Fear Of Failing...

Love-A-Nurse · Oct 18, 2003

first let me say, welcome!

i honestly believe some anxiety is needed and expected. the concern would be if there wasn't a little apprehension, wouldn't you think?

all the best to you [all of us].

Dixen81 · Oct 18, 2003

Yes, jonnygirl...all the time. Hugs.

Cynthiann · Oct 18, 2003

Perfectionist here, too. I haven't started nursing school yet just pre-reqs but I do have a little fear, but it's only natural. I turn around that perfectionist view around by thinking that I KNOW I will get through this a be a real good nurse. Just think positive.

Lecia · Oct 18, 2003

Yep, scared S*#$less and I won't even start school til next fall.

I'm all the more worried because I suffer from Dysthymia (a chronic yet not as severe form of depression). It makes my self-confidence tank each time I make any tiny mistake... But hey, we all have our demons to deal with and just have to do the best we can.

I know that through out the wait to begin school, in school, and as a nurse I'll look to the people here for good avice, a place to vent, shoulders to lean on, etc... and that will make a big difference in my success.

Take a deep breath and remember... no one will care if you didn't get all A's when you made a difference in their life or the life of their loved one. :)

FarmgrrlRN · Oct 19, 2003

Amy,

I just finished freaking out about a half hour ago because we have our lab practicum on Thurs and I've just about convinced myself that I have not studied enough and I will fail. (This is the first time I've cried about school since we started two months ago.)

You are not alone! Just remember, we are not the first ones to do this and I'm sure 99% of those that have done this before felt the same exact way. It will all be OK....

Just take a deep breath and relax....(as my clinical instructor loves to say).....AAHHH!!!! :)

Soy · Oct 19, 2003

Your concerns are totally understandable.

As a past-perfectionist, I too went through the torturing self-doubt and anxiety that comes with going through a rigorous nursing program and entering a high stress profession. As perfectionists, we are used to getting things right (usually the first time) and getting acknowledged for our righteous ways. The thing is, nursing programs are not only responsible for churning out competent nurses but also the type of nurses who can defer to other people, admit mistakes, be introspective, deal with failure, not have everything go right, drop everything we had painstakingly planned for something totally unforseen, not necessarily get the recognition we deserve, the list goes on.. in other words, some humility because that is the reality of nursing.

Sometimes, it helps to remember that they are also trying to teach us that. I am sure you are going to be a great nurse. As long as you keep your ears, eyes and heart open and remember all those things they taught you, you'll do great!

Soy · Oct 19, 2003

Try to take things one day/step at a time. If you didn't do as well as you wanted to one day, that's just one day. If you start letting it grow into something bigger, like a reflection of the kind of nurse you'll be, it can get overwhelming very fast.

Address your anxieties and fears by seeking answers from people that will help reassure you. People in the class above you, instructors, people in the profession are more than willing to answer questions and offer suggestions, I've found.

Mithrah · Oct 19, 2003

Jonnygirl, I feel the exact same way. Even though I get good grades in all of my classes, I wonder what kind of nurse I will be. I have never had so much responsibilty in my life, but once I am an RN I will have tremendous responsibility. I fear not assessing a patient thoroughly enough, forgeting to give a medication, or making some other mistake that could cost me my license.

Guest20074 · Oct 19, 2003

Oh yeah...this is *very* normal for nursing students. Believe me, I'm scared to death with all the "pass or fail" tests, but I just tell myself to take it one semester at a time and hopefully it'll be all over soon .

Catma63 · Oct 19, 2003

Any score below 80 in my nursing course is failing so I stay stressed out to the max. It doesn't help that I'm averaging a C+ which means I'm passing by the skin of my teeth. My GPA WAS 4.0 before the nursing courses......heavens.

Marie Grey · Oct 20, 2003

Oh wow...everyone here is right...you are in no way alone! I'm only turning 17 in a month (about) and I'm already in pre reqs. Going to college meant leaving the majority of my friends in high school. They'll call me up at least twice a week and ask me if I want to go "party." And of course they make me feel like I'm the one doing the wrong thing by saying no, my math test is tomorrow! Go figure. And when I tell them that in no way am I going to anywhere where there are drunk teenagers at who knows who's house they again make me feel like the bad one. Like Lecia said, we all have our demons. But as long as you try your hardest and study study study, you'll be in the clear. Plus, you always know if you're trully meant to be a nurse. I think that it's something that you can ignore and debate, but that never goes away. For example, I was intent on becoming a vet for oh...15 years. During those fifteen years I would try my best to not feel that I wanted to take care of people instead of animals. I fought it hard too, beleive me. I cried over my confusion and tried telling myself that I was just worried about vet school. And then....it hit me. I was crying because I was fighting with myself to admit that I was for lack of a better phrase, made to nurse. Just sit down and breath each day and remember why you are doing this. Does the good outweight the bad? Would you be happy with your life if you chose a different path, and what would that path be? Listening to yourself will help you immeasurably.