class?), learn from the experience and look for ways understand the subject. For example, if I don't understand something, I ask questions in class, email the prof, or go talk to her during office hours. Or I form study groups with other classmates and go over questions in the book, old quizzes and problem sets until the concepts gel in my head.

You cannot spend time doubting yourself and saying "woe is me". You have the backbone in you to succeed. You can do it. Believe and apply yourself! :)

Smile123