Doubts about being a nurse

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I've had anxiety problems for years and am now looking to get help for it, but once I do I'm still worried I'll have all these issues that make me doubt how I will be as a nurse. I want to help people and I love learning about science and health. Getting to learn about different parts of the body, diseases etc sparks an interest that's so different from how I usually feel about anything. I get excited thinking about the health field after college but then there's things that pull me out of this and make me nervous. Like I'm always the last person out of my science labs usually. I'm too slow and end up rushing as the class is ending, messing up with data values. Last week in one of my labs was like this and completely terrible. After I left class I looked over all the lab stuff and I could put things together and see where I messed up; but that doesn't help when class is over :blink:. When I read the procedure before class it helps a little but I still make some mistakes. I'm better with lecture than lab but how is that gonna help as a nurse?

I'm pretty confident that this relates to having social anxiety and becoming scatterbrained around people, but what if I get treated for it and nothing changes anyway? I'd be dealing with people's lives as a nurse and there's no room for error. Should I still major in nursing? I've sent all my apps and spent so much money on this application process so that's why I'm having a hard time, but going through 2-3 more years of school for a job not fit for me is of course a much bigger issue. I was thinking to just change majors once I'm at another college to bio or something and finish prereqs for OT or PT school, but I don't have the same interest for it like with nursing. I want to be a nurse but don't know if I can actually do it :unsure:

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Specializes in ED, psych.

First off, take a deep breath.

Second, hugs.

Reading your post, I think you'll do fine as a nurse. Yes, you have anxiety. But you took a giant first step: you're going to get help for it. Many nurses/nursing students have anxiety/anxiety disorders and are successfully treated for it. You will too; make it a point to put your health front and center. Therapy, medication, exercise, complementary approaches ... there is much you can do to get your anxiety under control.

You have enthusiasm for the field which shines through your post. You can do this!

Edited to add:

Regarding labs: keep the pace you feel comfortable with and don't worry about what other students are doing (especially in the mad rush to depart). Look over the labs before you arrive up class. Hook up with a lab partner if possible. If you have any questions/concerns, see your lab instructor.

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I've been anxious since forever and it freaks me out to think this might just be who I am. I've been told that I don't have the personality for nursing or the skills. My ENGLISH professor seriously said to me that I take too long to write essays and that I don't work fast enough for nursing?? Lol it was kind of ridiculous. But thinking about other people's comments and my own behaviors, sometimes nursing doesn't seem right. I don't know how to classify this as just crap self esteem relating to anxiety or me being realistic.

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Specializes in General Surgery Assist.

Your english teacher has no idea what the he[[ hes taking about.

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Specializes in Prior military RN/current ICU RN..

Well if you get rushed and "make a bunch of errors" you may have a problem in nursing. In nursing you are often rushed and can't "make a bunch of errors" because of it. So you may need to work on your time management and ability to prioritize. Even though people may say "everything will be alright" that is not necessarily true.

You can major in nursing, but understand you need to work on certain areas. And make sure you will be enjoy your career!

Good luck!

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Start taking medication for anxiety. its a whole new world!! Seriously, don't discount nursing as a career until you have adressed your mental health.

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Specializes in ED, psych.
I've been anxious since forever and it freaks me out to think this might just be who I am. I've been told that I don't have the personality for nursing or the skills. My ENGLISH professor seriously said to me that I take too long to write essays and that I don't work fast enough for nursing?? Lol it was kind of ridiculous. But thinking about other people's comments and my own behaviors, sometimes nursing doesn't seem right. I don't know how to classify this as just crap self esteem relating to anxiety or me being realistic.

First off, ignore the English teacher in regards to "working fast enough for nursing." Heed her advice in regards to English assignments, but after that? There is no common causality between the typical English essay and SOAP notes. In fact, in my personal experience I've had to re-learn how I write in general as a nursing student because I started off as "too wordy" in my notes (I'm a former teacher, we tend to be very descriptive).

Seek help. Your first patient? You.

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I saw this thread and was astounded by the post so I had to make an account just to respond to it. Oh my goodness. I am pretty sure I wrote this thread because you described me completely. I also have social anxiety and am also nervous about dedicating the time to a career I doubt myself on being good at. Reading it from someone else's perspective shows me just how down on yourself(and I am on myself) you are. That's the anxiety talking! Don't let something that has held you back in the past, hold you back from something that could be the best thing for you. Anxiety holds us back from things that could be dangerous but you know with an anxiety disorder those "dangers" are false senses of danger and not actually harmful. The only way to diminish those anxieties is to not reinforce those worries. I would say volunteer, shadow nurses, get as much experience as you can so you become more comfortable and knowledgeable about what you're in for. Nothing is certain, even the students who know all the answers quickly in lab aren't guaranteed at being a successful nurse. You'll never know till you try and the only way to get better at something is to practice and build up your confidence. I'm not sure if this site as Personal messaging or not, but feel free to PM me if it does. I swear I'm literally in the same boat at the same time as you are right now. Let's kick anxiety's ASS!

Also if you aren't seeing a therapist or on anxiety meds, I agree those would also be helpful and the first place to start. I use both. Also yoga is really good for calming you down and helping anxiety, its my lifesaver.

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Your english teacher has no idea what the he[[ hes taking about.

haha yeah. He wasn't so great :***: But working too slowly as a nurse concerns me a lot

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Well if you get rushed and "make a bunch of errors" you may have a problem in nursing. In nursing you are often rushed and can't "make a bunch of errors" because of it. So you may need to work on your time management and ability to prioritize. Even though people may say "everything will be alright" that is not necessarily true.

You can major in nursing, but understand you need to work on certain areas. And make sure you will be enjoy your career!

Good luck!

I definitely agree with you and I'm trying to take steps to work on myself. It's intimidating though because I'm possibly starting nursing school this fall. I don't want to get there and realize then that this isn't right for me. I made a doctor's appointment and will be getting help for my anxiety very soon, maybe medication will work out for me. Thanks so much for replying.

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First off, ignore the English teacher in regards to "working fast enough for nursing." Heed her advice in regards to English assignments, but after that? There is no common causality between the typical English essay and SOAP notes. In fact, in my personal experience I've had to re-learn how I write in general as a nursing student because I started off as "too wordy" in my notes (I'm a former teacher, we tend to be very descriptive).

Seek help. Your first patient? You.

The way I write essays (I'm a sort of wordy person too lol) and what he said about it I thought was weird, but just the comments about not working fast in general still stick out to me. My issues in lab and making mistakes, getting confused really need to be addressed so I will be going to a doctor soon. Thank you for your kind words because I needed to let this out

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I saw this thread and was astounded by the post so I had to make an account just to respond to it. Oh my goodness. I am pretty sure I wrote this thread because you described me completely. I also have social anxiety and am also nervous about dedicating the time to a career I doubt myself on being good at. Reading it from someone else's perspective shows me just how down on yourself(and I am on myself) you are. That's the anxiety talking! Don't let something that has held you back in the past, hold you back from something that could be the best thing for you. Anxiety holds us back from things that could be dangerous but you know with an anxiety disorder those "dangers" are false senses of danger and not actually harmful. The only way to diminish those anxieties is to not reinforce those worries. I would say volunteer, shadow nurses, get as much experience as you can so you become more comfortable and knowledgeable about what you're in for. Nothing is certain, even the students who know all the answers quickly in lab aren't guaranteed at being a successful nurse. You'll never know till you try and the only way to get better at something is to practice and build up your confidence. I'm not sure if this site as Personal messaging or not, but feel free to PM me if it does. I swear I'm literally in the same boat at the same time as you are right now. Let's kick anxiety's ASS!

Also if you aren't seeing a therapist or on anxiety meds, I agree those would also be helpful and the first place to start. I use both. Also yoga is really good for calming you down and helping anxiety, its my lifesaver.

We are too tough on ourselves! I hate feeling scared and not confident with myself. It's scary to think I can't actually be in a career I feel passionate about but it might just be anxiety talking, which can be treated. Are you in nursing school right now or doing prereqs? How have you been handling the more practical stuff like labs or clinicals?

I tried to PM you but can't, I need more posts on the site :***:

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