Did anyone feel the same?

[futurenurse1710]

Nursing is something I really want to do, but I am beginning to question myself with the what if? question. I think what scares me the most and is making me consider another career choice, is the the thought of hurting someone because I made a med error or hurting them while having to do a certain procedure (ex. inserting catheter,iv). It scares me beyond belief, and this fear even trumps the more dirty aspects of the job which, you would think would scare me more. I was wondering if anyone out there felt the same when they were considering a career in nursing?

[Jules A, MSN]

Hi,

When I was young all the "what-ifs" of nursing would have completely overwhelmed me. Now that I'm older I don't worry quite so much about controling every single aspect of the world. :) I do my best which I believe in my heart is pretty darn good, I never was just average, lol, and I really try to be careful and safe.

As for hurting someone that is something that I justify by doing whatever procedure that needs to be done as quickly and efficiently as possible and in these cases the end has to justify the means. If nursing is something you think you would like I would at least suggest you give it a try. We can always use more caring nurses.

[rn-jane]

When I was getting ready to start nursing school I did not think I would be able to do the things I do now. I was sick at the sight of blood and felt like passing out when I had to stick the dummy or orange when we were practicing how to do the types of shots. I certainly was scared to death if someone would need my assistance doing cpr. Today I am a charge nurse in the intensive care and believe me have done my share of codes and I also work on the iv team. So... You never know what you can do til you try. We all have reservations about alot of things, if a fellow student tells you they don't then they are not truthful with themselves or they are foolish.

[AirforceRN, RN]

What if you never tried?

What if you were destined to become a great nurse?

What if it was supposed to be you that stopped Mrs. Smith from spiralling down a well of despair and depression?

There is only one way to find out. If its what you want to do, the what ifs won't overpower the drive to succeed.

[futurenurse1710]

Your right!!! I will never know until I try and darnit I am going to try!!!! :]

:)

[rhondaa83]

I was terrified of the same things that you were, and I just did it. I felt sick coming to work, so many things that I did not know, but you eventually learn how to do everything. Nurses that have been nursing for a few years, say that they are still learning new things everyday.

[Erin 321]

I think that fear is what will help to make you such a great nurse, if you do decide to continue in nursing. Fear and an understanding of the potentially serious consequences of our actions is what reminds us to act cautiously, to double check things and pay attention to what we're doing. That fear will go a long way towards protecting you from making a med error.

And I wouldn't worry too much about hurting people through procedures. Although it happens, most often you're helping and they see it that way and thank you for it. The majority of my patients don't even notice something like an IM injection of analgesic because they're in so much pain from their initial complaint. Understanding the rationale for the procedure, what you're trying to accomplish and how it will help your patient will go a long way towards making both you and them feel better about any procedures. And if they really don't want something? Maybe it's not necessary after all. Many a man has managed to pee after being threatened with a catheter. The ones that truly can't will appreciate the help.

[Tash4nvyblues, RN]

I think that fear is what will help to make you such a great nurse, if you do decide to continue in nursing.

I agree, I fear the students who are not worried about what they are doing and are overly confident. Don't quit we need nurses like you.

[nurseinlimbo]

Normal fears all of them, I think if you don't question these things then you aren't thinking about it enough.

I was very anxiety ridden when I first finished school, and I had some bad experiences along the way with other nurses who weren't very supportive. But after a while you learn to fly and gain confidence in what you know. You never stop learning either, as there will always be something that you haven't done before, seen before, experienced before. When you gain that confidence, you will have days that feel like they fly by, almost like that "zone" you hear atheletes talk about.