fear of failing

RunBabyRN · May 17, 2014

I get so scared I'm going to be a person who doesn't know what to do and just stands there. What if I forget the steps or don't know a drug word or medical term that is being said? No one expects you to know everything. You simply WON'T. There will be times when your classmates know things you don't, and you'll be like, uh oh, that means I should know that, too, but then there will be times YOU know they don't. You're a student, and you have your resources (nurses, instructors, classmates, textbooks, etc). Knowing where to look things up is sometimes more important than knowing everything. Sometimes you can determine things from context, other times, you need to write them down and look them up later, other times you need to ask what something means.

I know I still have to learn it and practice but for anybody who already started the program, do they teach you the very very basics first or expect you to know most of whats going on, Our program required a CNA certification prior to starting, so they didn't teach us how to take a blood pressure, how to make a bed, or how to move a patient (though we could go over this stuff in clinicals). We didn't have a lot of skills lab like most other programs do. We learned most stuff on the floor. That said, we did cover how to insert a Foley, an NG tube, and other skills once before we went to the hospital. That was about it. NO ONE expects you to have it down the instant you arrive in the hospital, and most likely, your instructor won't let you TOUCH a patient until they've observed you doing whatever it is you plan to do. You may be able to do CNA skills early on, but even then, they'll want to see you take vitals and give a bed bath and such before they turn you loose, and they'll be with you for awhile when you start passing meds and the first time you do a Foley and so forth.

Also how forgiving are the teachers and helpful for being stuck in a situation and needing to ask what to do next? Really depends on the school culture and the instructor. And how far along you are. If you've been doing something for awhile, and you STILL don't know the same part of the equation, they'll be less forgiving than, say, the first time you need to start an IV and you forget to take off the tourniquet (don't forget to take off the tourniquet!). My instructors have been fantastic, but my program's culture isn't the whole eat-or-be-eaten, thinning-of-the-herd mentality. It's much more supportive. Others may not have had the same experience.

Is there a time they help and a time they don't? A good instructor doesn't step in unless you ask for help or are being unsafe. I know one of my instructors would ALWAYS ask hard questions before we'd do something. One thing to remember- if you don't know, say, "Let me find out," and GET BACK TO THEM. Never leave it at, "Uh, I dunno." Try to ask questions away from patients (do you want to be the patient with the student who's sticking you with needles and asking a ton of questions about it in the process?).

Also, we never worked with simulators. Different programs do things differently.

missmollie, ADN, BSN, RN · May 17, 2014

I know you're worried about passing skills, but the more you do them, the easier they seem. Many of the steps are just common sense, and some become so common that you immediately say them before you start. IE: I knock, provide for privacy, wash my hands/sanitize, check two patient identifiers, sanitize, and put on gloves.

Anything that seems particularly daunting, just practice when you have open lab. Even if you don't pass a skill, you can always work on it and do it again after remediation. While skills seems tough at first, it eventually becomes the easiest part of nursing school (in my opinion).

Runbabyrun has great answers for each of your specific questions.

xomanderrzxo · May 17, 2014

@runbabyrun and @missmollie thank you both so much, I'm feeling a lot better about this now! Im just so nervous of the unknown lol

Avalin · May 17, 2014

I've had these same thoughts and fears. I'm starting an ADN program in the Fall, but after watching some YouTube videos I'm feeling a little better about it. Good luck!

mzrainydayz, BSN, RN · May 17, 2014

Each semester you will build your knowledge base, it's like a building block. You won't learn everything all at once. There's nothing to be afraid of, what you have learned in lab and lecture just put it to use. Always think positive about any situation and the outcome. Believe in yourself, you were chosen from many applicants to nursing school. When you go to clinical just use common sense if you don't know something refer to your book, notes, classmates,your primary nurse or instructor for help. There's no way you are going to know all drugs, but at least know the drug class and go from there. I am going into my last semester and as I look back I remember my first clinical day/patient. I tell you I have come a long way. You will obtain knowledge and skills in due time.

ixchel · May 17, 2014

They won't expect you to know anything, really, and will make sure you have time to practice before they have you with real people.

As for not knowing what to do vs. knowing what to do, in a real trauma/coding situation, they're going to tell all of the students to back up out of the way. While you are in school, mostly you'll observe. (You might have rare cases in code blues in the ED, but even then, you can volunteer or say no thanks.) After you graduate, your facility will also put training wheels on until you are competent. If you're still nervous then, nursing isn't just in trauma, codes and critical care. You can look for jobs where you are comfortable.

Good luck to you, love, and remember they don't want you to kill patients either, so they won't let you ☺️

elise-e · May 18, 2014

It is very nerve racking but you're instructor will understand if you mess up once or twice with a skill, but no more than that. My best suggestion is to go into the lab and practice, practice, practice! That is the only way you are going to feel confident in what your doing. Also remember that even if you don't feel confident, act it, the last thing you'll want is for you patient to be uncertain of the nurse that they have. You'll learn so much as you go through the program and things that you thought were impossible will be possible through hard work. You can do it! I remember when I first started and I thought, "there is honestly no way i'm going to remember all of this stuff." But you study your butt of and you do, and you feel so awesome because of it. Honestly if you see yourself being a nurse, you will be a nurse. Just stick to it and you'll do great! :)

RunBabyRN · May 18, 2014

Fear of the unknown is very common! Keep the humility of knowing what you DON'T know, as that will help keep you from making dangerous decisions. :) Try not to stress, and remember that EVERYONE in your class likely will feel the same way.