Doubts about being a nurse

healwithlove · Mar 4, 2016

Wow, this is positivity at its finest!!! :)

trytwo · Mar 5, 2016

I'm currently in clinicals & I feel like I'm very slow--in my assessments, when I do baths & other ADLs, & especially when I give meds. But I also think it's ok to be slow now, I'm still learning & for the most part, it's all so new to me. I've heard that as we get more familiar with everything, we get faster but it's normal (& good) to be slow & really think about what we're doing right now.

Also, I agree with what everyone else has said about getting some meds & any other treatment you need. Honestly, you'd be surprised (or not) at how many of my fellow students are taking some kind of antidepressant/anti-anxiety med. Nursing school is stressful & can in some ways bring out the worst in us. But, I really do think that if you can get your mental health taken care of, you can do this. And you may be able to comfort & care for patients in a way some nurses can't--not that you need to share your experiences with anxiety but you may understand what they're going through a little better.

jayrow · Mar 5, 2016

Never let someone rush you in lab. I've been there--I like to work at my own pace. You learn more and better and it's safer (hello? number one lab concern). If the instructor wants to get out early, remember, you are entitled to (and paying for!) that time.

If you're stressed about being rushed while working as a nurse, I highly recommend doing emt or cna/hha. It will help you to see that while you may be slow to start, you will improve with time. It will also give you a slight "head start" in the field so you won't feel behind when you finally start nursing school. Many anxious people are anxious because they are perfectionists about their work

On the other hand, if you are anxious AND you're not good at managing your patients, your lab work, etc. then it might be time to reevaluate what's going on. Not quit, but maybe look at time management skills, using lists, and timers. Good luck to you.

jchristine89 · Mar 5, 2016

I can completely relate to this post. I'm glad you spoke up because I, too, have a lot of anxiety over self-doubt and worrying about whether I will make a good nurse. There were many times in nursing school where I felt so... I guess "incompetent" would work here, because that's what I felt. I didn't feel like I was smart enough. However, I think that having some anxiety will actually be a good thing as a nurse because we are less likely to make big mistakes, you know? Also, what I lack in self-confidence I make up for with being highly empathetic and seeking out the best in others. I think these things are great strengths in nursing!

Just know that you are not alone. At all. I'm sure you will make a great nurse. :)

angel92680 · Mar 5, 2016

OK, I just started nursing school. So while I may not be the most experienced for offering advice, I can certainly explain what I've felt till this point. I also have ADHD, so I know how that goes.

I wish I wasn't called to be a nurse. It chose me, lol. (it would certainly be a whole lot easier to have a dream of working as a cashier or something) It sounds like it chose you too. Don't give up on this if this is what you know you want to do (from your post, it sounds like you know what you want). I had difficulty in A&P I lab. I did great in lecture, but lab was tough. I felt so lost. Things moved so quickly, and I always felt like everyone around me moved faster. My natural inclination was to sit there and curse myself for thinking I could even stand a chance of being smart enough or strong enough to consider myself a nurse. But I refused to stop. I just fought, fighting is the best word I know to describe the mental battle I felt inside. I absolutely did NOT allow me to talk myself down in the middle of lab or lecture (or any time). I didn't treat myself in a way I wouldn't treat anyone else. If I found my mind drifting towards negativity, I made a specific effort to hit the brakes and start reliving the accomplishments that got me to that point. I have no doubt you have times where you made yourself proud. Dwell on those! They will keep you afloat and I assure you, there are many more to come. Stop giving the doubts room to grow. You deserve better than that! If you get some sort of academic kick in the gut, allow yourself to hurt for but a moment, then get back up and keep fighting. Utilize every resource you have available, whether it be supplementary instruction, a kind instructor, tutoring, youtube or even pinterest. Introduce yourself to people, especially those with common goals. Become a familiar face on your campus and to your instructors. The more at home you are with your classmates, instructors and campus, the easier it is to find ways to succeed. I know it's hard with social anxiety, just remember, they aren't judging you. They're just as scared as you are! You are all fighting some kind of fight, whether you realize it or not. The more people you have in your corner, the more help you have in your journey. The biggest piece of advice I can give you is to never ever tell yourself you aren't capable of this or that you're not good enough. You will start to believe it whether you want to or not. You are capable. And you sound exactly like every one of my classmates. We are all filled with self-doubt...is this going to be my last semester? Am I going to finish this semester? (And we're all doing great) But even if my head is asking that, I keep reading. I keep taking notes. I keep on going to class, showing up on time, as ready to learn as possible, regardless of the fear trying to stop me. Get a planner, keep yourself organized. If you aren't already, get some exercise in at least a few days a week. Eat healthy and drink lots of water, and for the love of all that is good in the world, make it a priority to get adequate sleep. I cannot reiterate these things enough. They can make the difference in survival. It seems cliche I know, but the stress level of nursing school has forced me into healthier habits because I felt myself falling apart when I didn't practice them. Just keep fighting! Every nursing student has a seed of fear in them, but they also have that amazing budding nurse, who will one day make a huge difference in the world around them. Don't feed the fear, feed the baby nurse! Sending hugs and positive thoughts your way! You CAN do this!

friend411 · Mar 6, 2016

I hear u bighead7. Let me me help u by telling u my story. I have the anxiety problem that u have. I also have other problems such as English accent. My English accent is bad and I also have difficulty to explain thing even in my own language. My cousin used to joke about it that if he couldn't even understand me in my own language and how in the world that I would be able to speak english. Later on he learned that he was wrong. I also have my other private problem too.

I am here just to help my wife. She is going for the may 2016 nursing program. I always try to find her some resources to help and that led me here. I always believe that when she become RN, life will be better financially.

Let me move on with my story. With all of this problems it was going to be a hell to achieve my goal. My dream was that I must become a professional so I can buy my house, support my family, and live better life. That was the fire in my vein to be independent and live great life. So at college I find exactly what subject I was better of, then I realized math was for me. With math I became in love with electronic. Now I am a professional electronic specialist. But to become that It was almost impossible. But I work hard to make it possible.

To sturdy electronic it was almost like a mountain. But I ended up move the mountain. Let me explain how I did that. I realized that i was very different than the rest of the student in the class, so I came up with a system to sturdy 3 or even more times than them so I can reach them. I also become friendly and honest with my professor. For example I told the instructor that I need helped. I explained my situation and tried to get as much help that i coud get. Some were nasty but most were very helpful. With this approach i became smarter and wiser than most of the students. By wiser i mean that I sturdy electronic to find job. Them they sturdy to get to the next level in their sturdy. Then I was recommended by MDC electronic chairman to work for federal aviation as a specialist technician. I was one of the four students who was selected. In the Federal program, we the only three who made its permanently. I had to sturdy at the federal school for almost 5 years to beome a professional specialist technician. It was more hell but I never failed anything. I have been with them for almost 10 years with a decent salary.

After that, all the other things were a lot easy. I got marry with my wonderful wife. God blesses us with two beautifully babies. Now I am supporting my wife to become RN.

If I can do it, you can do. Although I had a lot of reasons to just give up, but I did not. After all, the effort worths it.

Don't give up. U will be regret if u do. If u know the blessing after all, u will know exactly what the anxiety is tellng you. I am the winner after all. Don't take it negative what the anxiety says. It simply mean to work a lot harder. I always finished late. Most of the time the instructor had to grab my exam because I run out of time. I cried too after all of the abuse. I missed a lot of sleep. But I always move on. Now I am the winner helping my wife. Now a lot of people respect me and honor me after what i did. I overcame my circumstances. She is fighter just like me. I believe she will do great.

StudentAxel · Mar 6, 2016

You can become an anatomy teacher!

want2behappy · Mar 7, 2016

I feel the same way!

ScrappytheCoco · Mar 7, 2016

Vistaril and Propanolol changed my life. Talk to your GP. Good luck.