Enjoys the technical side of nursing, now what?

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Here is my dilemma that I hope you all can give me advice on. I was a nursing student, but had to take a leave of absence due to family conflict. I successfully made it through the first semester with flying colors. When it was time for me to return, I got cold feet and gave up my spot to another student. I realize that I enjoy the technical side of nursing like assessments, giving shots, meds, etc. I guess I'm stressing over the what if's...like what if I don't do something I'm supposed to, what if I miss an important symptom and it turns out to be serious or just ignore something I think is minor because you have many patients to take care of. I'm considering radiography now because I think I like working on one patient at a time.

Nursing was always something I wanted to do and my clinical instructor said I would make a great nurse. I guess maybe I'm just lacking the confidence I need to be successful. But having someone's life in my hands on a daily basis is scary. I don't know if I want that type of responsibility or stress for that matter.

Thanks in advance for your input:)

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Specializes in Med surg, LTC, Administration.

You are making excuses. This is not a negative, it is just how you feel. Thinking so far down the road, on could have and should have's are excuses to help you justify why you do or don't want to do something. What If I forget an important symptom...you are barely in school. Maybe you don't want to be a nurse.

Okay, let's say you really do want to be a nurse and suffer fear of failure. A lot of us do to a certain extent, but you are bringing it to a different level. Ask yourself, if you feel pushed, do you have tremendous pressure to be perfect, do you feel like you would be letting someone down, if you do finish nursing school,but don't like it?

Only you can answer these questions. But it would behoove you to delve deeper into what is going on with you. Where is your passion, you need to know this and follow it at any cost. As women, we tend to want to please someone other than ourselves. But this is your life, your future...right now you need to be and do what your heart is telling you and not worry what others may think. Family and friends at times are our biggest dream crushes. Not because they are unkind, but believing this is in your best interest. As an adult, right now, make your own decisions based on your passion and give it all you got. I promise only then will you be content....when you take full control, over your life. I am pulling for you, Peace!

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Thank you for your response Chin Up! The funny thing is I haven't been at peace and have been struggling to make a decision. My husband suggested maybe I'm in love with the idea of nursing, not so much actually becoming a nurse. I just don't want to regret not following through. I know it's never too late but I also don't want to wait forever. Life is short!

I really need to figure out what is holding me back. I went from being really excited when I started nursing school to being relieved when I left. Yet, even now still yearning to go back and finish. Luckily I have continued to take classes that would transfer into a BSN program as opposed to the diploma school I was enrolled in. I'm just getting tired of my own indecisiveness.

Thanks again!

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I don't have much advice to offer, but I will share this:

I'm a new nurse and I was recently hired to a pediatric ICU. Every single day I am terrified I will miss something, or simply not know something, and one of my patients will in some way be hurt because of that. As I learn more, the fear decreases, but I really hope it never goes away because when we lose that fear completely we, as humans, have a tendency to get complacent, and THAT is when we will miss something. That fear that you have, maybe it's actually not a bad thing...

Only you can decide if nursing is what you really want, but if you decide it is and fear of making a mistake is all that's holding you back, well then maybe what I said will be of some help. I hope that you're able to find out what is right for you, and whether it turns out to be nursing or not, I wish you the best of luck!

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Specializes in Vascular Neurology and Neurocritical Care.

To calm your fears of failure or error, what helps me is to think of when you first got your driver's license. If you were like me, I was 16 when I got mine, and there was nothing/no one that was going to come between me and my driving privileges.

The risk of being in an accident as many teenagers are couldn't possibly come between me and mobility. Think of it the same way and do what appeals to you most: either radiology or nursing.

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break time...thank you. I never thought about the fear in that regard. It makes a lot of sense to always have a little fear so complacency does not set in.

NP-BC...I think both fields interest me. I need to decide on which to pursue. People keep telling there are so many other options with nursing. If you get bored there are always other nursing avenues to go down.

Maybe I should consider being a CNA at the hospital and get some more experience and really see if that is what I want. Maybe it is just fear of the unknown.

Thank you both for your input.

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