Help, nursing with GAD?

I have GAD and it can be a challenge; however, for me it primarily manifests in an inability to wind down after work/experiencing anxiety after the fact, which is very unpleasant for me at times, but doesn't generally affect my ability to function professionally.

If being a CNA is stressing you out (for "I'm afraid I'm going to kill someone" reasons rather than "this is a very physically demanding and exhausting job" reasons) that might be a sign that you aren't really cut out for nursing, because your responsibility and scope will increase dramatically after you become a nurse. But if you've only been a CNA a short time, I'd give it a while. Changing jobs is extremely stressful even without an anxiety disorder; with one it can be overwhelming, but as you become more competent and comfortable, it does tend to ease off.

The stress of being a brand new nurse and feeling like you know nothing and have no time management skills and are just totally overwhelmed? That goes away- it trickles off a little at a time over the first year or so until one day you realize you just had a really "bad" shift and it was no big thing.

But in nursing there will always been stressful moments and peoples' lives really will be in your hands, so the opportunity for GAD symptoms to manifest is always there unless you happen to be good at compartmentalizing. And compartmentalization comes at a psychological and emotional cost- your cool collectedness during a code may be traded off with starting at the ceiling with a racing pulse and nausea that night.

It's really a personal call. I stuck with nursing despite my GAD because I was interested in it, it was a good job, and because I felt like if I was going to constantly feel like I was in a state of emergency and everything was a potential catastrophe anyway, I might as well go ahead and actually WORK with emergencies. But that's not for everybody.

Do consider therapy and possible medication if you aren't already being treated. It can make a real difference in your quality of life and options.