Anxiety: It's killing me!

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I've always been somewhat of an anxious person, but when I started nursing school it's gotten progressively worse. I can't seem to cope with the stress like I use to be able to.

I'm in my senior year, and have 2 semesters left before graduation. The source of all my anxiety seems to be the fact that I don't have a car. This semester is especially difficult because we have clinicals at various locations, and quite a few where we're on our own. I've been able to carpool, but there are about 3-5 clinicals I have no clue how I'm going to get to. Physically, I feel sick all of the time. My heart and mind races, I shake, my stomach feels like it's eating itself. I'm kind of scared. I feel like I could have a heart attack at any given moment.

I've discussed this issue of transportation with my professors and the head of the program, but all they've told me is "the handbook says you need to provide your own transportation." So I can't be a nurse because I don't have a car? It just feels very unfair, and I don't know what to do anymore. I believe the best solution would be to withdraw from the program and work as a CNA until I can afford my own vehicle and start where I left off. However, after all of this work I've put in I would feel like such a failure, and my family is so excited for graduation in May. I really would hate to "take a break" (quit, in my mind) after all that I've done. I just don't see any other way at this point. :(

I'd like to know what perspective others may have on this situation.

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

If their are only 3-5 that you don't know how you will get to is a cab or bus an option?? Anyone that can give you a ride, family or friends?

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You wont earn enough money as a cna to buy a car. You are so close to being done with your program. You should consider going to see a mental health care professional on campus to find out what's really bugging you. For some reason it sounds like you are focusing your anxiety on the transportation issue. A little therapy would help give you the big picture here.

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If their are only 3-5 that you don't know how you will get to is a cab or bus an option?? Anyone that can give you a ride, family or friends?

My family is an hour away and have busy work schedules.

I don't know of anyone who would be able to (or just not want to) drive me an hour away from campus at 5:30 am. There may be someone around here, but I have yet to meet them.

Transportation around here is pretty lousy.

There are many nearby clinical sites, but not even a bus system to get to them.

I also find it hard to believe I'm the only nursing student on this campus without a car, but that's the way it seems.

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You wont earn enough money as a cna to buy a car. You are so close to being done with your program. You should consider going to see a mental health care professional on campus to find out what's really bugging you. For some reason it sounds like you are focusing your anxiety on the transportation issue. A little therapy would help give you the big picture here.

Everyone keeps saying I should see someone, but I really don't see how that would help.

I think I will anyway, just to at least give it a try.

There still lies the issue of getting to required clinicals though, and not having the means to do so.

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Also, thank you both for your posts. :]

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First of all, don't quit!!! There has to be a way! In my class, we have a phone/city list so that if something happens, we can call someone to give us a ride. I would send an email out, explaining your situation and asking if someone would be willing to help you out for those clinical sites. You said you lived an hour away? Maybe you could find someone to meet you halfway and then your family could give you a ride to that halfway point. Or if they are super excited about your graduation, maybe your family would loan you some money to get a cab or pay someone to come pick you up? There has to be an answer, because you did not come this far only to stop because of transportation! Oh, and definitely go talk to someone about your anxiety, a counselor or a psychiatrist. They help with clearing your head and just to "vent" about all the stresses in your life, and then you can think clearly!

Good luck with everything!

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Don't stop! You can make it happen for those 3-5 trips, whether than means scrounging for cab money, bribing another student, whatever. You are so close, you can do this!

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I would not quit, I would figure something out. Is there a city bus terminal in your area, not intercity transportatin but like Greyhound ? I know its early in the AM...arent there any other student going to the same clinical as you ?

Is there a teacher that will be at that clinical ???

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Specializes in Professional Development Specialist.

Do you have a friend who has a car who may be willing to take you for a little cash? I know it's early but seriously, I would ask everyone including total strangers before I backed out of school with 2 semesters left. I know sometimes I can't think beyond the problem in front of me, and anxiety like you're feeling in school only makes it worse. But there is a solution, other than quitting. Try everything first. Call private car services and even limo services. The limo may be insane but my parents found it cheaper to hire a private car service over a cab to go to the airport here.

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If the issue in only money, then either take a taxi those days or rent a car for the given days (+ 1 or 2 days for pickup/return).

Enterprise comes and picks you up and drops you off...so you don't even need extra transportation to get to the rental site.

If you don't have money for that, then maybe your family would lend you that little bit to get you through those rough patches.

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
If the issue in only money, then either take a taxi those days or rent a car for the given days (+ 1 or 2 days for pickup/return).

Enterprise comes and picks you up and drops you off...so you don't even need extra transportation to get to the rental site.

I was going to suggest that as well, but the OP is 21 ... I think you have to be 25 to rent a vehicle.

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