Dropping because you're scared

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There's a girl in my class who came in undecided, applied for nursing during the first semester and was accepted so she was taking A&P I this semester so she would be able to start the nursing curriculum in the fall after completing A&P II this summer. Well, A&P I just ended, and she has officially withdrawn from the nursing program. She said

I dropped the nursing program yesterday and changed my major to psych. I just don't want to do bedside care... the thought of wiping butts made my cringe. So i dropped. :/ The thought of it just scared me. and they told me that if i drop they won't take me back so nursing is no longer an option

I was really surprised with this since just a couple weeks ago we were talking about how excited we were to be going to the college of nursing in the fall!

Anyone else know someone who's dropped because of fear?

I almost dropped. I withdrew from A&P I last semester because I wasn't going to get a C and I thought it was pointless to stay in a class that caused way more stress than one class should, where I wasn't taught anything, and that would ruin my GPA only to have to retake it...and there was awhile that I was seriously considering changing my major to sociology with a concentration in elementary/special education since education has been forever my fallback plan. I just didn't think I could hack nursing since I couldn't hack A&P. I also just didn't have the desire to try A&P again. But I regained my senses and I retook A&P I this semester and couldn't be happier. I would definitely be kicking myself right now had I just given up. Nursing is what I want to do even though there have already been some roadblocks in my way.

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I wouldnt drop out, but I am afraid of failing out. That is my only big fear so far.

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I suspect there's more going on with her than the fear of "wiping butts". Surely she knows that nursing is more than that and bedside nursing is not her only option as a nurse. I guess it's too late now since it appears she's already dropped out and I hope she doesn't regret her decision later.

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I suspect there's more going on with her than the fear of "wiping butts". Surely she knows that nursing is more than that and bedside nursing is not her only option as a nurse. I guess it's too late now since it appears she's already dropped out and I hope she doesn't regret her decision later.

I'm sure that there's something more...probably just overall fear. I know she wasn't doing too well in A&P (she had a C as did most of the rest of the class). I hope she doesn't regret it either. But if she does, then after she graduates with whatever degree she ends up getting she can apply for ABSN programs. Also, we're freshman at a 4 year college, and most freshman either don't know what they want to do or end up changing their major so she's right with the crowd.

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I'm sure that there's something more...probably just overall fear. I know she wasn't doing too well in A&P (she had a C as did most of the rest of the class). I hope she doesn't regret it either. But if she does, then after she graduates with whatever degree she ends up getting she can apply for ABSN programs. Also, we're freshman at a 4 year college, and most freshman either don't know what they want to do or end up changing their major so she's right with the crowd.

You're absolutely right. She may even find that she enjoys psychology and may want to become a psych nurse. I think everyone gets scared at one point or another in this process. I know I certainly have. I sometimes wonder if I will be good enough...will I be able to handle the responsibility...will I retain enough information to make it once I graduate to be able to provide the best care...etc. I guess if someone is passionate enough to pursue this path then hopefully they won't let the fear override their ambition. One of the many reasons I'm glad I found this site, I know there are others out that know how I'm feeling. Sometimes it's hard to share those fears with other people in your life that just don't get it unless they've tried to pursue this themselves.

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Specializes in Infusion.

"the thought of wiping butts makes me cringe" is code for "I might pass out at the sight of any bodily fluids", "I don't think I can handle the responsibility of being a nurse", "I think the field of retail merchandising sounds promising and I don't have to take anymore science classes". Pick one. When I was 20, I changed my major every 6 months.

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Anyone else know someone who's dropped because of fear?

That would be me.

Still not sure about going back.

I have left a path towards nursing twice - once, with one pre-nursing semester left to go, was not because I was running from nursing but because I decided to pursue something different yet related (community health ed - yeah little did I know getting my BSN would have been a better choice at actually finding work in that area).

The second time was what I guess you would call fear, confusion, tunnel vision. Tunnel vision played a HUGE part in it. Had a place like this forum been around back then (might have been but I had dial up - pretty much everyone did - and the internet was barely into its adolescence - most people I knew did not even have computers) I might have pulled out of it.

I was in the program. I was an LPN student b/c that was what was available to me at the time and I could afford it. I ended up getting mired in my lack of confidence in my abilities - forgot that being a student means you are learning and not perfect - and in the anxiety and stress that comes along with trying to learn by doing - I would have been happy to add an extra year of skills lab to the program to ensure I felt more confident before entering a "scary" clinical setting with "scary" patients. I convinced myself that the horrible feelings I had in the pit of my stomach and my head were always going to be there and, therefore, nursing was a bad choice. So I cut my losses and dropped early into the second term, just as we started med-surg. I ran on fear based on false assumptions and lack of confidence.

I bet this same thing is happening with her. She is struggling a little and is fearful b/c there is no way to know how much harder it is going to get. She has no idea what clinical work will be like and may be magnifying her fear of it. I know when I dropped the schedule was two clinical days (645-245pm) and two classroom days per week. I could not tell myself it was only two out of seven days that had me so stressed out. I made those two days into some insurmountable obstacle.

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Yeah. A large part of the reason that I didn't end up dropping is that I have a friend who is a senior nursing major who hates science (don't ask --), and didn't do well in A&P (got a C in both I and II) and she made me believe that I could do it since she's living proof of going against the odds and making it.

At my school, the first clinicals are Tuesday and Wednesday from 7a-12p...so short days and only 2 days a week. That makes me so glad that I've spent a good amount of time working in retail! Being on my feet and running around doing this and that for 5 hours is like nothing to me since I'm used to 8 hour shifts and because there was a time that I worked 2 jobs, have worked 12 hour days with only like a half hour break.

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I wouldnt drop out, but I am afraid of failing out. That is my only big fear so far.

I've barely started my pre-reqs, and even I'm nervous about what is yet to come. The thought terrifies me, lol. What if I'm not smart enough, what if I'm not capable enough, other majors seem so much easier I dunno. I guess I'm trying to develop a new thinking, which is that people do it everyday. They study hard and persevere and become nurses. So at least we all know that's doable.

BUt I'm still SO nervous too.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.

I think that it's easy to become fearful and discouraged in this field. I just keep telling myself that my success will have more to do with "sticking to it" than being perfect or being really smart.

For some reason, the nursing field seems to foster competetiveness and a not so supportive and friendly environment.

I am usually very confident, but have had to work at being confident enough in my own abilities as I pursue this path.

I keep telling myself that G-d wil provide a way, I've just got to take it 1 step at a time and not get worried about the next 10 steps.

SingDanceRunLife-Was your friend in prenursing or a nursing student?

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At my school, nursing is a direct entry program. The first year is the prerequisites and then you start the nursing classes and clinicals in the second year...so not quite pre-nursing or nursing.

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Specializes in CNA.

It's true about nursing being more about having tenacity and persistence than being perfect. I have been working on nursing pre-reqs and trying to get into schools over a period of 6 years (got my BS in something else along the way) and finally got into a BSN program that will be another 3 years long .... and after that I want to be a NP or maybe go into Nursing Ed or even be a NA.... this is not a job for the weary at heart--- it's something that you will have to be passionate about pursuing because it gets discouraging at times (especially when you've received many rejection letters). But remember, all it takes is 1 acceptance letter and you're on your way to reaching your dreams. It's a process, it's not easy, but it's going to be SOOOO worth it!!

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