Do you think your capable?

Angelica · Feb 19, 2003

I have felt that way many times (I graduate in May). But I know with time and experience that feeling will, hopefully, subside.

frannybee · Feb 19, 2003

My biggest fear was attending a cardiac arrest - never had to attend one in 8 yrs. I always had this nasty feeling in he pit of my stomach that if we had an arrest I wouldn't know what to do and I'd be a gibbering wreck.

Well, today was the big test and someone arrested on my shift. There were 2 sisters and another more senior nurse on so I was gopher. I ran my butt off for 40 mins, fetching and bleeping and doing obs etc. When it was over, I had a huge (and very inappropriate!) grin on my face. The sister asked why - I had survived, and so had the patient.

Everyone has fears, hun - most of us get over them.

zacarias, ASN, RN · Feb 19, 2003

Bean,

I can relate to a lot of what you are saying. I've never been that self-confident of a person either. It is something I struggly with daily. I hope that as I gain more experience in this field, I will start to realize that I do have some special skills and knowledge.

I sometimes think, "I can not believe they are gonna let me graduate this summer!" thinking they must be crazy. The truth is, we've learned SO much and will have the basis to START as nurses out in the real world. There's much, much more to learn, but that comes when you have a job that pays.

Just know that you're not alone in thinking that way Bean.

Z

Ortho_RN · Feb 19, 2003

Bean..

You will be fine... I have those same feelings often.... I never had much self-confindence either, but nursing school tends to help with that alot... I used to be the kind of person who would get sick at the thought of having to get in front of people and speak or I would just sit and class, listen, take notes, then go home.. Well in Nursing school I have been forced to participate in class, we have had to do many stand-up type presentations, some with a group and some alone.... I still get the butterflies, but it isn't as bed..

Now as far as clinicals and stuff go... I still get really nervous before I do something that I have never done before... We just got checked off on IVs and I really want to do one, but I am nervous about it.... I think that is all just normal... You will be fine... :)

Good Luck

essarge · Feb 20, 2003

I can remember my first trauma when I was in the ER. The charge asked me if I wanted to do CPR and I just blurted out "no way!" and left the room.

After that I decided the only way to get over it was to get in there and do it. I've done more trauma assists and CPRs than I can count now...it's become like second nature.

You'll be fine. Just get in there and do whatever you have to do. That's why we have instructors with us at all times.

Hooligan · Feb 20, 2003

Thanks to all for your responses! It's encouraging to see that others feel/have felt the same way! Thanks a bunch!

~Bean

career seeker · Feb 21, 2003

Bean,

I too have issues with my self confidence (I am only going through the enrollment process and already I wa trying to talk myself out of it but my husband wouldn't hear of it.) I have always been pretty lazy when it came to school and I am hoping I can do better this time.

I became an EMT to volunteer for my community and to see if this was really a field that I wanted to go into. My first call, three days out of class, was an elderly woman who crashed 5 minutes into transport. I happened to be with two ACLS senior medics who took control of the scene but set me about on task such as securing the airway and ventilation. The woman was a DNR so we drove down the raod and tried to make the transition easy for her and I feel that we did that. During the remainder for hte drive (we are 2 hours from the hospital) I sat and thought about what had happend and if I could really do this and I realized that although it was way outside of my comfort zone I was meant to do it.

As for being a klutz, you're talking to the queen! I think that as your confidence builds and you use your skills more it will feel more natural. I took an EMT2 class 4 months ago and was trained in IV's and some IV med administration...let me tell you I was so nervous the first time I had to actually do it on a patient but now, after many sucessful (and just as many failed) attempts, I still get nervous each time but I go at ti with confidence that I think pays off.

Do not every let anyone tell you that you can't do something that you want....you can achieve anything that you set your mind to.

Good luck!

litepath · Feb 21, 2003

I keep on getting these horrible anxiety dreams that I'm in clinical (mind you I'm still just working on my pre-req's) and the pt, the pt's family, and my instructor are all yelling at me and I'm doing everyting wrong!

These dreams of angst serve to let you know that you are processing. I'll lay a bet that this negativity will never manifest itself. I see your dreams (mine too) as a way to safely walk us thru our worst imaginings. You can build some confidence from those dreams by knowing you'd never do 'that' to whomever.

Personally even tho my anxiety dreams sometimes bug me, I prefer to work it all out there, in the safety of my dreams.

Thank you for those EMT efforts!!

......Giving of yourself is the ultimate gift!