Why am I sooo scared?

shygirl · Sep 19, 2002

Barb,

Please stop worrying. You'll be fine. it is just the unknown that has you scared. Once you're there, you'll feel better I am sure of it!

Shygirl

Love-A-Nurse · Sep 19, 2002

barb, and welcome. i felt and feel the same way. hang in there and we are here for you.

Ortho_RN · Sep 19, 2002

Good Luck... I think being scared is normal.. I am in my second semester and there are still times when I get the butterflies.. :) But my biggest piece of advice, is to ENJOY nursing school... I can be ALOT of fun if you don't let all the lil things like stress, exams, and checkoffs get in the way

researchrabbit · Sep 19, 2002

Rent a funny movie, take a bubble bath, read a book, spend some time with friends...or something else you find relaxing...

You will be surprised at the number of people in your classes who are in the same boat.

Lecture and classroom time really aren't any different from any other type of class. You listen, you work in small groups, you take notes.

Clinicals are the hands-on part of this, where you can gain skills, learn to manage your time, and begin to feel comfortable with the process. You'll start off slowly and get more responsibilities as are ready for them. You won't be given so much to do all at once that you have a meltdown...and you may even be working with a partner when you first start out.

Listen to your instructor, ask questions, respect the patients and the nurses. You'll do fine.

The worst thing that happened to me in my first clinical rotation was that I got stuck on the elevator for a couple of hours with someone who was claustrophobic...although I got to do a nice intervention, this activity was NOT planned by our instructor!

A woman who graduated with me, and who is now a fantastic nurse, was a waitress when she started nursing school -- what she learned in waitressing ("Full hands in, full hands out") translates very well to nursing...once I really got this down, it saved me a lot of steps. Unfortunately, she didn't share this until my 2nd year!

Rena RN 2003, RN · Sep 19, 2002

perfectly normal feelings. just relax. i know, easy to say, hard to do.

good luck!

subec · Sep 19, 2002

Don't worry----your feelings are normal.

I was also very scared before I started----actually, sometimes I still am. We've nearly completed 4 weeks, and it does get better.

Take some time for yourself----because soon, all your time will be spent studying. LOL

Mkue · Sep 19, 2002

I agree, perfectly normal feelings right now. Relax and everything will fall into place ! I know what you are going through.

Welcome to the BB

jode · Sep 19, 2002

If you weren't a tad nervous, I'D be scared! It's normal and I'm sure you will be just fine!! Best wishes.

jschut, BSN, RN · Sep 20, 2002

I'm sure you'll do fine....

try to relax. All it can be is that you are nervous because of the beginning of school. The unknown.

It's not that horrible....I can promise you.....

studentdeb · Sep 20, 2002

Barb, I completely understand how you are feeling. I started in August and up to the day, I was ready to back out because I was so scared and nervous. Mostly of the unknown. It's been 5 weeks and although it is tough, I really enjoy school. I also enjoy the interaction with everyone in my classes as there are varied ages and experience.

You'll be fine. Just try to relax and it will fall into place. Good luck!!!

peaceful2100, BSN, RN · Sep 22, 2002

They only solution I can help offer you is my story. When I first started the days before the very, very first day I was so nervous I literally truly made myself sick. I was sick my first few days of school and it did not help the fact that at my school they start a new group every January. So, I was sick and nervous. I NEVER had any background in health either. IT was all totally new to me. NEVER even took a medical terminology class because at my school it is not required when you first start. They teach you that in the fundamentals of nursing class at my school. So many of the words was like learning a foreign language even the prefixes and suffixes. So I really used my medical dictionary (still do). Time went on and each and every semester that starts I get nervous. I just started my senior year about a month ago and I was very, very, very nervous. I started my ICU clinicals two weeks ago and was very, very nervous. That first week in ICU I was like I don't want to be here what if this happens, what if that happens, what if my patient codes on me. Well, this past week which was the second week in the ICU for me, I was much more calm, cool and collected. I was not quite so nervous and was able to focus better and what I was suppose to do as a student came naturally to me and my instructor even noticed that too. I felt much more confident but not a know it all because I don't know it all and will not act like I do.

It is natural to have a little fear. MANY nursing students go through exactly what you are facing right now. IT will get better trust me. If you are truly meant to be a nurse and it sounds like you are then you will be fine and get through this.

Good luck to you.