Did Anyone FeeL Nervous before becoming an LPN......

HONEYBEAR · May 24, 2005

Is it understood that all LPNs start IV's now? I have never been trained to do that, and my facility does not train LPNs to do so...

In Ohio, all LPN schools turn you out being IV cert. :rolleyes:

luvbug · May 24, 2005

I'm starting my LPN program this fall too. I'm nervous about a lot of things.
Blood, needles, and such doesn't bother me at all but I just know if I see vomit or hear someone throwing up I'll be puking my guts out. (guess I better get over it and fast huh? lol)
I am really worried about going to school full time and having to work PT too. When am I going to have time to study, sleep or see my boyfriend. I know I'm going to have to put school first (and work, cause I have to eat and pay bills)
but I know that I am going to really be in for a rough year.
Then I worry about failing, I can't get below an 80 in ANYTHING. 79 and below is an F. What if I'm not smart enough, what if my study habits are bad, I've been out of school for 13 years. I have no idea where to start when it comes to studing or writing papers. I'm afraid I just wont be able to handle all the stress.
Yep, I'm nervous alright!! When it comes down to it, I know I'll do everything that i can to pass school and become a good nurse because I really want this, but man am I scared!!:chair:
WOW, guess I needed to get all that out in the open, I feel better now. Thanks for listening:)

It is nice to vent, that is something I really like about this site. :balloons:

As far as school, working, studying, and a social life, it will all fall into place. I know, it is very overwhelming when you think of it all at once, that is where the phrase "one day at a time" comes into play. You might not get as much sleep as you want, but it will work out--especially since you want to be a nurse SO bad. :)

Some days will be harder than others, but it is very rewarding in the end. Take care, and best of luck to you!! :) :)

tanaynicole · May 24, 2005

I just graduated from a LVN program in Dec. And when i started 18mths before I was scared as hell! For me it was not about the blood, urine, or feces. I was the fact that my instructors expected ME to care for patients!! It was shocking to me that after just a month or so of labs we where "let loose" so to speak on patients.

Thru out your clinicals you will find lots of things the will make you afraid. My first clinical experience, I stood outside my patients room... working up the nerve to go in and take my vitals. Everything is going to be a first for you, and if you have good instructors, and supportful classmates everything should be just fine.

Just remember if you don't know something, say so., If you have a question ask, and If you do something wrong fess up to it.

I think it's normal for you to be nervous, I would be more worried if you weren't

Nursing school (LVN/RN) is one of the most stressfull things you can do, but if it really is your calling it will be one of the best times of you life. OH BOY!! you will have stories to tell when it all over!

Best of luck to you

TanayNicole

Princess74 · May 25, 2005

Thanks for the encouragement you guys:)

sweetmom · May 25, 2005

-=) Hey thanks to replying to my question and also letting me know how ya feel, cause i totally feel ya....although i dont have to work at all i have a 2 and 4 year old sooo I am really stressing about the times for studying :uhoh3: So when do you start? I start September fulltime I am sooo nervous I dont want to fail either I know people in it without kids and didn't make it 1st time around Good Luck to you

:plonker2: study study study hahaha

sweetmom · May 25, 2005

Thanks for the advice, Im sure I will get over it Its just that that part scares me ya know.......but ever since I had my kids I dnt know like the atmosphere I always thought about it So I thought I would give it a Shot....I start September :eek: haha I am sooo nervous

and congrats to you you should be very proud of yourself really... :yelclap:

luvbug · May 25, 2005

I just graduated from a LVN program in Dec. And when i started 18mths before I was scared as hell! For me it was not about the blood, urine, or feces. I was the fact that my instructors expected ME to care for patients!! It was shocking to me that after just a month or so of labs we where "let loose" so to speak on patients.
Thru out your clinicals you will find lots of things the will make you afraid. My first clinical experience, I stood outside my patients room... working up the nerve to go in and take my vitals. Everything is going to be a first for you, and if you have good instructors, and supportful classmates everything should be just fine.
Just remember if you don't know something, say so., If you have a question ask, and If you do something wrong fess up to it.
I think it's normal for you to be nervous, I would be more worried if you weren't
Nursing school (LVN/RN) is one of the most stressfull things you can do, but if it really is your calling it will be one of the best times of you life. OH BOY!! you will have stories to tell when it all over!
Best of luck to you
TanayNicole

I had to smile when I read this one, because I did the same thing. When we were first getting into clinicals on the Med/Surg floor, we had to go in the night before and pick our patients based on their diagnosis. (if we hadn't had a diabetic, or a CHF pt, or a post-hip replacement, etc. we were to try to get those under our belts). Anyway, we had to go tell each pt. that we picked that we were student nurses and ask them if it would be okay for us to be their nurse the next day. And yes, some people actually said no.Talk about intimidating!! :uhoh21: Then, of course, you wanted to look like you were a pro at everything!! I guess that is how you get over your fears, though. :rolleyes:

NancyJo · May 28, 2005

I was scared to death. I didn't even want to be a nurse, wanted to be a teacher, but my mom and dad talked me in to it my sr. year in high school. I was a gutless wonder then. Never thought I would make it through, but they knew me better than I knew myself. It's been 19 years now and I can't imagine doing anything else. The nervousness goes away. I had one of the weakest stomachs ever as a kid, but that to went away pretty quick. Can handle about anything now. Hang in there.:)

mstewart · May 28, 2005

Wow, i know exactly how you feel. I was scared of puking at the first sniff of smelly poo. Now, it is no big deal. I just try to get my nose as close to my armpit as possible.

I am entering my last semester of an LPN program this fall. You will be terrified of everything, failing the classes, failing the labs, doing something wrong at clinicals. You and everyone else in your classes/group will all talk about how scared you are. Once you get done with the first day, the initial fear is a lot less intense and you just get into a "groove", sort of. The fear is still there, it just becomes part of your life and you get used to it, sometimes you don't even notice it. But, i know nurses who still have that kind of fear...if they do one thing wrong and something happens...you can loose your license. When you think of it that way...i think clinicals are much less stressful.

Don't worry, it won't be long and you will be looking back and smiling reminiscing about school. :)

Michelle. · May 28, 2005

I had to smile when I read this one, because I did the same thing. When we were first getting into clinicals on the Med/Surg floor, we had to go in the night before and pick our patients based on their diagnosis. (if we hadn't had a diabetic, or a CHF pt, or a post-hip replacement, etc. we were to try to get those under our belts). Anyway, we had to go tell each pt. that we picked that we were student nurses and ask them if it would be okay for us to be their nurse the next day. And yes, some people actually said no.Talk about intimidating!! :uhoh21: Then, of course, you wanted to look like you were a pro at everything!! I guess that is how you get over your fears, though.

I had to laugh at that one....

I was getting prepped to go and have a c-section. 2 ladies come in to start my IV. I am so nervous, because when i was induced to have my son in 2000- i was stuck 5 times before they got an IV in. Well the one lady was instructing the other lady on starting my IV-- poking around to find a good vein, etc. You could really tell that the lady was nervous as well. It was probably her first time doing an IV. I have really small veins and they like to roll and burst. I stopped the first lady and i told her-- Can you please not have her do my IV? The look on the their faces were priceless. I understand everyone has to start somewhere, just as long as they don't start on me. Needless to say- the lady that was instructing went ahead and did my IV and got it on the first try.

leopold · May 29, 2005

What I've been silently freaking out about through school is giving an injection and hitting the sciatic nerve. I've been looking at all the procedures and pictures and it looks like it's really easy to make that mistake. Is it? :uhoh21:

**Elektra6, ASN, BSN, RN** · Jun 5, 2005

I as some of you may know I am starting the LPN program in September. Sometimes I feel really nervous about being able to handle the things that gross you out in nursing. I really want to become a nurse because I am very good with people and I feel as if I would be able to have a very up-beat attitude, but did anyone else feel this way. As far as when it came to drawing blood or dealing with people with different diseases. Is it normal to be nervous and do you usually over come it?
Thank you very much for any replies I recieve :)

I'm an older LPN student (mid-30s) career change and I've never been in healthcare as a direct provider. I was really scared I would be grossed out but surprisingly I wasn't! I was really nervous though when we started clinicals and I threw up in a trashcan on my first day from nerves! Everything went really well and after a few days with patients I wasn't nervous at all.

You say you are good with people and the best students are the ones who care a lot. Just remember you can't do too much for a patient and your caring will help you overcome any nerves. The patients and your instructors will notice this and before you know it you'll be a pro.

Good luck and don't waste one more minute worrying! :nurse: