This may seem silly but ...

Ruby Vee, BSN · Mar 9, 2013

If you've never driven before, the highway is a bigger threat to your life than a parking lot or a street space in a bad neighborhood! Just walk with confidence, carry a bit of "mugger money" that you can easily give up if accosted and keep your real money and your iPhone hidden on your person and not out where it can be seen.

Now about the driving issue . . . if your clinical is downtown, is there not some public transportation that you could take? Could you carpool with a classmate? You pay for gas and they drive? Being scared of driving TO your clinical is not a good way to get into the right frame of mind to learn something AT your clinical.

And if driving is the only way, keep this in mind: lots of people drive every day, and at least half of them have a below average IQ. That gives you a head start right there!

StudentOfHealing · Mar 9, 2013

I feared the unknown, not driving on the freeway. I figured this out today.

I drove to the hospital. I feel a lot better!

By the way... it so happens most of my classmates live on the way there so I don't have a carpool.

The outer burbs of Houston only have one option... the park and drive option and it conflicts with my time.

As far as parking... I rather just park in the hospital garage. Not really due to a huge fear of being mugged, I rather not wonder off and possibly be late to clinical.

I will leave early though. I'm very cautious. Love precautions and preparing.

Thanks..

Katieerin · Mar 10, 2013

I have this same fear because i have been in two deadly car accidents. I am a daily driver in my town but when it comes to interstates i freak out. Full blown anxiety attacks. Heart racing,palms sweating , shaking all over , tensing up, and crying. When i was 14 the first axxident broke my chest wall and nearly broke my leg in 3 places. When i was seventeen a semi decided to pass a car at an intersection and i was about to turn (not the one driving) we faced the truck head on and swerved into a ditch. I feel it is something i will always fear but over time and practice i am getting better , regardless of the fact that I'm almost 25.

Jaynie_Marie · Mar 10, 2013

I completely understand! I grew up in rural northern WI (where we actually lived way out in the country with closest town of >200 over an hour away), and the first time I went to college I moved from there to Milwaukee! It is definitely scary to be put into situations like that. One thing that my roommate told me which has stuck with me is to, yes be cautious because you aren't used to it and have no idea what the other drivera are going to do, but also to remember that it is ok to be aggressive - if you need to be in the other lane or miss your turn, the other drivers aren't always going to make room for you, so you may just have to move. Driving in a city, especially in a downtown area, can be very nerve racking to those who aren't used to it, and while some people get used to it, it still scares me sooo bad every time I have to drive in the city. What helped me the most was to pray every single moment that I was in my car...helped calm my nerves a bit too - if you believe in a religion, I highly suggest you do the same.

oceanise · Mar 10, 2013

I'm living and going to nursing school in Houston so I can understand your fears. You really do have to drive super defensively here!

It's great that you feel more confident after practicing! Don't worry about keeping up w/other drivers, go at your own pace and don't be freaked out by the people that drive 90mph.

I really don't like driving in Houston, haha.

loriangel14, RN · Mar 10, 2013

You can also invest in defensive driving lessons if you feel you need more expertise driving. Lessons can be for people that already have their license.A friend of mine had a fear of driving after a near fatal accident and once she had recovered and was going to start working again she took driving lessons to increase her confidence.Fear of driving is not silly at all.

Katieerin · Mar 10, 2013

I'm living and going to nursing school in Houston so I can understand your fears. You really do have to drive super defensively here!
It's great that you feel more confident after practicing! Don't worry about keeping up w/other drivers, go at your own pace and don't be freaked out by the people that drive 90mph.
I really don't like driving in Houston, haha.

I moved from alabama to altus oklahoma. We had to drive through houston. I think it was worse than san antonio. How do you learn to get around without a gps there?