Has anyone or does anyone feel this way?

[Mmae]

So, I went to orientation, first lecture and our assessment class. I am totally freaked out. There is sooo much reading that needs to be done. Okay, I can probably manage finding the time to do that. I can probably make the grades. But, when they told us in clinicals we would be bathing, feeding and possible shoving gauze three inches into someone's skin that kinda freaked me out. Seriously...how do they expect us to go in and take a history from people if we don't even know what is going on or what to ask? What if the patient asks us something we don't know the answer to? This is all making me feel very uncomfortable. I was hoping to work with children when I graduate. But, I have to be honest the thought of wiping a four hundred pound man's butt does not sound very appealing to me. I know that I would make a great nurse and I am sure when you are in the situation it is totally different then just thinking about it, but all of this is very overwhelming and making me seriously doubt myself. Any words of wisdom or just say something to help ease my mind PLEASE. Thanks so much.

[AllThingsPink]

Once you're done with this semester, you'll look back and wonder why you were even scared.

God I hope you're right. LOL I am starting my first semester on Tuesday and the word 'scared' doesn't even describe how I feel. I'm holding you to this comment. ;-)

To the OP:

I am in the same boat as you however, I've worked as a Tech (a CNA in a hospital) for almost 4 years. I deal with mostly women so working with men will be difficult for me... but it's just something you're going to do and get through it. You go in there and do it. I always joke it's the 'magic of the scrubs'. There is no way I could do half of the stuff that I do anywhere besides a hospital... my sister had surgery on her knee and I could not bear to see her incision or the drainage etc. Had I been in the hospital with someone like that, I think I'd be ok because you CAN'T stand there and go "EWWW" and run away. LOL (Honestly, I think that'll be my biggest issue is wound care because that is just fricken gross but hopefully the "magic of the scrubs" will be with me. ).

We'll do this. We can do this (I am terrified so is this sounding convincing? LOL). We have to look at it in the end as we're helping people do things they're just not able to do. It's a gift not everyone can do but we have that gift and we have to use it. :) Best of luck to you. :redbeathe