fear of inadequacy

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Hello all! I will soon be starting nursing school and I was observing in a hospital yesterday and couldn't help but think "This is so confusing...will I suck at this?" I know I should give myself a break because I have not even started my schooling/training at all for nursing...but it is hard not to wonder. I was watching the RN mess with units of blood, tubes, IVs, etc. and it looked hard to learn. I know I am probably just getting pre-nursing school anxiety. Did anyone else feel this way at the beginning? Inadequate in some way?

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It probably looks more confusing that it actually is. I am currently in school right now...almost finished with my first year. I find that whenever I am in an observational position, it always helps to ask questions. More than likely, if you show some interest, the nurse (or whoever else) will be happy to inform you of what they are doing. Nursing is a career that requires great skill, and almost anyone would love to show off their skills to an audience.

What you were looking at could have just been an IV and some blood samples being drawn to be sent to the lab.

As soon as you ask these questions, I'm sure you won't feel so inadequate anymore :)

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True confidence comes through competence, and competence comes through study, practice, and time. :)

Anyone can be taught nursing skills, but not anyone can be a nurse. You will do well if your focus during school is in assessing your patient, recognizing and preventing complications, and knowing what to do when things go wrong. That is the heart of nursing.

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