I am starting the ADN program in January. I just turned 42 and have been a legal secretary since I was a senior in high school. I will be giving notice to my employer on Thursday. (I will be quitting work to go to school full time.)
I know I am just scared, but did others of you go through this? I will be quitting a job where I am paid good money. I have two children, one in college and the other a senior in high school. The "what ifs" are overtaking my mind.
What if I am not smart enough?
What if my memory isn't good enough?
What if I can't do patient care or don't like patient care?
I have always had an office job. I've never worked in a hospital. Never done patient care.
To set the record straight. I am doing this because it is what I want to do. It is my turn to work toward my dream job. I have a supportive family. I am sending this out to all of you because, well, I just want to know if others had the same doubts right before starting.
In one of my clinical rotations when i was in EMT school earlier this year we had a multiple stab wound case. And you know, this was our first clinical rotation where something actually happened. Now i didnt freeze, I actually was one of the first to rush into the chaos. But half of my class froze outside, saying things like "the person is already dead", "no point in going int there" and a few other things. it was my guess that they were afraid, or had something that was preventing them from being around all the blood. (which shouldnt be the case I know, but some people cant take it yet they find there way into medical school. Why? Beats me, but anyway as I rushed to start CPR, I kind of blacked out, or left my body idk how to explain it very well.
But all i could do was look into the patients, eyes as i did cpr, sounds werent there. I could faintly here everyone screaming for things, but i felt like i was on drugs or something. Later did my instructor tell me thats one of the adrenaline rushes you get in the ER. But the patient was eventually pronounced dead, and as I walked out of the room (feeling defeated) everything slowly returned back to normal. ANd I noticed the large amount of block all over my gown and hands. So I wouldnt say i was paralyzed in fear. But i was definitely out of the world. The whole time, my mind was saying. Do something, what needs to be done, how can i help. And since Im practically useless in a situation like that besdies, changing the EKG, and CPR I really couldnt do much. But i can see how one could get paralyzed in high stress, tense situations. Just my
Your feelings are completely normal. Many new nursing students have the same fears. I celebrated my acceptance for a minute then doubts set in. Don't let fear get the best of you. In time you will adjust to the rigors of nursing school. Stay organized & work hard & you will be OK. I also come from a legal background & mostly worked Corp America for most of my life but once school started & I got in my groove things just fell into place.
We have lots of "older" second-career students in my school. Most do very well. I'm almost sixty, and I'm getting great marks. Just believe you can do it, because you CAN!
I'm 37 and finishing up my first semester...I've been out of college for 20 years...I started small - taking a developmental psych course 2 summers ago to see if I still "had it"...I'm sure you do too!!
As for "freezing up" I've only witnessed one code and it was run by a rapid response team - but I got to see the whole thing (it was my pt's roommate) You will feel ill sometimes when the smell hits you, you will hold your pt's hand and understand their fears...but if you've got the nursing "bug" that's half the battle!
If you weren't scared, you would be the source of fear :)
Something nursing schools don't tell you- you will NOT learn anywhere close to what you need to to feel comfortable after you graduate....this is SO normal. Nursing school teaches you enough to not kill someone on purpose The rest is experience, that you only can get once you're working.
Soak in as much as you can- but also take some breaks to relax now and then. If your mind and body are fried, you don't retain things as well :hug:
I believe you CAN and WILL be successful but most importantly YOU MUST BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN AND WILL DO IT. Many of us have those jittery feelings after we get the good news, more so persons within your age range with those same what ifs but I think age is just a tiny aspect and hey besides you're only human it's quite normal to have those feelings. As long as you apply and dedicate yourself and implement self directed learning you'll do fine.. Just remember NO QUESTION IS STUPID no matter how silly it may sound to you (so ask a lot of them or else you'll just end up with more what ifs on your plate).. As a student this is the time to make mistakes and learn from them so that you don't make them when you pass your boards... Wishing you all the best on this new journey hope you enjoy it and make the best of it and become a great nurse in the process... There'll be times when you feel like crying, screaming and pulling your hair out (think I'm at this stage ) but just remember laugh alot, cry alot, scream alot (it helps trust me)... Again all the best
I used to struggle a lot with the "what if's" but then someone told me that dwelling on them is just a waste of energy (which you're already running short of in nursing school!) so all you can do is take things day by day and make the most of your learning experience. Goof ups happen but all you can do is learn from them. I feel like adopting that kind of mentality has helped save not only my mind in nursing school but in other aspects of my life too.
Nursing school teaches you enough to not kill someone on purpose 
The rest is experience, that you only can get once you're working. 
) but just remember laugh alot, cry alot, scream alot (it helps trust me)... Again all the best 
Chris787n
40 Posts
In one of my clinical rotations when i was in EMT school earlier this year we had a multiple stab wound case. And you know, this was our first clinical rotation where something actually happened. Now i didnt freeze, I actually was one of the first to rush into the chaos. But half of my class froze outside, saying things like "the person is already dead", "no point in going int there" and a few other things. it was my guess that they were afraid, or had something that was preventing them from being around all the blood. (which shouldnt be the case I know, but some people cant take it yet they find there way into medical school. Why? Beats me, but anyway as I rushed to start CPR, I kind of blacked out, or left my body idk how to explain it very well.
But all i could do was look into the patients, eyes as i did cpr, sounds werent there. I could faintly here everyone screaming for things, but i felt like i was on drugs or something. Later did my instructor tell me thats one of the adrenaline rushes you get in the ER. But the patient was eventually pronounced dead, and as I walked out of the room (feeling defeated) everything slowly returned back to normal. ANd I noticed the large amount of block all over my gown and hands. So I wouldnt say i was paralyzed in fear. But i was definitely out of the world. The whole time, my mind was saying. Do something, what needs to be done, how can i help. And since Im practically useless in a situation like that besdies, changing the EKG, and CPR I really couldnt do much. But i can see how one could get paralyzed in high stress, tense situations. Just my