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Discussion

Apprehensive of the responsibility

So, I just graduated nursing school & am waiting to take the NCLEX. For my job I had to have a phone interview, a nursing assessment (nclex type questions), and a skills test in order to become an LPN, which I passed. My school has almost a 99% pass rate for their NCLEX, so chances are I am going to pass but I don't care about any of that. What scares me is all this responsibility for all these people in my hands. I keep thinking what if I do something wrong to the detriment of the person that I am caring for.

When I started nursing school I was like they will teach what I need to know to accurately assess someone but performing an assessment wrong, giving the wrong meds, or performing CPR on a person that has coded has me scared to death.Sometimes, I think to myself I can't believe the state is going to give me a license to do this. How did everyone get over their apprehension?

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    • Expert
    What scares me is all this responsibility for all these people in my hands.
    The level of responsibility is what we, as nurses, are paid for.

    Positions such as fast food workers and Walmart stock clerks are not paid much because the consequences of 'messing up' are not dire. If the fast food worker gets your order wrong, the only thing at risk is an angry customer who may never return. However, if the licensed nurse fails to rescue when appropriate, someone can die.

    How did everyone get over their apprehension?
    I never had the level of apprehension that you're mentioning. I know this might sound really bad, but the patients are not my personal friends, so as long as they are alive at the end of the shift, that's all that matters to me.

    In addition, the circle of life ends with death. In other words, dying is natural and to be expected. As soon as you realize that there are things far worse than death itself, I think you will start to relax and become less apprehensive. Good luck to you!

  • Quote
    The level of responsibility is what we, as nurses, are paid for.

    Positions such as fast food workers and Walmart stock clerks are not paid much because the consequences of 'messing up' are not dire. If the fast food worker gets your order wrong, the only thing at risk is an angry customer who may never return. However, if the licensed nurse fails to rescue when appropriate, someone can die.

    I never had the level of apprehension that you're mentioning. I know this might sound really bad, but the patients are not my personal friends, so as long as they are alive at the end of the shift, that's all that matters to me.

    In addition, the circle of life ends with death. In other words, dying is natural and to be expected. As soon as you realize that there are things far worse than death itself, I think you will start to relax and become less apprehensive. Good luck to you!

    THIS.

    I too had no apprehensions working as a nurse; if anything, my level or awareness of responsibility is very acute, and my focus was if they remained alive, great, if there was a code, or death being imminent, I will always do my best.

    I will say nurses are prone to errors, and you will make them; in order to minimize errors, making sure you are practicing the five rights consistently, and having a level of objectivity will help.

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    • Expert
    I keep thinking what if I do something wrong to the detriment of the person that I am caring for.
    I had one more afterthought to add...

    When we are worried or scared about some future event that has not even occurred, the unhealthy level of apprehension prevents us from living fully in the present. Enjoy life one moment at a time. Do not worry or scare yourself over future patients because I can tell you with assurance that they are not thinking of you. Live in the moment.

    Good luck to you!

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